GIS Section Lead – IT Data Management–Journey – Permanent – *04045-24

FULL-TIME/PERMANENT
GIS SECTION LEAD
IT DATA MANAGEMENT—JOURNEY

Fish Program – Fish Science Division
Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

This recruitment is posted until June 16, 2024, with a first review of applications to take place on May 31, 2024.  Application review will be ongoing. We encourage you to submit your application materials as soon as possible.  This recruitment may be closed at any time.

This position may be eligible for telework.  The default assigned work location of all WDFW positions – both on-site and telework-eligible positions – are within the State of Washington.  Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.

Are you an IT professional proficient in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)?

Serve as the agency technical expert on complex datasets including high-resolution hydrography and freshwater fish distribution and use.

Support, maintain, and develop Fish Program and cross-program data applications, including regional and corporate fish metric databases, electronic field-data collection forms and applications, mobile communications applications, web services, technical consultation, and geographic Information systems map products and applications.

This is an opportunity to design, develop, and maintain tabular and geospatial databases.

In this dynamic role, you will serve as project leader and manager for Fish and spatial data analysis.

We are seeking a candidate to apply advanced principles of dynamic segmentation to build event tables that link fish, facilities, barriers, habitat, and other data to the hydrography layers.

Here are some things you will be doing in this role:

Lead design, development, and delivery of spatial datasets comprising the Washington Lakes and Rivers Information System (WLRIS):

• Design, develop, implement, and enhance the fish, hydrography, facilities, and barriers GIS datasets that comprise WLRIS. 
• Generate and maintain FGDC-compliant metadata for all WLRIS datasets. 
• Convert selected WLRIS data themes to specified standard formats and provide to ITS Division for inclusion in SalmonScape and other agency Web-based applications.
• Collaborate with StreamNet Project Regional GIS staff to set standards for exchange of Washington high-resolution hydrography and other relevant WLRIS datasets.

Develop new, and maintain existing, enterprise geodatabases, services, and data in WDFW on premises and Fish Program AWS cloud infrastructure:

• Maintain current versioned and archive-enabled enterprise geodatabases in hosted PostgreSQL environment.
• Maintain ArcGIS Server environment on AWS EC2 Linux virtual servers.
• Migrate existing file geodatabases, shapefiles, etc. to enterprise geodatabase(s)
• Develop new enterprise geodatabases.

Lead design, development, deployment, and operation of comprehensive software systems to input, manage, and disseminate WLRIS datasets:

• Design, develop, and implement integrated support software to enter, manage, update, and enhance WLRIS databases using the ArcGIS software in Windows environment. 
• Systems must provide both technical and non-technical staff the ability to complete complex spatial data entry, quality assurance, and data extraction tasks with a minimum of assistance. 
• Create and enhance supporting programs and infrastructure as needed to emphasize data integrity while improving efficiency. 
• Design, develop, and implement software programs that support user-friendly non-technical access to WLRIS data themes for dataset download and standard map production.

Serve as statewide technical expert in advanced GIS techniques, including dynamic segmentation programming and management of large statewide spatial datasets:

• Provide technical expertise to WDFW GIS Technical manager and regional Hydro Framework participants on development, quality assurance, and maintenance processes related to managing statewide high-resolution (1:24,000 scale) hydrography data, based on relevant experiences gained with the WLRIS hydrography layer. 
• Serve as agency technical expert in dynamic segmentation programming data design, as well as spatial database management and manipulation techniques.  
• Respond to special technical requests for assistance from other GIS staff within and outside of the agency.

