Introduction

The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) promotes a vision for economic development, flexibility, and local authority throughout Maryland. The agency helps Maryland's counties and municipalities in land use and resource planning and provides review and technical assistance on a variety of planning topics. In addition, Planning offers data, analysis and research assistance, and policy development and implementation support to local governments as well as communities, businesses, and other organizations. As Planning monitors and forecasts changes in development and land use throughout the state, its staff creates tools that help plan Maryland's future. Information on demographic, socio-economic, political, cultural, geographic and land use trends is collected, analyzed, and distributed in multiple formats. Planning supports interactive, web-based map display of census data, land use, parcel data and aerial imagery to assist local government growth and land use planning decisions.

Main Purpose Of Job
Provide senior leadership for selected projects and functions of the Geospatial and Data Analysis (GDA) unit. Coordinate and lead junior staff members in contributing to these projects and functions in the areas of Data Services, Modeling and Analysis, Program and Policy Support, Grants, and Special Projects as characterized in the Annual Unit Work Plan.

POSITION DUTIES
Responsible for producing and updating geospatial datasets, such as Generalized Zoning, Priority Funding Areas, Municipal Boundaries, Protected Lands, etc., which are the foundation for the Department’s planning related GIS analyses. Work may involve acquiring, tracking, validating, processing and aggregating GIS data; enhancing or deriving new products from existing datasets; digitizing new GIS data using plats, georeferenced images, and other sources; and completing light geospatial analyses. Uses state-of-the-art technologies to design accurate and visually appealing cartographic products, which may include static maps, interactive maps, ArcGIS Online web applications, and other visualization tools. Coordinates with others outside the Department as needed to collect data and gather information about it. Participates on internal teams of GIS professionals and planners to ensure products meet stakeholder requirements and reflect the expertise of others within the Department. Provides quality control support for work by other GDA unit team members as requested.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university including 30 credit hours in Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Economics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Planning, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, or Information Technology.

Experience: Three years of experience in geospatial analysis.

Notes: 1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university accompanied by a Geographic Information Systems Professional Certificate (GISP) from The GIS Certification Institute for the required education. 2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the specified educational fields for one year of the required experience. 3. Candidates may substitute the possession of an additional Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the specified educational fields for one additional year of the required experience. 4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in the specified educational fields for two years of the required experience. 5. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Logistics, Architect, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst, or Cryptologic classifications or Logistics, Architect specialty codes in the Architect field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years experience using ArcGIS software to develop custom planning related spatial databases and mapping, or performing light spatial analysis related to land use,  zoning, or other planning issues. 
• Good analytical and communication skills 
• Experience presenting spatial and tabular data visually.
• Experience with databases or a programming language such as SQL or Python to automate routine data maintenance tasks. 
• Technical writing experience, such as authoring metadata, reports and presentations. 
• Experience using ArcGIS Online to create dashboards and other web GIS applications.