Water Quality GIS Analyst

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50321 - Polk County, IA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Water Quality Bureau is seeking a dynamic, self-starting, and highly collaborative professional to fill the role of Water Quality GIS Analyst (Geologist 3). This position is tailored for an energetic team player who enjoys working in a cross-functional environment and possesses the drive to take complex technical initiatives and independently run with them. Rather than operating in a data silo, you will serve as a vital storyteller and relationship-builder, bridging the gap between advanced spatial analytics and human-centric teamwork. You will work closely with a diverse team of internal water quality professionals, stakeholders, and state and federal agency partners to support the implementation of the Clean Water Act. By turning complex monitoring data into clear, interactive visual tools, you will directly enhance public resource management with critical water quality spatial data. At the core of this role is the independent execution of high-level spatial analyses and data visualization using ESRI's ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Spatial Analyst tools. The daily workflow involves processing LiDAR elevation data, applying basic remote sensing principles, and performing spatial modeling to simulate critical environmental processes such as erosion, sedimentation, nutrient transport, and runoff. You will be responsible for creating interactive online resources, paper and electronic maps, and digital story maps that translate Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment (WQMA) data into meaningful tools for public education and decision-making. Additional core responsibilities include managing data across various WQMA databases, maintaining detailed metadata, and collaborating with program staff to identify lake or wetland footprints and map impaired waters coverages for the biennial 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report. This position demands a proactive approach to watershed project development, field implementation, and post-project evaluation. You will provide essential GIS data and technical guidance to watershed sponsors and project coordinators, utilizing tools like the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and custom watershed characterization models. Furthermore, you will design mobile tools to collect field data and facilitate watershed fieldwork assessments targeting tillage practices, streambank and shoreline erosion, stream corridor characterization, and the location and condition of existing Best Management Practices (BMPs). A defining aspect of this role is serving as an active technical mentor and educator for the bureau. You will regularly provide one-on-one coaching and organized training sessions to assist non-GIS professional staff and local project partners with basic to intermediate GIS needs and nonpoint source pollution reduction calculations. To build long-term capacity, you will author clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and build user-friendly map templates so that fellow staff can generate their own ongoing GIS products. Your communication and presentation skills will be utilized as you represent the Department at regional or national meetings, deliver formal presentations to public stakeholders, and serve as a liaison with other state and federal agencies. Finally, you will support data governance by collaborating with DNR staff and the Department of Management Division of Information Technology (DOM-DoIT) to establish unified enterprise data standards for all GIS-related projects.

Requirements

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 georeferenced 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.
6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both that encompasses the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of surface and ground water resources including the following: Surface water hydrology, Ground water hydrology, Hydraulics, Water resources engineering, Natural resources conservation engineering, Water supply engineering, Water quality engineering, Erosion and sediment transport, Surface or ground water chemistry, Watershed dynamics, Limnology, Stream or wetland ecology
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in geology, physical geography, or a closely related geological science, and experience equal to three years of full-time work in geology.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in a natural science, computer science, math, or engineering field, and experience equal to four years of full-time work in ground water, soils, environmental geology, geographic information systems, or other related earth science specialty.
One year of full-time work experience in geology; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in geology, physical geography, or a closely related geological science equals one year of full-time experience; and a total of two years of graduate-level education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in in geology, physical geography, or a closely related geological science equals one year of full-time experience.
Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Geologist 2.

Nice To Haves

College or university students that are pending graduation in [MONTH} of 20[YY] with a Bachelor’s Degree in a natural science are eligible to apply for this position.

Responsibilities

Performs high-level spatial analyses and produce documents using GIS software such as ESRI's ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Spatial Analyst modeling tools, ArcGIS Online, and other platforms for data visualization.
Utilizes computers and database computer software products for the purposes of managing watershed and water quality monitoring data, and project-based data sets, and for generating maps, reports, tables, charts, trends, story maps, and other data visualization products.
Coordinates and develops mobile assessment tools for NPS and partners’ water quality improvement program projects
Develops and maintains effective working relationships with staff, other state and federal agencies, the regulated public, industry professionals, and local stakeholders
Works closely with Water Quality Bureau Program staff to analyze data sets in order to effectively display and communicate water quality data.
Create SOPs and templates so other bureau staff can produce their own ongoing GIS products for their projects.
Work with water quality bureau staff on projects relating to the implementation of the Clean Water Act by utilizing GIS software and other computer software products.

Benefits

Insurance benefits that start the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
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.
Family friendly and professional work environment.
Employee Discount Programs (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling)
Flexible work schedules (as approved by the supervisor).
Opportunities for hybrid telework (as approved by the supervisor).
Workout/Gym facilities available onsite at 6200 Park Ave.