GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Position Title: GIS/Database Technician
Employer: Forests Ontario
Location: Head office in Barrie, Ontario. Possibility of remote work.

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent
Start Date: July 18, 2022

Overview of Forests Ontario

Forests Ontario, working with its partners, is dedicated to the renewal and stewardship of Ontario's forest and grassland habitats. The goal of the organization is to support and promote habitat restoration, stewardship, education, and awareness initiatives.

Job Description

Forests Ontario is seeking a Geographic Information System (GIS)/Database Technician. This position will support Forests Ontario’s full suite of restoration programs including the 50 Million Tree Program, Forest Recovery Canada, and the Grassland Stewardship Initiative. The GIS/Database Technician will be responsible for maintaining, updating, and analyzing geospatial restoration and client data, and producing high-quality interactive maps. This position will conduct data analysis and complete data reports in support of program development as well as identifying new opportunities for Forests Ontario’s programs.

The position will assist and support Forests Ontario’s database manager/web developer in the management and maintenance of Forests Ontario’s cloud-based web application and software used in program administration and data management.

The candidate must be well-organized, self-directed, and have experience with programming, maintaining and enhancing software, data transformation, analysis, and visualization using R/RStudio, ESRI Mapping Products, and Office 365. The candidate must also possess strong technical writing skills and should have experience writing standard operating procedures, wikis, scientific papers, and how-to guides. The candidate will have strong communication skills to support internal staff and external stakeholders. An ideal candidate would have design abilities, experience working with web or software developers and a background in forestry, restoration, or other environmental sciences.

The GIS/Database Technician will report to the Restoration Programs Manager and support programs as needed. This will include project management, engaging with the public including private landowners, reporting to sponsors and program funders, and overseeing internal technical processes.

Requirements of position

• University Degree or College Diploma in GIS, Geography with strong computer software knowledge.
• Experience with data analysis and data management.
• Experience using software to produce static and web maps.
• Ability to create bespoke maps and web maps using ArcGIS Pro/Online and RStudio.
• Strong data transformation, analysis, and visualization skills.
• QA/QC experience.
• Strong competence in Linux administration including maintenance, upgrading and configuration.
• Strong knowledge of, and experience with, programming using R, Python, Structured Query Language (SQL), HTML/CSS/Javascript, Java. Experience with other software and programming languages is considered an asset and should be highlighted.

An ideal candidate may also have:

• Customer service experience and familiarity with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms such as Salesforce.
• Field work experience including forest/grassland inventory data collection.
• A degree or diploma in Forestry or other Environmental Sciences

Key responsibilities:

• GIS and database development and mapping of potential restoration opportunities to support program targets and capacity building for Forests Ontario programs.
• Deliver internal and external GIS services including map development, data validation and analysis.
• Assist and support Forests Ontario’s database manager/web developer in the maintenance and enhancement of the restoration programs’ cloud-based web applications and database software.
• Assist with the development, maintenance, and on-going updating of internal and external how-to guides for program databases.
• Implement dashboards for more efficient communication related to program data.
• Support the development and update of web-based communications for Forests Ontario’s programs, website, blog postings and/or other sources of web-based communication as required.
• Assist in developing program outreach materials for restoration programs and services.
• Analyze data patterns to identify gaps, inefficiencies and areas for program and project growth.
• Assist with assembly and distribution of agreements for restoration programs and services.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORK HOURS: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

SALARY: Based on years of relevant experience and qualifications, benefits are negotiable.

Closing Date: June 26, 2022

To Apply: Please send cover letter and resume to info@forestsontario.ca and include “GIS/DATABASE TECHNICAN” as the subject line. Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.