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Job Status :   Full Time, Employee
Company :   University of North Carolina
Posting Date :   November 12
Closing Date :   OPEN
Relevant Experience :   0 Year(s)
Number of Positions :   1
Salary :   $35,000-$40,000
Location :   Asheville, North Carolina
Category :   Academia and Education
Environmental
GIS
Reference Number :   000133

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University of North Carolina

Geospatial and Science Communications Associate

Position Summary

UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC) conducts applied environmental research to create tools that address the challenges and opportunities of human interaction with the environment. By integrating data, creating visualizations, facilitating understanding, and providing decision support, we work to address issues that impact our society. Our goal is to help people understand the relevance and importance of complex environmental issues. With the assistance of UNC Asheville undergraduate research interns, NEMAC develops web applications, interactive geographic information system (GIS) solutions, multimedia delivery technologies, and print media. Over the last several years, NEMAC has built multiple nationally recognized online decision support tools that have supported decision making in the areas of climate variability and change, forest health, and other environmental issues.

NEMAC is currently seeking a Geospatial and Science Communications Associate to join our staff in a full-time position. The successful applicant will assist in applied GIS and geospatial research and science communication to make complex climate, natural resource, and environmental systems information useful for decision makers, diverse stakeholders, and the general public. He or she must have considerable knowledge in the areas of GIS and geospatial technologies, digital media, communication, statistical analysis, and basic web programming. Must also have experience with outreach and working with external partners to better understand complex systems data and information through innovative and often interactive tools and technologies. The person filling this position must be technically savvy but also contain excellent applied research, communication and outreach, and design skills.
FLSA Exempt
Required Education/Experience/Skills

Master’s degree in environmental sciences or related field. A Bachelor’s degree with an equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered.

Technical Capabilities
GIS applications and geospatial analysis

Must be familiar and proficient with Esri Desktop GIS suite of software
Proficiency managing and maintaining Esri geodatabases
Experience with GIS data aggregation, managing data inventories, and managing WMS/REST services

Digital media
High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite products

InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere

High proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint
Ability to create and edit custom movie products using non-linear digital editing systems
Experience in data analysis and graphing
Ability to create interactive web graphics
Able to create custom maps, posters, and other high-quality print media products

Communication
Ability to synthesize complex scientific information and communicate it to an appropriate audience in both written and spoken contexts
Comfort with demonstration of environmental or ecological themes as they apply to social and economic issues in order to communicate relevance across different scales and perspectives

Statistical Analysis
Proficiency in database, analysis, and statistical software, including SigmaPlot, R, SAS, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel

Experience with web programming and content management systems
PHP, HTML
Drupal

Domain Background
Knowledge and experience with applied research in an environmental or geography-related context, including climate variability and change, forest and land use management, sustainability, natural hazards, etc.
Education and experience in liberal arts disciplines, with strong research, writing, and editorial skills
Familiarity with the intersection between human dimensions and the environment, such as societal impacts resulting from environmental issues, and ability to communicate these issues at local, regional, and national scales

Soft Skills
Ability to contribute within a team environment, delegate tasks, and lead others
Ability to manage project priorities and with efficient coordination among team members, clients, student interns, and other project collaborators
Experience with publishing scientific information through online, print, and digital media formats
Comfortable working individually and with others
Willingness and ability to mentor and manage student interns
Ability to work with customers and stakeholders to identify their needs and define achievable deliverables and goals
Willingness and ability to travel on occasion, especially to conferences and workshops
Willingness and ability to track time and effort within NEMAC’s time tracking system

Other
Competency with Windows, Mac, and / or Linux operating systems

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills

Master’s preferred or additional bachelor’s degree, such as a BA degree in liberal arts curricula with emphasis on communication, written language, and/or critical thinking; or equivalent experience.

Completed or Working Towards an Accredited GIS Certificate

Three or more years of experience in the areas of GIS and geospatial technologies within an applied research setting. This includes working with Esri’s ArcGIS for Desktop software to conduct geoprocessing, spatial analysis, mapping, and cartography. This experience and knowledge should include a strong understanding of GIS data types and formats, data sources, metadata, and data storage. Must also have experience working within a web-based GIS environment such as ArcGIS Online. Must also be familiar with open source GIS software, data types, and methods.

Technical Capabilities
Must be proficient with Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop suite of products

Ability to perform geoprocessing tasks
Ability to perform basic spatial analysis

Comfortable with custom mapping applying sound cartographic design principles
Familiarity with Web GIS applications
Experience using Esri’s ArcGIS Online within an organizational account setting
Managing ArcGIS Online Items (content)
Creating Web Maps
Creating custom Story Maps

Familiarity with Open Source GIS
Experience mining and working with U.S. Census and other agency data, particularly in GIS formats
Experience and proficiency with statistical analysis and the graphing of scientific data using SigmaPlot
Ability to install, manage, and maintain computer and technology hardware and peripherals, such as printers, plotters, teleconferencing equipment, projectors, touch-screen monitors, visualization and TV screen displays

Domain Background
Familiarity and knowledge of decision science
Knowledge of the atmospheric and forestry sciences

Soft Skills
Proven track record of demonstrating complex scientific information

Facilitating workshops detailing project components and instructions on use for local, regional, and national audiences, including decision makers at these scales
Experience presenting data and products to clients, stakeholders, classes, general public audiences, and conferences.

Familiarity and experience working with local, state, and federal science-based and planning agencies, such as NOAA, USFS, NC Department of Environmental Quality, Western North Carolina-based Council of Governments, etc.
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to solve problems
Experience working in an academic research setting

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Technical skills including digital media, communication, statistical analysis, and web programming. Outreach video creation and editing experience is a plus, as well as creating other outreach materials that communicates scientific information such as posters, maps, and brochures. Proficient with Adobe’s suite of products. Ability to work with statistical software such as R, SAS, and Microsoft Access and Excel. Ability to code in PHP, HTML, and Drupal. Experience working with such graphing software as SigmaPlot. Other technical skills should include the ability to manage computer and technology hardware and peripherals. Ability to apply all of these technical skills within the contexts of climate variability and change, forest and land use management, natural hazards, sustainability, and environmental planning.

In addition to the technical skills, ability to communicate complex scientific information. Should be able to work directly with diverse stakeholder groups, decision makers, and the general public in the understanding of complex information. Must exhibit good research and problem solving skills. Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work well with others and individually.
Posting Detail Information

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Review of application materials will begin on November 16, and continue until the position is filled.

Please note that any documents submitted to Human Resources or the hiring departments become property of UNC Asheville and will not be returned.

Official verifications from each college/university you have attended are required upon employment, and will be requested directly from the college/university by Human Resources or from the National Student Clearinghouse. Any expense will be the responsibility of the employee. Educational degrees must be from an appropriately accredited institution.

If no applicants apply who meet the training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on skills, equity, budget, and market considerations.

It is the policy of UNC Asheville to conduct pre-employment background investigations on all candidates selected for employment. If hired, the candidate will be required to submit proof of eligibility to work in the United States. New employees are paid only by direct deposit to the financial institution of their choice.

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