Conservation Finance and GIS Research Associate – Boston, MA
Organization: The Trust for Public Land
Job Title: Conservation Finance and GIS Research Associate
Location: Boston, MA
Hours, Compensation & Benefits: Full-time. $37,440-$41,600. Comprehensive health-care package and 3 weeks vacation.
Position Dates: Start on March 18, 2013
Posted On: February 5, 2013
Organization Overview:
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Description:
We invite you to consider a position on our team of enthusiastic and talented conservation professionals. This Boston, Massachusetts-based position is responsible for conducting research and supporting GIS programmatic work for The Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) Conservation Finance and Economics Programs.
The Conservation Finance Program leads TPL in helping agencies and communities identify and create funds for conservation from federal, state, local, and philanthropic sources. The Conservation Economics Program demonstrates the economic benefits and fiscal impacts of land conservation programs at the local, state, and federal levels.
The Conservation Finance Research Associate will conduct or assist in research, writing, technical analysis, and presentations of reports and data management for a national team of conservation finance experts. This person will be responsible for the following primary tasks:
- research for the Conservation Almanac, a comprehensive database of public land conservation activities, programs and policies on a state-by-state basis;
- research for the National Conservation Easement Database, a comprehensive database to track conservation easements in the United States;
- GIS support for both the Conservation Almanac and National Conservation Easement Database projects; and
- research and written reports for the Conservation Finance Program. These reports will evaluate the potential of state and local governments to design public funding programs for land conservation.
Responsibilities:
Essential job functions include:
- Research and summarize information on state land conservation activities for the Conservation Almanac
- Contact government agencies to assemble acquisition data, including GIS shape files on local, state and federal land conservation programs nationwide, as well as developing a list of contacts in those states.
- Overall support for TPL’s Conservation Almanac and NCED team in these database building efforts by collecting, creating, managing and serving out GIS data for protected lands in the United States.
- Functions include supporting the Conservation Finance team with viewing of GIS data, responding to questions about the data and the creation of maps and other presentation products.
- Work with GIS analysts to build the spatial components of the Conservation Almanac and National Conservation Easement Database databases
- Identify and collect information from stakeholders through email and phone contacts; gathering data and qualitative information from existing materials (e.g. journal articles, government reports, legal statutes). Also to manage project relationships and project documentation.
- Effectively communicate results to a broad audience
- Conduct extensive internet research.
- Format data for input into online databases.
- Assess and analyze data to ensure quality control and reconcile discrepancies.
- Create charts and tables in Excel and other formats.
- Produce technical memos, reports and marketing materials.
- Some national travel for projects and conferences.
- Perform other relevant duties, including writing and administrative tasks, as necessary.
- Organize newly gathered data in preparation for analysis; and develop draft written products.
- Assists in the development of GIS program standards, systems and protocol for workflow, system design, implementation, management and quality control standards.
- Assist with the creation of presentation materials such as but not limited to PowerPoint presentations and report statistics and maps.
- Convey complex, technical project components to non-technical/non-GIS staff and partners.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis on environmental policy/natural resources and use of GIS technology such as Geography, Urban Planning, Ecology, Engineering, GIS, Landscape Architecture, Remote Sensing or a directly related field.
- Two years of hands-on professional experience working with geographical or land information systems to input and present data, including project management experience.
- Extensive knowledge of ESRI software ArcGIS 10.0 including: ArcView, ArcInfo, Model Builder, Geoprocessing tools, MAPLEX, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, Geodatabase and file-based database design and management.
- An understanding of cartographic principles.
- Presentation skills
- Excellent oral, written communication skills and analytical skills.
- Mastery of personal computer concepts and software applications, particularly Excel, Access, Power Point, database applications and other graphics programs.
- Attention to detail, organization, diligence and commitment to excellence.
- Ability to work under deadline pressure on multiple projects.
- Ability to work on complex assignments exercising good judgment and taking initiative with little supervision.
- Experience with relational databases is a plus.
How to Apply: Please apply online.
Contact Information:
The Trust for Public Land, http://www.tpl.org
10 Milk St., Suite 810, Boston, MA 02108
TPL Job Posting: http://tpl.catsone.com/careers/index.php?m=portal&a=details&jobOrderID=1863877
