GIS Technician

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a national nonprofit organization advocating healthier lifestyles by creating a nationwide network of public trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors.

Founded in 1986, RTC is one of the most respected trail advocacy organizations in the nation with more than 150,000 members and supporters. After helping create more than 20,000 miles of rail-trail over the last 27 years, RTC has an ambitious goal for the future: by 2020, 90 percent of Americans will live within three miles of a trail system.

RTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in the Northeast, the Midwest, the West and Florida.

Position Overview 

Rails-to-Trails seeks an entry-level GIS Technician in the national office located in downtown Washington, D.C., in the West End neighborhood, and is easily accessible by Metro rail. The work environment is a normal office setting with low to moderate noise level.

The ideal candidate should have a very strong grasp of the ArcGIS platform, especially data editing tools. They should have experience with relational databases, remote sensing data, and data topology.

Responsibilities

Core Job Duties: 

• The entry level TrailLink GIS Technician serves in the primary role of digitizing and maintaining spatial data for RTC's trails database.
• The TrailLink GIS Technician will interface with the TrailLink Coordinator and TrailLink Audit Coordinator to locate new multi-use trails to add to the database and update data for existing trails.
• Additionally, they will work with the other members of the TrailLink team, including the Senior Director of TrailLink, to identify and fulfill the strategies and goals related to the TrailLink platform.
• The TrailLink GIS Technician may also be called upon to assist other RTC staff with GIS and map requests, and assist with locating and editing data for research projects. 

Qualifications 

• The candidate should have prior experience creating large datasets from digitization, and working with GPS data, and other spatial data formats. Experience creating SQL queries is a plus. Some experience with network datasets and network analysis is helpful.   
• Proficiency with ESRI's ArcGIS platform and extensions and experience with ArcSDE data is helpful, but not required.
• Experience digitizing data and editing large datasets.
• Experience with image interpretation and data verification.
• A solid understanding of relational databases and data queries.
• Experience locating project-specific datasets and working with Census data (including ACS) and other government datasets is desirable.
• Verifiable experience creating quality cartographic products.
• Experience with the Google Maps API and web development concepts is helpful, but not required.
• Programming experience, particularly from a web or GIS perspective, is a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to listen to and interpret non-technical user requests or problems and clearly communicate technical ideas and concepts to GIS operators and users, and non-GIS users.
• Bachelor's degree in Geography, Urban Planning, Computer Science or a related field, with very strong experience in GIS theory and practice.
• Or 3 years job experience with daily use of ESRI products may substitute for a degree. Experience with spatial analysis techniques.

Note Employer's Rights: RTC reserves the right to revise, change or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with RTC's business needs. This job description is by no means an implied contract.

To Apply

Please mail, fax or email (use address below) your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Duke Ellington Building
Attn: Elton Clark, Human Resources Office
2121 Ward Court, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037

• Use one form of transmitting your resume.
• No phone calls please.

~ RTC is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified candidates regardless of race, color, gender, disability, or national origin. Women and diverse applicants are encouraged to apply. ~