Habitat GIS and Data Specialist

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission•Portland, OR

11d

About The Position

The Ecosystem GIS and Data Specialist supports the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) Habitat Program through data stewardship, geospatial analysis, scientific visualization, and data communications. The position reports to the Habitat Program Manager and works closely with PSMFC GIS Center staff and other project-funded GIS staff. It also collaborates with external researchers, restoration practitioners, fisheries managers, and partner organizations to ensure habitat and restoration data are well managed, accessible, scientifically defensible, and effectively communicated. The role manages and synthesizes habitat-related datasets, conducts spatial analyses, develops maps and decision-support tools, and translates scientific information into products supporting conservation planning, restoration prioritization, program evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. It requires advanced GIS and data management capabilities, experience with natural resource, fisheries, or aquatic habitat data, and strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills. The position is based in Portland, Oregon, with the possibility of working remotely from Seattle, Washington; Sacramento, California; or Newport, Oregon. It is full-time and benefits-eligible, with an anticipated start date of January 4, 2027. The appointment is expected to last up to one year, with the possibility of extension. Applicants must include a cover letter with their application materials.

Requirements

One year of specialized experience and four years of successfully completed education above high school in natural sciences, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
A bachelor's or master's degree in biological, environmental, natural resources sciences, or geographic information systems.
Proficiency with data entry, office productivity software, GIS software, and relational database management software, including Microsoft Excel, Access, and SQL Server.
A solid understanding of and experience working with spatially explicit environmental and natural resources data.
Knowledge of natural sciences; computer and software packages for databases, spreadsheets, and word processing; data management concepts and methods; quality assurance principles; technical documentation methods; and analytical methods and common query languages.
Strong communication, organizational, customer service, collaboration, and project management skills, including the ability to work independently and coordinate with multiple partners and programs.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online; advanced proficiency with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Online.
Knowledge of West Coast marine, estuarine, and inland fisheries.
Demonstrated experience managing and stewarding environmental, fisheries, habitat, or restoration datasets.
Strong GIS analytical skills, including spatial analysis, geoprocessing, cartography, and data visualization.
Experience developing web maps, dashboards, StoryMaps, and other online GIS applications.
Knowledge of metadata standards, data management principles, and quality assurance/quality control procedures.
Experience working with habitat, fisheries, watershed, restoration, conservation, or natural resource data.
Experience with Python, SQL, R, or other data automation and analysis tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and experience presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
Experience with field data collection for fisheries or habitat data, or field experience with habitat restoration projects.

Responsibilities

Support data stewardship for the PSMFC Habitat Program, National Fish Habitat Partnership, and related habitat conservation and restoration initiatives.
Maintain, improve, and document systems for managing habitat, restoration, monitoring, and assessment datasets.
Develop and implement data standards, metadata, data management procedures, and quality assurance/quality control protocols.
Coordinate with federal, state, Tribal, academic, and nonprofit partners to facilitate data sharing and improve consistency, accessibility, and interoperability of habitat datasets.
Compile, integrate, and synthesize habitat and restoration information for regional and national reporting.
Maintain data catalogs and repositories that support discovery, access, and long-term stewardship of habitat-related information.
Develop workflows that improve data transparency, accessibility, and usability across partner programs.
Conduct GIS analyses related to fish habitat, habitat restoration, aquatic connectivity, watershed health, conservation planning, and fisheries management.
Develop, maintain, and update geospatial datasets supporting habitat assessments, restoration tracking, conservation prioritization, and program evaluation.
Integrate biological, ecological, habitat, restoration, and environmental datasets into GIS-based analytical frameworks.
Produce maps, dashboards, web applications, and data visualizations supporting habitat science, management, and decision-making.
Create spatial summaries, analyses, and reporting products in response to program and partner needs.
Support geospatial data products used to assess habitat conditions, restoration outcomes, and conservation investments.
Translate habitat science, monitoring results, and restoration outcomes into visual and written products for technical and non-technical audiences.
Develop StoryMaps, dashboards, web maps, infographics, presentations, and other communications products highlighting habitat program accomplishments and impacts.
Support preparation of technical reports, annual reports, grant deliverables, and program summaries.
Assist in developing metrics, indicators, and visualizations communicating habitat conditions, restoration progress, and program performance.
Collaborate with communications and program staff to improve the accessibility and visibility of habitat data and conservation outcomes.
Work with Habitat Program staff, National Fish Habitat Partnership partners, and PSMFC programs to identify data, GIS, and reporting needs.
Provide technical guidance on GIS best practices, cartography, spatial analysis, and habitat data management.
Support partners in developing and maintaining web-based mapping tools and information products.
Stay informed about geospatial technologies, habitat science initiatives, data management practices, and conservation assessment tools.
Participate in technical workgroups, partner meetings, habitat program meetings, and regional or national habitat coordination efforts as needed.
Compile project data into standardized electronic formats; access source information, verify accuracy and completeness, perform data entry and transfer, edit, and check for errors.
Extract relevant data from text and numeric formats, reports, tables, graphics, and figures.
Maintain local datasets according to regional database exchange formats and standards, and maintain an archive of current and historical reports and reference materials.
Perform GIS tasks such as map preparation, georeferencing biological and habitat data, maintaining location tables, editing hydrography coverages, and maintaining metadata.
Train technical and general users in GIS and database applications through individual instruction or group presentations.
Create queries, summaries, and maps in response to requests; prepare data and graphic outputs for reports, presentations, and internet applications using standardized retrieval scripts.
Develop and implement databases and libraries, acquire new data, and integrate existing or historical databases and spreadsheets; develop custom interfaces where required.
Produce written research and statistical reports, datasets, and data summaries using analytical techniques and software tools, including database retrieval scripts.
Document data handling and reporting to ensure data consistency and validity across files from differing hardware, software, protocols, and communication packages.
Maintain and update data catalogs and directories; perform system maintenance and backups, including database checkpoints, verification, tuning, data-process merges, and user account management; restore files as needed.
Perform help desk functions by responding to user inquiries about spatial data access, data retrieval, query scripts, and standard reports.