GIS Specialist - Limited Duration bei Pierce County, WA

About the Department

• This position is mostly remote but will come on-site as needed. There are occasional nights and evenings for engagement.
• This is a limited duration and is subject to end by 2026.

Position Duties

Why It's a Great Opportunity: 

As a recent graduate or a slightly more seasoned GIS professional with an emphasis on entry-level proficiency in GIS, you will support Long Range Planning and Development Services. With your current and relevant training in the latest GIS software, you will assist with geospatial data maintenance and updates, analysis, and product creation. 
 
 Some of the work you may support includes:

• Cleaning up (match current parcel data) datasets such as Zoning, Land Use Designations, Community Plans, Potential Annexation Areas, Development Engineering, and Development Moratorium.
• Creation of a dataset showing the history of zoning changes. This will also help with automating the creation of future zoning atlas pages. The current process is manual and very labor-intensive.  This would greatly reduce the time of creating zoning atlas pages.
• Creation of a dataset showing all zoning changes/amendments that have been applied for or suggested, and if approved or not.
• Assist with regular data maintenance.
• Assist with updating all the Online Maps and Apps from Web App Builder to Experience Builder to ensure that they continue to function as web browsers are updated.
• Assist with inventorying and scanning historic aerial photos and then geographically rectifying these images so that they can be used in GIS.
• Assist with the creation and maintenance of web mapping applications to support various projects within Long Range Planning.
• Assist with the creation of printed materials such as presentation maps for various public outreach events in support of Long Range Planning.

Why It's a Great Department: 

Planning and Public Works (PPW) is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities.  PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provide unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire.  We are responsible for the county road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!

Learn more about Planning and Public Works at www.piercecountywa.org/ppw.

How to be Successful in the Role: 

We are looking for someone with strong analytical skills, good judgement, the ability to communicate well using Plain Talk, and excellent customer skills. Ideally, we want a candidate who can think outside the box, is self-motivated with a keen attention to detail.

Your Future in this Role: 

You will have an ideal opportunity to work alongside a team of talented planners, engineers, and other County departments to problem-solve and look for efficiencies and strategies to provide improved public service in Pierce County. Your work will directly impact your community, and it offers a great foundation for future positions within the PPW Department and Pierce County.

Core Daily Responsibilities: 

• Prepare and design GIS products such as graphs, charts, maps, and other related graphic display materials.
• Analyze departmental GIS application needs; develop GIS procedures and programs.
• Coordinate GIS project efforts with Information Services Department, departmental staff and with other County departments.
• Assist department in defining, prioritizing, developing, and implementing GIS projects.
• Serve as the departmental liaison for related GIS project activities.
• Design, develop, and implement GIS procedures, programs and application scripts including script revisions and updates.
• Provide direction, technical assistance, guidance, and training to departmental staff on GIS programs and applications.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Minimum Qualifications

• Additional education or experience which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of this position may substitute on a year for year basis.
• Bachelors degree with major coursework in planning, geography, engineering, computer science, or related field.
• Two or more years experience in planning, systems development and design, cartography, programming, or related field is required, which includes one or more years work experience and/or formal coursework involving geographic information systems.
• Attach a cover letter and an example of your GIS work (e.g. copy of an actual GIS map or a link to an online application or story map website) with your online application. Failure to attach these items will result in an incomplete application.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Other Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at [email protected] and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.  Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place to live, work, and raise a family?