GIS Analyst - Forestry Data

Job Description

Only applicants who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and meet all selective requirements (listed below) will be placed on the eligible list.  

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a position available for a GIS analyst (Geologist 3) within the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Section of the Land Quality Bureau that might be your next career.   This individual will be responsible for providing a wide range of high-level GIS support to forestry programs in the Department.
Work will relate to forest health assessment and data collection, urban and community forestry, maintaining and monitoring the forest GIS database for the Forest Stewardship Program and other state & federal cost share programs. This position provides database management, analysis, quality control, uploading, editing of GIS data and products, and utilization of federal mapping tools.This position also includes coordination with field foresters on data management, projects and applications, some of which may take place in an outdoor setting.  

Essential Functions
- Use ESRI GIS desktop and online software to map, assess and monitor forest health.
- Proficient use of GIS computer software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online, QGIS) to produce GIS data, analysis and online mapping.
- Learns forestry programs and vocabulary to accurately and effectively carry out requests.
- Proficient use of a large format plotter to print maps, graphs, etc.
- Communicate with DNR staff and outside entities (governmental agencies, universities, public) about the interface between forest health and other forestry-related topics and GIS.  
- Works with foresters in the field, both indoors and outdoors, to train and troubleshoot in data collection technologies.

Critical Job Competencies
 
Accountability, Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, Customer Focus, Data-based Decisions, Empowerment, Integrity, Long-term Thinking, Mutual Respect, Results/Outcome Orientation, Valuing Fellow Employees
 
Comments

The work location for this position is in Des Moines.
 
What You Get From Us:

• A competitive pay plan and rewarding work.  
• Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.  

     (Premiums can start as low as $61/month for single and $205/month for family coverage).

• Separate vacation and sick leave accruals that start on the first day and can roll over annually.
• Nine paid holidays/year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) retirement package with employer match.
• Optional deferred compensation (457/401A) plan with employer match.
• Professional training opportunities.
• Flexible schedules and opportunities.
• Family friendly and professional work environment.
• Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)

• The State’s total compensation package features benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation.  For a list of additional benefits, please visit the DAS website for more information.

 
The starting salary for new state (Executive Branch) employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Additional salary increases may occur after the first six months, and then annually (if applicable). The State’s total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation. Visit the DAS website for more benefit information. 
 
For more information about DNR Employment Opportunities and position specific notices, please visit the DNR Employment website.
 
The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Iowa DNR Mission
 
To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations.

 

Selectives

450 Natural Resources
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in one or in a combination of more than one of the following:

• Ecology 
• Environmental planning 
• Soil conservation 
• Biological sciences 
• Waste water treatment 
• Forestry 
• Engineering related to natural resource areas (dams, sanitary engineers, etc.) 
• Outdoor recreation planning 
• Physical sciences 
• River basin planning 
• Geography 
• Wildlife management

AND

230 Geographic Information Systems (Department of Natural Resources) 
18 semester hours of education or 1 year of experience that demonstrates the applicant has competencies in the following areas:

• Ability to create, edit, import, export, project, and georeference GIS data. 
• Demonstrated proficiency with the major ESRI software products. These products include ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcGIS.
• Utilize user-developed and/or ESRI scripts and extensions for incorporation and utilization in projects.
• Ability to conduct spatial analyses and queries in order to answer complex questions relating to spatial data.
• Ability to produce cartographic documents which clearly present outputs from spatial analyses. Document formats should at a minimum include hardcopy as well as the following digital formats .pdf, .tif, and .jpg.
• Ability to work with, or train, others to use GIS to attain a common goal

Applicant must provide specific work examples to demonstrate each of the competencies. The examples should include a thorough explanation of the project goal, the process utilized and the result of the process

 

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in geology, physical geography, or a closely related geological science and the equivalent of three years of full-time professional geology experience;

graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in a natural science, computer science, math or engineering field and four years of full-time professional experience in an earth science related position including ground water, soils, environmental geology, geographic information systems or other related earth science specialty;

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of eighteen semester hours of graduate level course work with major emphasis in geology, physical geography, or a closely related geological science for each year of the required experience;

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes the equivalent of 12 months of full-time experience as a Geologist 2.