Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking candidates who are eager to contribute to its Lasallian Catholic mission of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We invite individuals to help transform lives through education, inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s quest to understand the human experience through faith and reason and its embrace of all who are dedicated to learning from one another through authentic conversations in search of the truth. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate a vision to create and nurture initiatives that will advance our mission within the scope of their duties and who will foster a culture of dialogue that, with respect for all people, supports the search for meaning and purpose in pursuit of excellence.

Job Summary

Working under the direction of a GIS Technician II, the GIS Technician I is an entry-level position designed for a detail-oriented professional looking to launch a career in Geospatial Services. Working under the guidance of senior GIS professionals, the successful candidate will participate in a structured training program focused on the creation, maintenance, and quality control of spatial data. The primary focus of this role is the conversion of analog or raw data into digital formats through digitizing and attribution. This position offers a collaborative team environment where technical "soft skills" in business productivity are leveraged while the incumbent develops specialized GIS technical expertise.

Salary Range: $18.00 - $20.00/hr

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Data Development & Digitizing: Learn and apply methods to digitize geographic features from aerial imagery, satellite data, and paper maps into a GIS environment.
• Feature Attribution: Populate and maintain database attribute tables with accurate descriptive information following project-specific schemas.
• Team Collaboration: Participate in daily stand-ups and project meetings with a team of GIS Professionals to ensure data development meets organizational standards.
• Quality Control (QC): Perform routine checks on geospatial data to identify and correct errors in geometry or tabular information under supervision.
• Technical Documentation: Assist in documenting data development workflows and maintaining metadata records for various GIS layers.
• Business Support: Utilize standard office productivity suites to prepare status reports, track project hours, and communicate technical updates to the team.

Experience and Education Requirements

• Education: A University Degree (B.A. or B.S.) is required. Preference is given to degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, or a related field, though any four-year degree with demonstrated analytical coursework will be considered.
• Work Experience: Minimum of one year of cumulative work experience in a professional office, research, or business environment.
• GIS Knowledge: Little to no professional GIS experience is required; however, a basic understanding of what a map is and a general interest in geography are essential.
• Training Commitment: Must be willing to undergo intensive on-the-job training to master digitizing, attribution, and spatial data development principles.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• Computer Proficiency: High level of comfort with Windows-based environments, file management, and troubleshooting basic software issues.
• Productivity Applications: Intermediate to advanced skill in Microsoft Office 365 (specifically Excel for data cleaning and Outlook/Teams for communication).
• Attention to Detail: Ability to perform repetitive tasks (digitizing/data entry) with a high degree of spatial and textual accuracy.
• Learning Agility: A strong desire to be trained in specialized software such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS and a proactive approach to adopting new technical workflows.
• Collaborative Mindset: Excellent verbal and written communication skills suitable for a professional team environment.

Physical Demands

☒ Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical Hazards – Health and Safety Concerns

☒ General office environments

☒ Ergonomics

☐ Noise

☐ Chemicals

☐ Driving

☐ Biohazards

☐ Extreme climate (Hot/Cold)

Apply online at https://www.smumn.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ and include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.

Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.