GIS Strategy and Policy Officer
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Under general direction, the PBES Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Strategy and Policy Officer is responsible for planning, designing, developing, and managing the Planning, Building, and Environmental Services Department (PBES) GIS projects and activities including the creation and maintenance of geospatial data, maps and mapping related records, documents and reports; coordinating GIS integration and development, including providing high level expertise related to complex GIS analyses, and administration and support to departmental staff and relevant boards, committees, and outside agencies.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The PBES GIS Strategy & Policy Officer classification is an expert level professional that requires significant expertise in a professional field. Positions assigned to this level require highly specialized knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience, and are expected to exercise independent judgment in the performance of their duties.
This class is distinguished from:- The Geographic Information Officer classification which is in the ITS Department and responsible for formulating County-wide GIS program development, general data storage and management.
- The GIS Technician classification series, which is responsible for computer map design, spatial data management, and spatial analysis.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Supervision is provided by the Deputy Director of Planning Building & Environmental Services.
Employees in this classification supervise assigned staff.
- Example of Duties
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The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Formulates and manages overall PBES GIS program strategy including the development of strategic initiatives and long-range implementation plans.
Plans, designs, develops, and manages all departmental GIS projects and activities, including the creation and maintenance, and quality assurance of geospatial data layers, maps, and supporting documentation.
Develops and implements PBES GIS program policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with County-wide enterprise GIS practices and promoting efficient use of GIS resources.
Coordinates and leads inter-departmental and external GIS projects, ensuring data consistency, accuracy, and accessibility across the County and with partnering agencies/consultants.
Oversees the creation, update, and maintenance of GIS data layers, tables, maps, and supporting files.
Develops specialized mapping applications in support of County and departmental goals and established objectives.
Utilizes GIS and graphics software to conduct analyses and produce mapping of potential environmental impacts of proposed large or complex development activities.
Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend appropriate service and staffing levels.
Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the program's budget; participates in the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; ensures that program expenditures and cost estimates are adequately documented and monitored throughout the program area; review and approve program expenditures; implement adjustments.
Consults with County staff, consultants and clients on projects; recommends solutions; advises on project feasibility; develops plans for design, coordination and implementation of project; develops cost estimates; assigns and coordinates technical resources; prepares and schedules project activities; designs and review technical specifications, modification, and development; coordinates testing and implementation; manages project budget.
Coordinates and manages contracts for services and products; develops Requests for Proposals (RFPs), product and service specifications, and contract forms and procedures; prepares contracts; interprets financial and operational contract terms; directs or conducts audits to ensure contract compliance; develops, reviews and makes recommendations concerning bid proposals and agreements; recommends solutions to contractual problems.
Provides GIS training and support to departmental staff on use of mapping applications/resources and GPS equipment.
Researches, monitors, and evaluates new trends and technologies in GIS, recommending and planning system upgrades, replacements, and strategic partnership opportunities to incorporate appropriate enhancements.
Manages assigned systems; monitors, tracks and responds to reports of system problems; recommends and coordinates trouble shooting procedures; monitors system availability, performance management and capacity planning issues; assures timely, accurate and prompt turnaround of customer submitted work requests; monitors workload statistics to plan capacity and other upgrades.
Represents the department as needed at meetings, commissions, committees, boards and public hearings.
Perform related duties as assigned. - Typical Qualifications
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KNOWLEDGE OF:
Principles and practices of management, supervision, leadership, motivation, team building, organization, training, and conflict resolution.
Principles, standards and practices of GIS program development and administration, including the production of maps and statistical data.
Project management techniques and principles.
GIS software, database management systems, GPS software and scripting languages such as Python.
Analytical techniques, math, and basic statistics related to geospatial data and data reporting.
Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
Geographic systems hardware, software, and applications utilized by the County.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations.
SKILL TO:
Supervise, evaluate, train, and develop staff and organize and manage their work.
Strategize, plan, organize and administer an effective and comprehensive GIS program.
Develop and implement operational procedures.
Plan, schedule, and monitor the work of assigned staff.
Identify and analyze administrative problems and implement operational changes.
Complete assignments within strict time constraints.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
ABILITY TO:
Stoop, kneel, reach, stand, walk, finger, grasp, feel (i.e., sense of touch), and perform repetitive motion.
Perform light work: exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Have close visual acuity, with or without correction, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal, read, etc., and have depth perception to operate a motor vehicle.
Perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction and receive detailed information through oral communication. Communicate to express or exchange ideas.
Interact with disruptive and/or confrontational people.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible professional experience involving GIS analysis, programming, or systems engineering, including two years of the required four years in a lead worker or supervisory capacity.
Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in geography, computer science, information systems, planning, geographic information systems, or a related field.
