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GIS SPECIALIST

  • 540622
  • PHOENIX
  • DEPT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT
  • Full-time
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DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT

In partnership with local, county, state, and federal agencies, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) protects Arizona’s people by: providing coordination and resource response for the suppression and management of wildland fire; delivering education to aid in wildland fire prevention; providing integrated management strategies, technical assistance and information through various Department programs; collaborating in forest restoration projects; and ensuring fire and life safety through permitting, plan reviews and building inspections.

GIS Specialist

Job Location:

Address: 1110 W Washington St, Ste 500, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Posting Details:

Salary: $27.1410-$29.0409 Hourly 

Grade: 20

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for data life cycle management for the departments Firewise and Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) programs. Provides expertise and makes recommendations on the development and application of geospatial analysis processes, protocols, and solutions to mission-critical resource management issues. Operates complex computer systems and software packages and develops procedures to produce intricately detailed maps and graphics for mitigation programs, planning documents, and a variety of other requirements. Assist fire incident response as a GIS Specialist.

This is a grant funded position and subject to periodic review.

Job Duties:
  • Assist with developing an online Geo-spatial portal that will house all of Arizona's Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and show where each plans hazard mitigation areas are located. Will also assist communities with developing their hazard mitigation areas and producing maps for their CWPPs. Responsible for the organization and maintenance of resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple programs including Firewise, CWPP's, and hazard mitigation project data.
  • Create GIS layers for the fire prevention group to show all Firewise sites and Fire Prevention activities across the state and include any relevant data. Assesses quality, compatibility, and limitations of various data used in a wide array of fire prevention and planning efforts. Develops data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
  • Coordinates conversion of geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into GIS databases. Applies geographic and cartographic principles to the resolution of multi-disciplinary issues in geospatial database construction and map compilation.
  • Assist fire incident response as a GIS Specialist. Applies standard geospatial and cartographic principles to new situations and resolves novel or obscure problems.
  • Other duties as assigned as related to the position.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

  • Knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and spatial analysis methods (queries, reasoning, measurements, transformations, descriptive summaries, optimization, hypothesis testing).
  • Working knowledge of GIS and Remote Sensing data entry techniques and methodologies.
  • Working Knowledge of current GIS desktop and mobile software and procedures
  • Working knowledge of GIS systems, spatial data and database management systems and development platforms.
  • Knowledge of Quality Control and Quality Assurance of GIS processes, data, and products.

Skills in:

  • Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
  • Effective skills in use of computers and applicable software.
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
  • Excellent problem solving skills.
  • Excellent file-based and online cartographic and map production skills.
  • Strong customer support skills in the use of GIS data and applications.
  • Design cartographic products following best practices and community standards and guidelines.
  • Supports current spatial systems, identifies and resolves problems with deployed systems.

Ability to:

  • Perform spatial analysis.
  • Engage with internal and external customers to understand functional requirements, and contribute to completion of functional specifications.
  • Develop and maintain working relationships with internal DFFM personnel and with external government and private cooperators.
  • Balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks.
  • Work collaboratively in teams and across organizations.
  • Synthesize feedback and adjust plans accordingly.
  • Display data and create advanced maps.
  • Manipulate complex geospatial aspects of data.
  • Operate and maintain GIS hardware software, plotter, GPS, mobile devices.
  • Adhere to State of Arizona and Department of Forestry and Fire Management Standards of Conduct, policies, procedures and practices.
  • Work long hours, weekends and holidays as needed.
  • Drive on State business.
Selective Preference(s):
  • Bachelor’s degree plus 1 – 2 years of GIS and analysis experience (or equivalent experience)
  • Intermediate GIS software training (e.g., extensions)
Pre-Employment Requirements:
  • Arizona Drivers License

If position is required to drive on state business, the position will require the possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
  • Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
  • 10 paid holidays per year
  • Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program, learn more at hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion).
  • Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
  • Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
  • Deferred compensation plan
  • Wellness plans
  • Tuition reimbursement eligible after one year of employment

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:
  • Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
  • Participation is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria as defined in statute.
  • Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.
  • The current contribution rate is 12.00%.
Contact Us:

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Selene Rojas at srojas@dffm.az.gov for assistance.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 623-236-6664. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

ARIZONA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMS)

All Arizona state employees operate within the Arizona Management System (AMS), an intentional, results-driven approach for doing the work of state government whereby every employee reflects on performance, reduces waste, and commits to continuous improvement with sustainable progress.  Through AMS, every state employee seeks to understand customer needs, identify problems, improve processes, and measure results.  
State employees are highly engaged, collaborative and embrace a culture of public service.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements