Bat Conservation International

Geospatial Team Lead

BCI and our Mission

Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending bat extinctions worldwide, seeks a Geospatial Team Lead to join BCI’s HP&R Program. The Geospatial Team Lead must be highly collaborative and enjoy working within an environment that is mission and results-driven, where they can bring their whole self to work and contribute to the mission of BCI, the HP&R program, and lasting, positive ecological change.

BCI is a distributed organization with staff across the United States. The Geospatial Team Lead can live anywhere in the western US but will be coordinating conservation projects across the globe, emphasizing the southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations

The Geospatial Team Lead will lead, manage, and occasionally perform a variety of conservation activities that benefit bats and their habitats. They will oversee project management, supervise the growing geospatial team, assist with production work, optimize databases, and develop new workflows as needed. Occasional field work will be required to understand existing workflows, conduct data collection, assist with UAS operations (with the option of training to become a remote pilot), test new workflows, scout project sites, and train staff in new workflows.

This position is ideal for a data manager, data scientist, biologist, natural resource manager, or conservationist with interest and experience conducting/managing geospatial work across various platforms and landscapes.

Position Description:

The Geospatial Team Lead will:

• Lead geospatial project management and organization. 
• Act as the main point of contact and administrator of BCI’s organizational AGOL account and geospatial licenses.
• Maintain geospatial and non-geospatial databases.
• Manage growing geospatial team (currently 1 GIS analyst and 1 UAS lead) and hire as needed.
• Build relationships and work with project partners to attain or send various geospatial data, which may include developing storage and viewing capacity for these partners.
• Develop and update training documentation on current and future workflows
• Support conservation field staff by setting up data collection methods in ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123 Connect.
• Assist and train field staff to access data, use geospatial tools and support with troubleshooting various geospatial hardware and software.
• Processing, quality control, and producing deliverables from LiDAR data.
• Create quality map products in ArcGIS Pro for project reports, proposals, communicating conservation objectives and inform planning efforts.
• Assist with project reporting and coordination with project partners.
• Research and development work (integrating new technologies into data collection and management such as UAVs, custom applications, etc.).
• Test new geospatial hardware & software, and/or train field staff in geospatial data collection (in the field and/or remotely).

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

Required Knowledge/Experience

• Four years of relevant work experience, a GIS Certificate (from either a university or community college) and/or a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Environmental Studies, Biology, Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or other similar degrees.
• Advanced experience in the use of GIS for analyzing and managing data, and creating maps.
• Advanced experience in ESRI software products such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Dashboards, Field Maps, and Survey123/Survey123 Connect.
• Advanced experience with remotely sensed data and field data collection.
• Experience with LiDAR data
• Experience training individuals and groups on equipment, software, or hardware use.
• Experience in leading, managing and supervising a team (or department) and administering a budget. 
• Proficiency in spoken and written communication in English by email, Zoom communications, in-person meetings and in-person presentations to staff, stakeholders, and partners.

• Cartography skills and experience creating cartographic and spatial data visualization products for static and dynamic (web-based) map applications.
• Database creation, management, and maintenance experience.

• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, including management and coordination of remote staff and external partners
• Proven success in independently managing multiple tasks/projects simultaneously and accurately with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize under the pressure of deadlines

• Ability to work, communicate, and ask for support effectively with all levels of staff, government agencies, industry, landowners, and other partners.
• Ability to occasionally work and hike in remote environments with accompanying gear.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge/Experience

• Experience with Cloud Compare and/or GeoSLAM Connect
• Experience with handheld, terrestrial LiDAR scanning (especially with GeoSLAM units)
• Interest in collecting and processing UAS data from fixed-wing or multirotor UAV’s
• Experience in natural resource restoration, conservation and/or monitoring. 
• Creating geospatial python scripts
• Extensive experience working in dynamic and remote outdoor environments
• Experience and/or interest in engaging with different communities and developing opportunities that encourage and grow a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation community.

Work Characteristics and Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills and creative problem-solving
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and self-starter 
• Seeks out adversity and has high emotional awareness
• Highly collaborative with a growth mindset and enjoys challenges
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptive
• Highly curious and have a deep desire to learn new things 
• Contributes to a healthy workplace and organization

Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)

BCI is deeply committed to JEDI and embeds JEDI-centered practices in the conservation work and organizational culture. BCI is determined to be an employer of choice and believes that the best organizational performance will come from a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment. Read more about our JEDI statement at www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.

To Apply: 

If you have 70% or more of the desired qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Individuals interested in applying should upload their resume and cover letter to the application portal. In the cover letter, please explain how your work and lived experiences have prepared you to be successful in this position, what you find compelling about this job, and how you (and your career) will benefit from this position.

Applications are due by midnight on 5 January, 2024. Interviews will be held mid to late January, 2024 with a tentative start date of end of February, 2024. 

All applications are reviewed within ADP Workforce Now (https://1.adp.com/qQk4NNunyS4). 

Compensation and Benefits

• $75,000 annually, full-time salaried. Paid biweekly electronically or via check.
• Compensation package includes generous paid vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer match; health, dental, and vision insurance plan.  
• Organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development.