The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks candidates for the position of Senior GIS Administrator. The Senior GIS Administrator leads the administration of MAPC's GIS software, servers, and enterprise geodatabases that support numerous internal and external applications and users. The Senior GIS Administrator has a critical role in designing, implementing, and maintaining MAPC’s data infrastructure and data management strategy, and is responsible for geospatial data management. This includes the standardization and publication of major new datasets built from administrative records, web scraping, remote sensing, and mobile devices as well as regular updates of existing datasets.

About MAPC:

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities are sustainable development and preservation, advancing equity in the region, collaboration across municipal lines, and developing a climate-friendly and resilient region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 120 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.

MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office. 

MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.

This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org

About the Department:

The Senior GIS Administrator will serve in MAPC’s Data Services Department, a collaborative and interdisciplinary team of planners, analysts, GIS professionals, and web developers using data and technology to support informed regional planning. The Data Services Department is recognized as a national leader in data dissemination, regional indicators, scenario modeling, spatial analysis, and open-source interactive websites. The Data Services department is comprised of three divisions, including Analytical Services, Digital Services, and Research. This position will be in the Digital Services division. For more information about the department’s work, visit https://www.mapc.org/our-work/expertise/data-services/.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Database administration: Administer and manage MAPC's internal spatial and tabular databases (ArcSDE with PostgreSQL) and MAPC's external GIS servers and services (ArcServer and ArcOnline), including critical software updates, infrastructure design recommendations, and integrations with digital products and workflows;
• GIS software and license administration: In coordination with IT and Analytical Services staff, administer the provision of Esri software and licenses for MAPC staff, including software configuration, customization, troubleshooting, and maintenance in local and virtual environments; serve as primary contact for communications with Esri;
• GIS and database policy development: Lead the development and implementation of GIS program goals, standards, and policies, including but not limited to user license roles and permissions, onboarding requirements, metadata standards, and GIS data and product publication procedures and efficiencies; stay up to date on emerging Esri and other geospatial technology and best practices;
• Spatial data pipeline design and implementation: In partnership with colleagues, design an extract, transform, load (ETL) strategy for spatial data development, publication, and integration compatible with Esri GIS software and open-source developer tools, including the development of ETL scripts and/or the implementation of relevant services and tools;
• Data development and publication: Support the collection of new and updated data resources from external sources (e.g. U.S. Census Bureau, state agencies, commercial vendors, municipalities) as they are released or collected, and incorporate them into MAPC's central database, ensuring collection process efficiency, data quality, and completeness of metadata and documentation; produce regular updates of MAPC's flagship spatial datasets such as the MAPC Zoning Atlas, Massachusetts Land Parcel Database, and Trailmap;

• User support: Provide technical support to MAPC colleagues, including GIS orientation and training support, respond to occasional email and telephone data inquiries from municipalities and allied organizations, and build relationships with GIS and data peers at other agencies and allied organizations.

This position may occasionally require evening or weekend availability to provide on-call technical support/fixes or participation in scheduled deployment activities outside of standard working hours. Qualifications

Candidates for this position should have a Bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, geographic information systems, computer sciences, library sciences, or a related field and at least 6 years of relevant experience OR a Master’s degree in one of these fields and at least 4 years of relevant experience OR a PhD in one of these fields and at least 2 years of relevant experience.

Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:

• Proficiency with Esri software, including ArcPro and ArcOnline, ArcGIS software and administration, ArcSDE, Esri enterprise geodatabases, ArcGIS Server;
• Proficiency with PostgreSQL /PostGIS and AWS administration;
• Proficiency with SQL and ArcPy; experience with programming automated database and ETL/ELT functions in R or Python or other relevant languages or tools (such as Java & Scala or Bash/Shell Scripting);
• Proficiency collecting, cleaning, and updating diverse data sets from federal, state, and local agencies;
• Proficiency developing detail-oriented data and process documentation and metadata standards;
• Demonstrated experience implementing data quality assurance and control (QA/QC) methods;
• Demonstrated innovative, strategic and analytical capabilities, self-motivation and goal-oriented approach; and
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal staff and the general public (oral and written).

Preferred:

• Cartography and accessible map design;
• Esri Apps configuration and standards;
• Experience with applying spatial statistics and methods to analyze land use, environmental conditions, and social equity; and
• Experience in (geospatial) application programming and development or strong aptitude in using JavaScript, Python/ArcPy, Markdown, and HTML.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary ranges from $95,000 - $105,000 depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to continued professional development.

How to Apply:

Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States. MAPC may consider sponsorship on a case-by-case basis. A Criminal Offenders Records Information (CORI) request must be completed if offered this position. A criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at MAPC, but it will be reviewed in light of the position and other elements of an applicant’s resume.

MAPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead. For more information on MAPC’s culture of equity, see our Equity at MAPC page.