Provide strategic direction to Fish Program managers related to development and use of spatial data and map products in support of fish management and salmon recovery objectives:

• Respond to needs expressed by Fish Program managers that can be addressed with fish spatial data, with emphasis on adding value to the WDFW SalmonScape Web-based application. 
• Advise supervisor in creating and implementing a strategic direction for fish spatial data in WDFW, including the means to spatially-enable critical information to support context-sensitive analyses, complex visualizations, or other needed services.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Setting, including hazards:
  • This position works in the WDFW headquarters office in Olympia.
• Schedule:
  • 8AM – 5PM Mon-Fri, or 8AM – 7PM Mon-Thurs.
• Travel Requirements:
  • 10% or less of time spent in travel.
  • Occasional travel occurs to WDFW regional offices or other agency locations for meetings or other work.
• Tools and Equipment:
  • Wide ranging data software including Microsoft SQL Server, Amazon Web Service, Microsoft Access, PostgreSQL, R, Python, Visual Basic, JavaScript. and ArcGIS.
  • Desktop and tablet computers, and fishery-specific peripheral devices such as Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag and Coded Wire Tag (CWT) scanners.
• Customer Interactions:
  • Customers Include both Internal and external users. Frequent contact with other fisheries agency personnel and user groups to exchange and collect information is also required. The purpose of contacts is to ensure the project goals are being met, and that scientifically correct methods of collecting, processing, end summarizing of biological data collected are conducted.

Qualifications:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.S. in natural sciences, geology, or geography, with an emphasis in Geographic Information Systems, or related structures using traditional non-GIS data platforms.

And

• Four (4) years of information technology experience such as consulting, analyzing, designing, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, directing projects, and administering or supervising staff who performed work in any of these information technology disciplines.

Please note:

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.

License:

• Valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated proficiency in ESRI ArcGIS software, including Arc Map, ArcGISServer, ArcGISEnterprise.; Geo-database management; AGOL.
• Experience in using principles and practices of dynamic segmentation to manage event data tied to routed spatial data layers.
• Ability to communicate highly technical concepts to managers and elicit timely decisions.

 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following: 

• Masters or doctorate level work in natural sciences, fish biology or aquatic ecology, or geographic information systems.
• Experience converting high-resolution hydrography linework into a routed network.
• Two (2) years of experience maintaining ArcGIS Server for Linux.
• Two (2) years of experience developing or maintaining enterprise geodatabases in PostgreSQL.
• One (1) year experience working with versioned and archive-enabled geodatabases.
• Experience developing and managing event data tied to routed high-resolution hydrography layers.
• Custom software development in the ESRI environment working directly with Python, Javascript, and R.
• Experience supervising skilled high technology workers.
• Demonstrated success in project management and product delivery.
• Two (2) or more years of experience supervision one or more staff in technical positions involving service delivery.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment promoting communication, consensus decision making and team cooperation.

Supplemental Information:

Please note: Failure to follow the instructions below may lead to disqualification.

Experience and education selected, listed, and detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable in the application.

In order to successfully apply for this position, you MUST complete your profile at www.careers.wa.gov and attach the following to your profile before completing the online application:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (Generic cover letter will not be accepted).
• A current resume. 
• Three professional references. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link:  https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

JOIN THE WDFW TEAM:

Learn about our agency and the perks of working for WDFW!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some of the most talented people in the natural resource field.  We celebrate and value diversity, appreciating that a workforce composed of those from different backgrounds and experiences creates an inclusive environment, strengthens positive relationships with the local community, and brings new perspectives and approaches to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We value demonstrated skill in living WDFW values of Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy (ASPIRE).

WDFW employees may be eligible for the following Benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave types.

Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per year and one (1) personal holiday if the employee is scheduled to be, or has been, continuously employed by the State of Washington for at least four (4) months.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and an Employee Assistance Program.

UNION – WAFWP:

This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

VETERAN PREFERENCE NOTICE:

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Email a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter to [email protected].
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and Vet (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE NOTICE: 

To take advantage of military spouse preference, please do the following:

• Notify us of your military spouse status by email at [email protected].  
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and MS (for example: #10155 Biologist 1 – MS)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Note: Please blackout any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. 

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.  Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.  All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.  Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email [email protected], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or [email protected].

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