Geospatial Modeler | Chesapeake Conservancy

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Chesapeake Conservancy is looking to hire an experienced geospatial modeler for its Conservation Innovation Center (CIC) to lead continued development of a land use/land cover (LULC) conversion model and use these data for conservation-focused analyses. This position will be the technical lead for a collaborative multi-year data production project, in which we partner with staff from University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to create 1-meter land cover data and convert it into LULC data for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As the technical lead, this position is responsible for the overall development and maintenance of a cloud-based land use conversion model which will involve reviewing classification methods with project advisors, designing model revisions, and working with a small group of collaborators to implement said revisions. The Geospatial Modeler will help inform CIC Managers about project needs, including staffing, timeline, and computational resources. This position will frequently interact with stakeholders, such as the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Land Use Workgroup, to update on the status of the model, present results from its production runs, or to gather feedback for future revisions.

The Geospatial Modeler will work within a team of 8+ other geospatial analysts, modelers, 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 nuanced LULC data in other projects, ensuring appropriate use and communication of the data. This position may also support problem solving, geospatial analysis, or modeling, as needed, for other projects within the Conservation Innovation Center.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop and maintain geospatial models and technical documentation with a team of 4+ collaborators
• Lead multi-author code planning and development sessions with project collaborators that will inform project workplans
• Support production of highly accurate open data that meets project-dependent quality assurance standards
• Meet with project stakeholders to present project outcomes and gather feedback for further development
• Research and develop techniques for scalable and repeatable complex geospatial analyses and modeling, including cloud-based raster and vector processing
• Communicate results from technical analyses to a variety of audiences, including project stakeholders, regional colleagues, regional decision-makers, and the general public
• Support project and grant reporting, as needed

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

The Geospatial Modeler should be an organized, dependable, and goal-driven individual with an interest in landscape ecology and supporting 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. We are seeking candidates who are familiar with land use and land cover data, its uses for land management, and an awareness of some of the drivers for land use/land cover change. Successful candidates will be familiar with software development principles and are prepared to lead a small, collaborative development team using these principles. Other essential skills include adaptability, independence in problem solving, strong oral and written communication, and good time management. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong prioritization and task management skills is essential to the success of this position.

DESIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• 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.
• Previous work experience related to Chesapeake Bay region environmental issues is preferred.
• Authorization to work in the United States is required.
• All Chesapeake Conservancy employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary and benefits are commensurate with the candidate’s relevant professional experience and/or education, with an expected salary range of $72,500-$87,500. The Conservancy offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, participation in a retirement savings plan with an employer match, and an alternate work week. Opportunities for advancement and professional development are available. This position will not support relocation assistance.

LOCATION:

This position will be based at Chesapeake Conservancy’s office in Annapolis, Maryland. The office operates with a hybrid remote/in-person environment with the number of days in the office per month negotiable.

REPORTS TO:

This position reports to the Geospatial Program Manager within the Conservation Innovation Center at Chesapeake Conservancy.

TO APPLY:

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning April 3, 2023, with an anticipated start date in May 2023.  Only completed and signed applications will be considered.

Chesapeake Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland, dedicated to ensuring a healthier Chesapeake Bay watershed where fish and wildlife thrive, with healthy waters and abundant forests, wetlands, shorelines, and open spaces. With the human population in the Chesapeake Bay watershed approaching 19 million and growing, and with tens of thousands of acres of open space vanishing each year, the Conservancy works to connect people with the Chesapeake’s wildlife and history, conserve landscapes and rivers, and restore the region’s natural resources. The Conservancy works in close partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office, the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Bay Office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as many other federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, private foundations, and corporations to advance conservation.

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, 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.  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/

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A DIVERSE & WELCOMING WORKPLACE:

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

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.

For more questions regarding this position please contact Helen Sieracki, HR Coordinator, at hsieracki@chesapeakeconservancy.org.