GIs Specialist Position

PRBO's Wetlands Ecology Division (http://www.prbo.org/wetlands) seeks an experienced, motivated GIS specialist with strong programming skills to support and enhance our conservation research projects. (S)he and other GIS staff will develop customized mapping and spatial analysis tools, automate and streamline PRBO's core GIS activities, bring new spatial technologies and techniques to PRBO, and raise the level of GIS proficiency among PRBO staff biologists.
Applicants should have a bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of experience as a GIS user and developer, including database management, software customization and enhancement (i.e., AML, Avenue, Visual Basic or
C++ skills), and cartography. Experience with conservation GIS
C++ applications,
good map design skills, and high aesthetic standards are also required. Ecological research experience is preferable, especially in the areas of wetlands and avian ecology.
Responsibilities
§ Work with landscape ecologist and post-doctoral researcher to develop
interactive mapping and modeling tools
§ Develop custom spatial analysis tools for biologists
§ Conduct spatial analysis and calculate spatial metrics for selected
projects
§ Perform simple image processing and rectification
§ Develop creative, publication quality maps and templates
§ Research and acquire relevant spatial data sets
§ Organize, document, and generate metadata for PRBO’s spatial datasets
§ Advise staff on GPS and GIS technologies
§ Provide technical GIS assistance to PRBO staff
§ Work with database manager and project leaders to develop and maintain
organization-wide data standards.
§ Help maintain and update ESRI licenses
Starting Date: ASAP
Starting Salary: DOE, $35-40,000/year
Benefits: Excellent medical/dental benefits (eligible to participate in 401k retirement plan after 6 months employment in good standing)
Location: PRBO’s Marin County, California offices
Application Process: Please send (e-mail or regular mail) a letter of interest, resume, and list of three references to Diana Stralberg, GIS Manager/Landscape Ecologist, PRBO, 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach, CA 94970 (dstralberg@prbo.org). Application deadline: open until filled.
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About PRBO: PRBO Conservation Science (www.prbo.org), founded as Point Reyes Bird Observatory in 1965, is a non-profit membership organization based in Stinson Beach, California. PRBO’s 120 staff and seasonal biologists work to conserve birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through scientific research and work throughout the West. The 2004 organizational budget is projected to be $5.4 million.
PRBO was honored with the 2002 national Conservation Partner Award from the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). As stated in that award announcement: "The efforts of PRBO have improved conservation, and monitoring of conservation, on USFS, BLM, and other public lands in [California]. PRBO's strong interest in partnerships and in linking monitoring to adaptive management is an extremely valuable asset to California's public lands and wildlife resources. "
PRBO is active in several national and international partnerships working to protect birds and ecosystems including the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), Partners in Flight, US Waterbird Conservation Plan, US Shorebird Conservation Plan, and North American Waterfowl Management Plan regional Joint Ventures (focusing on "all bird" wetlands conservation). PRBO serves on the boards and technical committees of the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (as Vice Chair), the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture, and the Sonoran Joint Venture.
PRBO is a member of the Bay/Delta Science Consortium of CALFED and serves on the Steering Committee of the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program. In addition, PRBO manages the bird component of the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program and serves on advisory committees for the San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuges. PRBO actively collaborates with many groups on San Francisco Bay research including: University of California-Davis, University of Washington, San Francisco State University, US Fish and Wildlife Service, California State Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Game, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Caltrans, and US Geological Survey, among others.
PRBO’s Wetland Ecology Division promotes the enhancement, restoration, and creation of coastal and wetland habitats to maintain and increase numbers and diversity of wetland bird species. The goal of PRBO’s San Francisco Bay Habitat Conservation Project is to ensure that San Francisco Bay remains a vital, productive estuary for Pacific Flyway birds with increases in habitat heterogeneity and health, and no net loss of bird diversity or abundance. The Wetland Ecology Division has been collecting bird population data on San Francisco Bay since the late 1970's. The Bay was a major focus of the Pacific Flyway Project (conducted from 1988-1995), the first-ever attempt to establish baseline data on the abundance and distribution of shorebirds in wetland habitats along the Pacific Flyway from Alaska to Baja California. Data from the Pacific Flyway Project provide information critical to current shorebird conservation planning, including restoration of salt ponds in San Francisco Bay.