Lead GIS Analyst

This Opportunity

Provides high level technical assistance and guidance for capturing, modeling, and analyzing geographical and tabular data to illustrate and determine spatial relationships as it pertains to client projects.  Provides support and guidance for multi-site/phase projects by overseeing field investigations, spatial mapping, discovering patterns and trends, and developing mapping applications and tools at the intersection of data analysis, programming, and cartography.  Ensures that documentation, mapping, and recommendations accurately portray the results of analyses and addresses impact and long-term risks on project areas by applying and integrating GIS data and perspective to environmental challenges across a variety of science and planning disciplines.  Assists project leadership with overseeing environmental impact assessment, master planning, corrective/mitigation strategy development, permitting, and/or restoration activities.  Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards.

Your Impact

• Lead, conduct, and review GIS surveys and reports from teams and field sites for project research and investigation.  
• Oversee quality control standards and procedures for accurate and precise measurements, documentation, and analysis of incoming and existent data.
• Coordinate the modeling and preparation of topographic maps, graphs, and tabular data using aerial photographs, GPS, and other tools and data to determine exact locations of project areas, site impact, and associated physical and geographic sensitivities. 
• Perform professional GIS work and oversee investigations, inspections, studies, and surveys to gain further information relating to digital mapping, merging topographical data with external data, verifying site conditions and characteristics, and validating and signing off on the authenticity of spatial data. 
• Analyze literature, maps, data, archived records, and other sources of information to identify, visualize, and articulate primary, secondary, and tertiary impact.
• Prepare and complete GIS segments pertaining to impact assessment and/or permitting activities for assigned projects (e.g. CEQA, NEPA, etc.). 
• Prepare data and visualizations such as maps, tables, charts, reports, models, cross-sections, and other illustrations for the interpretation or presentation of more complex data, findings, or analyses.
• Prepare comprehensive technical reports and presentations that explain research, findings, and recommendations to address, prevent, control, or remediate physical and geographic site issues on moderate to large-scale projects.
• Ensure compliance with guidelines and project-specific procedures which include but are not limited to, the maintenance of any data collection, database, documentation, logbooks, and the management of a digital library of geographic maps in various file types.
• Provide and oversee GIS input to planners, scientists, and engineers in the analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of spatial and geographic data obtained during field investigations, offering insight with moderate to high-level or complex threat mitigation, master planning, and permitting activities. 
• Assist with development and scoping of medium-to large-sized projects.
• Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams in executing project work, including project budgets, tracking hours and expenses, and task completion.
• Oversee existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases and proficiency with geodatabase design.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, clients, communities, subcontractors, and technical staff in a confident and professional manner.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide future ready solutions for clients.
• Actively engage in business development and proposal writing.
• Remain current in latest GIS practices, methods, procedures, subject matter, and techniques.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in GIS, Environmental Science, Planning, or a related field.
• 7 to 10 years of relevant post-education experience in discipline with prior GIS experience.
• Advanced proficiency with ESRI’s Arc GIS platform. 
• Competent understanding of AutoCAD, Python, Visual Basic, Arcade, or SQL programming.
• Strong analytical skills and prior demonstrated experience with research techniques, modeling data, scanning and digitizing files, and experience maintaining records and databases for assigned projects required.
• Experience supporting project managers and serving as deputy project manager.
• Demonstrated experience leading and reviewing technical reports, mapping efforts, impact evaluations, siting reports, planning scopes, and environmental permit applications for assigned GIS segments/project work.
• Strong expertise with digitalized mapping, fieldwork (survey), data analysis, spatial relationship identification and evaluation.
• Established experience coordinating with clients, regulatory permitting and resource agencies, communities, and technical staff required.
• Highly capable self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation and communication software, technology, web mapping applications and tools.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from research, testing results, data collation, and identifying the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Essential professional licensure/certification.
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