GIS Analyst — Information Technologist II

Working/Functional Title

GIS Analyst

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities. 

We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and exper iences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive. We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture. We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities. We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities. We re cognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success. We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff. Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE), the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), this position will work closely with the Geographic Information System (GIS)/Information Technology (IT) team to facilitate biodiversity related modeling and management of spatial data that supports MNFI research projects. This position will have statewide responsibilities and will be housed at the MNFI office in Lansing, Michigan.

The MNFI maintains Michigan's Natural Heritage Database, documenting rare species and natural communities and providing critical information that supports regulatory, conservation, land management, and research decisions. Spatial modeling, GIS analysis, and biodiversity data management are central to MNFI's work and its partnerships with state, federal, local, and private organizations.

In this role, you will serve as a senior information technology professional and technical lead supporting enterprise GIS infrastructure, biodiversity information systems, spatial data services, and conservation decision-support tools. You will provide leadership for the design, implementation, integration, maintenance, and advancement of complex GIS and biodiversity information systems used by MNFI staff and agency partners.

Responsibilities include advanced geospatial analysis, database administration, application development, systems integration, cloud-based GIS solutions, and strategic technology planning. You will lead complex GIS and biodiversity data management projects, serve as a technical resource for staff and partners, ensure data quality and system performance, evaluate emerging technologies, develop enterprise workflows, and support conservation, regulatory, and research initiatives throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

This position will be housed at the MNFI office located in Lansing, Michigan, within a secure State of Michigan building.

This is an off-dated position funded for one year from the date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

Database Administration

• Acts as a lead in the design, modification, implementation, an d integration of complex geospatial tools and databases, biodiversity information systems and database support software with little oversight and few questions regarding the resolution of problems.
• Serve as primary technical resource regarding geospatial and biodiversity database design, performance optimization, and system integration.
• Develop and maintain database architecture, data models, indexing strategies, and data governance procedures.
• Monitors database applications for optimal performance, storage utilization, security and reliability.
• Monitors the physical size of databases and estimates size needs.
• Changes designs of databases and/or indexes to accommodate changing application needs or environmental factors which affect database performance.
• Migrates database applications and changes from testing to production.
• Develop and implement data quality assurance and quality control procedures.
• Create and maintain automated database maintenance, monitoring, backup, and recovery processes.
• Perform complex SQL development and database performance tuning.
• Coordinate migration of applications, databases, and related infrastructure between development, testing, and production environments.
• Evaluate and implement new database technologies and enterprise data management solutions.
• Design, implement, and maintain GIS servers, cloud environments, enterprise geodatabases, and supporting infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain operational standards, procedures, and disaster recovery plans.
• Evaluate, test, and recommend hardware, software, and cloud-based technology solutions.
• Coordinate with university IT personnel, vendors, and external partners regarding infrastructure needs and technology planning.

GIS Systems Development and Integration

• Serve as technical lead for development and implementation of enterprise GIS solutions supporting MNFI programs and partner agencies.
• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain complex GIS applications, dashboards, web applications, geoprocessing tools, and automated workflows.
• Integrate biodiversity information systems with external databases, cloud services, partner systems, and web-based applications.
• Develop application programming interfaces (APIs), automated data exchange processes, and system integration workflows.
• Evaluate emerging GIS technologies and lead implementation of new technical solutions.
• Independently troubleshoot and resolve highly complex application and system issues.

Biodiversity Informatics and Spatial Analysis

• Independently lead complex biodiversity modeling and geospatial analysis projects involving multiple datasets, methodologies, partners, and stakeholders.
• Design and implement advanced spatial models and decision-sup port tools for rare species conservation, ecological assessment, landscape connectivity analysis, and regulatory review.
• Develop standardized analytical methods, workflows, and documentation used across multiple projects and programs.
• Provide expert technical consultation regarding geospatial analysis methodologies and interpretation of results.

Project Leadership and Coordination

• Independently lead highly complex GIS, database, and biodiversity informatics projects involving multiple staff, partners, programs, funding sources, and technologies.
• Coordinate activities among GIS staff, research staff, contractors, project managers, and external partners.
• Monitor project progress and proactively identify risks, issues, and resource needs.
• Recommend strategic solutions and alternatives to project managers and organizational leadership.
• Ensure projects are completed according to budget, technical specifications, quality standards, and deadlines. 

