Wilderness GIS Technician

Bureau of Land Management – Utah State Office

Length:Term of positions is 11 weeks; full-time 40 hrs/wk

Location:Salt Lake City, Utah

Living Allowance:$750/week total – this includes both a living stipend and housing allowance

AmeriCorps Award:Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $1,459.26 (pre-tax).

Desired Start Date:6/3/2024

Application Due Date:Preference given to applicants that submit application by 4/26/2024

Title of Position: Wilderness GIS Technician

Position Details

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management are seeking an intern who will work with the BLM National Conservation Lands Program and Geospatial Operations Branch in Utah to review and update wilderness boundary arcs in ArcGIS Pro for designated Wilderness Areas and document corrections within a standardized Adobe InDesign template for inclusion in wilderness case files. Field assessment visits and camping in remote backcountry locations in the San Rafael Swell area of central Utah may be required as necessary. The project will directly benefit wilderness preservation by improving geospatial information on Utah wilderness boundaries for online public dissemination and consumption. The mapping corrections will prevent unauthorized impacts to wilderness from prohibited activities such as off-highway vehicle travel. The project will affect over 650,000 acres of Congressionally designated Wilderness. The steward will work under the direct supervision of the Geospatial Branch Chief and the National Conservation Lands Program Lead. Through the project, the steward will be exposed to numerous aspects of BLM resource programs such as GIS support and technology, wilderness management, recreation, and travel management.

Position Responsibilities will include:

• Review GIS wilderness boundaries overlaid with satellite imagery, landform data, and route layer data to determine appropriate alignment corrections and recommend changes to BLM management.
• Edit GIS arc data and document changes in standardized template in consultation with supervisors.
• Present findings and recommended changes for approval.
• Backcountry travel for field assessments as necessary. Gov’t furnished vehicles are available.

Minimum Requirements:

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, EGIS ArcGIS Pro, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign software applications
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Must be currently enrolled in college or university
• Valid US Drivers License with insurable driving record of at least 3 years
• Applicants must pass criminal background checks for both DOI and AmeriCorps eligibility
• Must be 18 years or older
• Must be a US Citizen or legal permanent resident

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience and good proficiency with EGIS ArcGIS Pro, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign software applications
• Students in bachelor’s programs for Geography with GIS Emphasis, Multi-Disciplinary Design, Environmental Studies, Digital Humanities, or Outdoor Recreation
• Camping, backcountry travel, off-road driving experience

Benefits:

• Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $1,459.26 (pre-tax).
• Living Allowance: $750 per week (pre-tax)
• Office workspace in downtown Salt Lake City Gateway Mall
• Gov’t furnished IT equipment
• Free Utah Transit Authority pass
• Liberal telework policy
• BLM will provide training on GIS system orientation, mapping correction guidelines, standardized templates, IT support, security, gov’t vehicle use, administrative systems, telework policy, etc.