GEOSPATIAL TECHNICAL LEAD

Job Type: Full-time, exempt

Reports To: Chesapeake Geospatial Project Manager

Direct Reports: None

Work Location: Annapolis, Maryland. The Chesapeake Conservancy office operates under a hybrid remote/in-person environment with one day in the office per week required for this position.

Anticipated Start Date: February 2025

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

The Chesapeake Conservancy is looking to hire an experienced geospatial technical lead for its Conservation Innovation Center (CIC) to lead continued development of a land use/land cover (LULC) conversion model and the production of high-resolution land use data. The technical lead will ensure these data are used in conservation-focused analyses through their own projects and interaction with stakeholders. This position will frequently interact with Chesapeake Bay watershed stakeholders and represent the Conservancy on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Land Use Workgroup providing updates on the model and classifications. 

The geospatial technical lead will work within a small team of geospatial analysts and data scientists who support land conservation and environmental restoration through data production, analysis and communication. In addition to leading the LULC modeling effort, this position will serve as an advisor for the use of our LULC data in other projects, ensuring appropriate use and communication of the data.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and maintain geospatial models and technical documentation collaboratively with a team of external partners and CIC staff 
• Research and develop techniques for scalable and repeatable complex geospatial analyses and modeling, including cloud-based raster and vector processing
• Lead multi-author code planning and development sessions with project collaborators that will inform project workplans 
• Lead the production of highly accurate open data that meets project-dependent quality assurance standards
• Meet with stakeholders to present project outputs and outcomes to gather feedback for further development
• Communicate results from technical analyses to a variety of audiences, including project stakeholders, regional decision-makers and the general public
• Support project and grant reporting, as needed 
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

The geospatial technical lead is an organized, dependable and goal-driven individual with an interest in environmental conservation and a desire to support land management decisions. Candidates should have a strong record of achievement in translating complex geospatial questions into analytic models utilizing local and cloud resources. Advanced knowledge of GIS, remote sensing and open-source programming is essential. Successful candidates will be familiar with software development principles and are prepared to lead a small, collaborative development team using these principles.

• At least 3 years of full-time work experience in geospatial modeling and analysis, especially developing open-source geospatial python workflows and implementation of python workflows in cloud-based environments
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (landscape ecology, geographic information systems, computer science, etc.) or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 additional years of relevant work experience
• Documented experience in the development and management of complex geospatial models, including experience with collaborative coding via Git
• Proficiency with open-source python packages and libraries such as GeoPandas, GDAL, Rasterio, Dask, Shapely and NumPy
• Proficiency with Microsoft Azure, including Azure Batch, maintaining Virtual Machines, Blob Storage and File Share
• Experience with software development processes and management techniques, such as agile or incremental development, and scrum or kanban management frameworks
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience writing technical documentation of models and analytic workflows

PREFERRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Previous work experience related to Chesapeake Bay region environmental issues
• Familiarity with land use and land cover data, its uses for land management and an awareness of the drivers for land use/land cover change
• Strong problem-solving skills, strong oral and written communication and good time management. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong prioritization and task management skills
• Experience developing and optimizing cloud-native geospatial workflows

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $68,000 - $78,000 depending on relevant experience. The Conservancy offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes:

• 3 medical plans, plus dental and vision insurance plans. The Conservancy pays 70-75% of the premium for medical and dental.
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
• Life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability insurance. The Conservancy pays 100% of the premium for these ancillary benefits.
• 15 days paid vacation leave accrued annually, increased to 20 days after 5 years of service
• 4 weeks paid sick and family leave accrued annually
• 13 paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 5% employer match
• Alternate Work Week and flexible work hours available
• Hybrid work arrangement
• Opportunities for advancement and professional development

Chesapeake Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland. We are a team of conservation entrepreneurs. We believe that the Chesapeake is a national treasure that should be accessible for everyone and a place where wildlife can thrive. We use technology to enhance the pace and quality of conservation, and we help build parks, trails and public access sites.

Within the Conservancy, the Conservation Innovation Center (CIC) has become a globally recognized leader in producing data, analyses and web applications to advance precision conservation and restoration. Through collaborative partnerships, the CIC develops innovative custom approaches to leverage high-resolution geospatial data to support informed decision making at a variety of scales, from individual parcels to the watershed-wide/regional scale. The CIC works with leading technical organizations like ESRI and Microsoft to deliver more precise data and bring cutting edge technology and techniques to our work. More information is available on our website at https://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org/conservation-innovation-center/

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Chesapeake Conservancy understands that protecting and restoring the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed requires intentional commitment to inclusive practices and narratives within the conservation movement. Through our work we celebrate and elevate the people, places, and cultures of the region, especially by engaging underrepresented communities. Committing to the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice is critical to achieve our vision of a Chesapeake that is healthy, accessible to everyone, and a place where people and wildlife thrive. To that end, we commit ourselves to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice both in our programmatic priorities and our internal organizational development through inclusive recruitment of staff and board members and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.

The Chesapeake Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available genetic test results, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability during any part of the recruitment process, please contact HR Manager Helen Sieracki at hsieracki@chesapeakeconservancy.org or (443) 261-2376.