POSITION TITLE: Ecologist/GIS Analyst =20 LOCATION: Boulder, CO or Arlington, VA DATE POSTED: 10/28/2005 CLOSING DATE: 11/28/2005
The GIS Analyst/Ecologist will support spatial data development, management, and analysis needs of NatureServe projects. His/her initial primary responsibility will be to serve on various project teams, providing GIS and conservation science support to Ecology, Zoology, Botany, Data Management, and Conservation Planning staff of the NatureServe Science Division and collaborators. This support will come in the form of project design and implementation for ecosystem mapping and modeling, species habitat and range mapping, conservation assessments and planning, and spatial data management. The GIS Analyst/Ecologist must be capable of both determining optimal approaches to project design and implementing those recommendations. Developing consistent methodologies, while adapting projects to meet local requirements, will be a critical aspect of this position. Utilizing datasets of varied sources and formats while maintaining the scientific integrity of the analysis will be an important aspect of the Analyst/Ecologist role. =20 The GIS Analyst/Ecologist will also be responsible for providing support to ongoing development NatureServe's two advanced geographic information systems-based software applications, NatureServe Vista and Biotics 4.=20 VISTA: Vista is a custom desktop GIS application implemented as an extension of ESRI's ArcMap platform with Spatial Analyst. Vista is designed to help planners, conservation groups, and local communities to better integrate biodiversity information into their land-use and conservation planning processes. http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/vista.jsp.=20 BIOTICS 4: Biotics 4 is NatureServe's tool for managing biodiversity information. The custom application (http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/biotics.jsp) was developed by NatureServe for deployment across the international network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.=20 DUTIES 1. Serve on multi-disciplinary project teams, providing expertise in landscape ecology, spatial data modeling techniques, and spatial data management. 2. Data Development: Compile, develop, and analyze spatial data such as land cover, landform, hydrography, species habitat and population distributions, land ownership, managed area boundaries, biodiversity threats and land/water stressors, processing of satellite imagery and other appropriate relevant data. =20 3. Methods and Tools Development: Work with other staff and partners to refine tools and methods for mapping, modeling, assessment, planning, management, and monitoring applications to biodiversity conservation. This may include prototyping analytical methods for engineering into decision support software. 4. Data Management: Work in collaboration with other NatureServe staff and partners to advance approaches to spatial data management and dissemination for conservation applications. 5. Software Development Support: Assist in the testing and evaluation of new Vista and Biotics upgrades. Write and utilize test plans. Work with Vista engineers, science staff and product end users to identify new user requirements and develop new Vista product features. 6. Create high quality maps and digital data sets in support of NatureServe products. 7. Advance the capacity of NatureServe member programs and partners in data development, spatial analysis, and spatial data management by facilitating identification of "best practices" and standard methods. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 1. Advanced degree in landscape ecology, ecology, geography, or related discipline and at least three years of relevant professional experience in natural resource management and conservation applications of GIS and spatial analysis. 2. Demonstrated ability to integrate, analyze, and evaluate technical, scientific, and environmental data to produce GIS-based products for conservation decision support. Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS required. Familiarity with image processing software (ERDAS Imagine or ENVI), spatial statistics, and terrain analysis highly preferred. Strong facility with Microsoft Access and Excel also required. 3. Experience in both aquatic and terrestrial habitat modeling/analysis preferred. 4. Experience programming or developing script-based routines for any of the above software also a plus. Experience with Oracle and SQL is highly desirable. 5. Must have effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to produce technical documentation. Must work productively in a team environment and demonstrate ability to work effectively on multiple tasks during a given time period. =20 Please send resume and cover letter to: Attn: Job #SD50128 =20 NatureServe 1101 Wilson Blvd., 15th Floor Arlington, VA 22209 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Please refer to Job #SD50128 in subject line)
