GIS Manager

The GIS Manager manages the Geographic Information System (GIS) Division of the Information Technology Services Department. The City’s GIS is a highly integrated complex enterprise system based on the ESRI platform, which is used as a basis for operations in many City departments. This position is responsible for the overall vision, design, management, and leadership of the City’s enterprise GIS program, including the management of the City’s GIS technology, services, and geospatial data. Performs technology infrastructure integration design and services administration between GIS and other City business systems such as work management, permitting, document management and financials. Provides comprehensive planning and system architecture design of GIS database and application systems for all GIS integrated business functions of the city.

The full salary range for this position is $8,939/month - $10,831/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy.

Flexibility and work/life balance are important to the City of Bellingham. Remote work is allowed up to 3 days per week. We allow some “flexing” of hours during each pay period to support work/life balance for employees. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB:

1. Leads and manages the City’s GIS program providing vision and direction to city staff, leadership in the utilization of GIS and promoting GIS effectively as a business solution. Manages the implementation, development, and services delivery of the GIS including strategic planning, coordination, prioritization, and goal setting. 
2. Manages, defines, and monitors the services of the enterprise GIS. Coordinates all data standards, processes, and workflow to ensure that GIS data and services meet requirements. Ensures that data, security, and system standards are maintained by all users of the GIS system from all departments throughout the city. Enforces data standards, procedures, and workflow for all information in the enterprise GIS. 
3. Plans, organizes, coordinates, assigns, and evaluates the work of professional and technical staff in the GIS Division. Reviews daily accomplishments of the assigned GIS staff and modifies personnel assignments as necessary. Conducts performance evaluations on the assigned staff. Reviews job descriptions and participates in the hiring process of GIS staff in all departments throughout the city. Responsible for coaching and corrective actions and participates in disciplinary actions.
4. Provides direction and coordination of all City GIS staff who perform editing, data manipulation or analysis of enterprise GIS data. Leads the city-wide GIS coordination team and GIS user group.   
5. Manages and prioritizes all GIS enterprise level modifications and updates. Coordinates communication on system and project status with other city departments. Directs team function as a citywide technical resource for GIS development and integration, based on citywide work priorities and work plans.
6. Acts as project manager for GIS software purchase, implementation projects, custom GIS and database applications, development services and digital mapping services. Plans, organizes, and develops project outline. Communicates with team members and acts as liaison between vendors and stakeholders.  
7. Protects and advances the business needs of the City following best practices for technology contract negotiations. Prepares and manages capital improvement budget for GIS. Develops improvement goals and priorities based on budget. Presents team recommendations to Systems Steering Committee. 
8. Recommends preliminary annual budget for the section. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, and projects. Monitors and approves expenditures, recommends adjustments as necessary. 
9. Manages and coordinates GIS application and integrated database customization and other related technology projects based on business needs of the city. Coordinates and assists the development and integration of business applications and databases with the GIS system. Assists in the development of procedures and application and database integration to eliminate redundancy and improve efficiency.
10. Develops requests for information (RFI's) and requests for proposals (RFP's) for GIS projects. Reviews proposals to ensure that vendors meet minimum requirements, performs analysis of software systems and assists with software selection processes. Performs cost-benefit analyses as needed. Recommends upgrades, changes and new software purchases to the Information Technology Services Department (ITSD) Director, the Systems Steering Committee, or to City leadership. Provides technical support to assigned City System Team(s) or project teams. 
11. Stays current with GIS-related developments, trends, and changes, GIS data management technology, equipment and related hardware and applications software. Recommends upgrades, changes, and new software purchases to the appropriate department head in the above areas. Attends conferences, user group meetings and trainings as necessary. Encouraged to lead, speak, teach and participate as a leader in GIS groups.  

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, geography, information systems management, or related field. Masters degree preferred. 
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience related to the analysis, design, implementation, support and administration of GIS systems in a complex enterprise environment using the Esri Platform required.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in GIS Management or GIS project management required.
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in GIS database design and relational database management required. 
• Experience in a leadership role in software acquisition project(s) and major systems upgrade project(s) preferred.
• Experience providing systems design, administration, and implementation in a governmental setting preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered. 

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Agreement to and signature of a Privileged Access Confidentiality Agreement is required.
• Willingness and ability to work extra hours or change hours as needed to perform systems work outside of normal business hours.  
• Certification as a GIS Professional (GISP) strongly preferred.