General

• Independently plans and leads projects of moderate size (such as 3-5 team members), complexity, and duration.
• Participates as an independent, fully-functioning professional member of large/complex project teams.
• Maintains currency in GIS, biodiversity informatics, cloud technologies, application development, database administration, and information technology best practices.
• Acts as a consistent technical resource to information technology professionals, researchers, and partner organizations.
• Provides independent specialized second-level and third-level customer support as an identified expert in a particular technical area.
• Provides training and assistance to customers and internal staff.

Minimum Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in geography, ecology, botany, zoology, computer science, information systems, or related information technology field, or equivalent degree in related science field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in GIS, information technology, database administration, software development, biodiversity informatics, or related technical fields.
• Performing analytical and research techniques in an area related to research being performed.

Desired Qualifications

Education and Professional Experience

• Master's degree in Geography, GIS, Computer Science, Information Systems, Ecology, Natural Resources, Conservation Biology, Data Science, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in GIS, biodiversity informatics, information technology, database administration, software development, or related technical disciplines.
• Experience serving as technical lead or project lead on complex GIS, database, or information technology projects.
• Experience developing work plans, estimating project budgets, and coordinating staff resources across multiple projects.

GIS and Spatial Analysis Expertise

• Demonstrated advanced proficiency with Esri Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Experience Builder, Survey123, Field Maps, Dashboards, and related Esri technologies.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing enterprise geospatial solutions.
• Demonstrated expertise in complex geospatial analysis, spatial modeling, habitat suitability modeling, landscape connectivity analysis, and conservation planning applications.
• Experience designing and implementing geospatial workflows supporting large-scale natural resource or conservation programs.
• Knowledge of geospatial standards, metadata requirements, and quality assurance/quality control methodologies.

Database Administration and Data Management

• Demonstrated experience administering enterprise geodatabases and relational database management systems.
• Experience developing and maintaining applications using Python, JavaScript, Arcade, SQL, and PostgreSQL, including database development, integration, and performance optimization.
• Experience designing and implementing complex data models, database schemas, and data governance practices.
• Experience integrating multiple databases, applications, and external data sources into enterprise information systems.
• Knowledge of data security, backup, recovery, and disaster planning procedures.

Software Development and Automation

• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining applications using Python, JavaScript, Arcade, SQL or related programming languages.
• Experience designing automated data processing, reporting, and GIS work flows.
• Experience developing web-based GIS applications, APIs, and system integrations.
• Experience utilizing version control systems and software development best practices.

Systems Administration and Cloud Technologies

• Experience administering GIS servers, cloud-based GIS environments, and enterprise technology infrastructure.
• Knowledge of cloud-hosted database systems and web services.
• Experience supporting enterprise GIS deployments and integrations across multiple organizations.
• Understanding of information technology architecture, networking, cybersecurity principles, and systems administration.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to serve as a recognized technical resource and subject matter expert.
• Experience mentoring staff, interns, students, or junior professionals.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate activities among diverse stakeholders.
• Experience developing organizational standards, procedures, best practices, and technical guidance documents.
• Ability to independently evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.

Natural Heritage and Conservation Experience

• Knowledge of Natural Heritage methodologies, biodiversity data management, and conservation planning principles.
• Experience working with rare species, natural communities, ecological datasets, or environmental information systems.
• Familiarity with state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, and regulatory review processes.
• Understanding of ecological research methods and application of scientific data to resource management decisions.

Communication and Organizational Effectiveness

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate highly technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated success preparing technical reports, grant deliverables, presentations, documentation, and training materials.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and projects in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound professional judgment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

• Current resume/CV.
• Cover letter.
• Four (4) professional references including at least two (2) prior or current supervisors.

Work Hours

Generally 40 hours Monday through Friday, with some nights and weekends needed.

Description of End Date

This is an off-dated position funded for one year from the date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Website

https://youtu.be/R58m2-um5Mg?si=Qra8RMsP

Bidding eligibility ends October 20, 2026, 11:55 PM