Senior GIS Specialist (13954, Grade 24)

Are you a detail-oriented and highly skilled GIS professional? Do you have a passion for connecting with fellow professionals to develop data and map-based outputs for a wide variety of community planning projects? If so, we are looking for you! Join our innovative team dedicated to creating web maps, databases, dashboard applications, and maps for a variety of long-range, placemaking, and neighborhood revitalization projects for the Prince George’s County Planning Department’s Community Planning Division.
 
The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission is seeking a Senior GIS Specialist to lead our efforts in providing the highest quality GIS products. The Department provides land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the Division is responsible for developing and implementing community plans, neighborhood revitalization programs, placemaking, and assisting with implementation programs.
 
You will play a pivotal role in supporting multidisciplinary projects in the planning field. You will work on project-based teams with planning professionals as they seek to produce master and sector plans, detailed local studies, and informative and attractive web content.
 
As the second most populous county in Maryland, Prince George’s has a population of approximately 900,000 residents with 15 Metro Rail Stations and is home to the University of Maryland at College Park, National Harbor, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and a world class parks and recreation system. If you are interested in working for the Prince George’s County Planning Department, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Senior GIS Specialist position.
 
Reporting directly to the Placemaking Supervisor, the Senior GIS Specialist must be proficient in delivering a wide range of dynamic analytical products using the ESRI desktop and web platform resources. Experience editing and maintaining spatial data such as parcels, addresses, zoning, and land use and development data, administering GIS servers and databases and creating public facing mapping applications and dashboards is a desired plus. Experience in the automation of tasks via Oracle SQL, Python, and Arcade expressions is also desired. To be successful in this role, you must manage competing priorities and deadlines; accurately complete assignments with minimal supervision; and communicate well with the team, clients, and leadership.
 
Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
 
This position provides all the tools necessary and flexibility to succeed and is ideal for anyone interested in exploring and developing GIS skills that benefit the Planning Department. You will use your creativity as you work with planners in the Community Planning Division to shape the GIS, mapping, and web content for the coming year and beyond. Working with planners, as well as other GIS colleagues in the planning department, you will be a crucial part of the team, providing advice and acting as a liaison between the planners and any appointed consultants, to ensure their products match our standards and requirements. You will be encouraged to be part of discussions about other projects in the division, mostly smaller scale, community-led or community-supported projects. You will work alongside a fellow Senior GIS Specialist to help us continue to build our GIS, mapping, and web content.
 
Important Skills and Characteristics: 

• Comprehensive understanding of GIS concepts and best practices.
• Ability to independently manage, coordinate, and lead several GIS projects simultaneously.
• Ability to foster the development of professional business relationships with citizens, county agencies and Commission staff.
• Eagerness to explore and excel in new technical areas.
• Excellent analytical, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills, including speaking, writing, and active listening to fellow team members, non-technical staff, planning professionals, and Commission leadership.
• Collaborative with a good work ethic, a cooperative spirit, and creative thinking.
• Adaptable and willing to learn new technologies.

• Develop, assess, and recommend modifications to Community Planning Mapping.  
• Update and maintain GIS data used for local government applications. Coordinate maintenance activities among multiple team members.
• Gather spatial data to be entered into the enterprise GIS database using remote sensing techniques, analytical techniques, or in-the-field observations.
• Analyze spatial data, cross-referencing multiple layers in support of client requests for regulatory or planning purposes.
• Query, process, and analyze GIS data and generate maps and reports.
• Provide GIS technical support and services; communicate and coordinate users’ needs to staff and contractors; generate, review and critique consultant specifications for GIS contract work.
• Identify and resolve GIS hardware, software, and application problems. 
• Provide technical assistance to staff and citizens; identify training needs; and respond to users’ GIS inquiries.

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Information Technology, Photogrammetry, Cartography, Surveying or any related field.
2. Two (2) years of experience in GIS that includes geospatial data query and manipulation, map production, data mining and data quality assurance and quality control; programming and application development involving spatial or non-spatial data.
3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total six (6) years.
4. Depending on area of assignment, a valid driver’s license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

1. A Master’s Degree in geography, GIS, urban planning, or related field.
2. Experience with long-range planning projects.
3. Previous examples of/experience using web-based GIS applications and 3D visualizations.
4. Demonstrated ability utilizing ESRI GIS tools, especially ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and SDE.
5. State and/or local agency experience.
6. Experience with Oracle, SQL, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, or statistical analysis software.
7. Professional GISP, AICP, CMS accreditations and other related technical certifications.

Class/Specification: Senior GIS Specialist

May be subject to drug and alcohol testing. 

Working Conditions:
Works in an office. Occasional field work may be required in support of various community planning projects. May be required to attend public meetings with members of the community and/or events in the evening or on weekends.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume along with their application. Applicants should also provide a brief portfolio of GIS, applications, map output/web content work.

WHY PRINCE GEORGE’S PLANNING? 
Amenities:

• Telework opportunities (up to two telework days per week)
• Flexible schedules
• Onsite fitness center 
• Complimentary access to M-NCPPC gymnasiums throughout Prince George’s County 
• Free parking is available for employees 
• Professional development opportunities/Tuition assistance 
• Positions may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness assistance