Inventory & Assessment Project & Data Manager

Colorado State University • Lakewood, CO

23h • $83,000 - $90,000 • Remote

About The Position

An Inventory and Assessment Project and Data Manager position is available with Colorado State University (CSU) to be located in the Geologic Resources Division (GRD) of the National Park Service (NPS) which is based in Lakewood, Colorado (or remotely). The incumbent of this position is a member of the GSRI team responsible for carrying out natural resource inventory projects under the NPS Inventory and Assessment Program (I&A) of the Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD). These projects take place when parks require scientific information to be collected, analyzed, and synthesized to manage geologic or soil resources and related hazards.

Requirements

• M.S. in Geology
• At least two years of experience with geologic and/or soil resource management in National Parks or other public lands.
• Previous experience developing and managing databases and associated visualization tools to support resource management decision making.
• Previous experience writing and editing geologic materials developed for use by non-technical readers
• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for all new hires)
• Must be able to comply with all applicable regulations to obtain a Department of Interior Personal identity Verification Access Card (PIV) and public trust clearance (see https://ibc.doi.gov/HRD/personnel-security/piv-card for additional information). Required at a minimum to complete a NACI/SF85 (https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf85.pdf) and successfully pass a federal background check to remain eligible for employment by CSU.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license by the employment start date.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Colorado State University will not provide a visa.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Department of the Interior–National Park Service (NPS) Management Policies (2006), Director’s Orders, manuals, and laws governing geologic and soil resources, natural resource inventory and monitoring, and protection of natural and cultural resources.
• Experience with NPS geologic resource management principles; geologic concepts and terminology; and the ability to read, interpret, and synthesize geologic maps, tables, datasets, and scientific literature across a broad range of geologic features and processes in national parks or North America.
• Experience in geologic and soil data analysis and synthesis to develop understanding of, and solutions to, complex geologic resource problems.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and providing leadership to teams of scientists and technical specialists throughout all phases of complex, multi‑scale, long‑term geologic and soil inventory projects.
• Experience managing long‑term projects designed to inventory key geologic and soil resources at park units, ensuring alignment with policy, program priorities, and park needs.
• Experience using Microsoft Word (or similar word processing software), including advanced use of the track changes function, and familiarity with Microsoft Teams and OneDrive for collaboration and document management.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud (or similar software), including Acrobat Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, with experience formatting and laying out reports and publications using NPS style guidance and templates.
• Experience using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and related GIS tools, as well as Power BI and Microsoft Copilot, to analyze and edit geospatial data, develop maps and dashboards, automate workflows, and export products to publication‑ready formats.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, coordination, technical direction, and oversight for geologic and soil inventory projects; serves as project manager for assigned inventories, ensuring projects are well planned, effectively executed, and aligned with program priorities, park needs, and applicable policies, with time allocation varying by workload and project complexity.
• Coordinates with GSRI leadership, parks, Principal Investigators, and partners; schedules and facilitates project kick-off/scoping calls and progress check-ins; participates in field work when appropriate; resolves project issues; and conducts project close-out activities.
• Guides, reviews, and approves Detailed Implementation Plans; tracks project status and baseline deliverables; reviews draft products (reports, maps, posters, photographs, and data packages); and manages peer review to ensure technical accuracy, policy compliance, and applicability to park resource management.
• Manages production, publication, and distribution of deliverables, including NPS Science Report series publications, DataStore uploads, and web/SharePoint posting; ensures deliverables meet program requirements; and prepares concise project summaries for the GSRI Project Examples SharePoint page.
• Ensures GSRI data are produced, documented, and preserved in standardized formats compliant with NPS policies; maintains and updates data management guidance, tools, practices, and plans, with time devoted varying based on program needs.
• Works with the GSRI lead, staff, NRSS data professionals, and partners to implement standardized NPS DataStore reference text and metadata; updates the GSRI Data Management Plan and Records Management Protocol; and develops or maintains data visualizations, dashboards, and ArcGIS Online maps.
• Stays informed of NPS data management priorities and geospatial data models through communities of practice and collaboration with the GSRI GIS specialist; communicates current and anticipated data management needs through annual plan updates.
• Supports program priorities and project development through regular communication and meetings; provides technical review of reports; co-develops project designs and scopes of work; hosts GSRI office hours; contributes to websites, SharePoint, and annual reporting; and represents the program at meetings, trainings, and conferences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees