GIS Intern

Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC) seeks a qualified candidate to assist our staff of six meet a wide range of planning goals. As a local government unit, SWWRPC serves the five counties of Southwestern Wisconsin (Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, and Richland) in land use, transportation, and community and economic development planning. The Intern-GIS Specialist reports to the Planning Program Manager.

SWWRPC is one of 45 regions in the nation awarded a Sustainable Communities Planning grant in 2010 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This exciting opportunity builds upon our experience in Comprehensive (“smart growth”) Planning. In the last seven years, SWWRPC developed 133 Comprehensive Plans for our 154 municipalities, making our region the most compliant with Wis. Statute 66.1001 in the State. SWWRPC staff work extensively in plan development and have a strong rapport with our local municipalities.

The ideal candidate will possess high-level GIS skills and spend a portion of his or her time maintaining our geospatial database as well as developing maps and analysis for a variety of projects. This position offers an excellent opportunity for an individual who enjoys a diverse work load, a flexible schedule, and the opportunity to make a difference in a growing and changing rural region. The candidate will gain personal and professional growth through interaction with public and private institutions and decision-makers. We will strive to work with the qualified candidate to further develop and encourage use of the candidate’s personal interests and talents.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Data collection, including familiarity with U.S. Census data and Factfinder website
• Preparation of data for analysis using MS Excel and Access
• Map document creation using ESRI ArcMap 10.2 software
• Ability to conduct sophisticated spatial analyses
• Online mapping
• Ability to create GIS data through web data searches and field location
• Data creation and editing using the Editor Toolbar in ArcMap
• Experience working with vector and raster data types
• Experience working with geodatabases and relational databases
• Ability to produce high quality graphics and map documents using ArcMap and the Adobe Creative Suite
• Understanding of statistics

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in GIS or Geography, Planning or related field with a GIS emphasis;
• Flexible schedule, ability to attend night meetings, ability to work longer hours certain weeks to meet deadlines;
• Ability to speak in public and in professional settings such as meetings, public hearings, etc.;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, comfortable communicating with a wide range of audiences from diverse backgrounds;
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to retrieve, organize, and analyze data;
• Strong work ethic, self-motivated, ability to work on several projects at once, ability to work independently.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Website editing using WordPress
• Programming experience; HTML
• Experience working with geospatial natural resources data and demographic data
• GIS Certification from an accredited program;
• Experience with ESRI Business Analyst, Reference USA, and other GIS extensions;
• Experience with online mapping/web development;
• Familiarity with Southwestern Wisconsin or similar rural region;

The qualified candidate may be able to work from a remote site, however the successful candidate shall work from the SWWRPC Platteville office at a minimum of once a week.

AVAILABILITY

This position is a part-time, limited-term position based on the length of the project. In this case, the project is expected take 6 months to complete, however additional contracts are possible. Additional project contracts are expected and extensions to this work will be offered to the successful candidate pending a successful performance review.

COMPENSATION

Starting salary will be $10-$14 per hour, depending on qualifications.

APPLICATION

Those interested should submit an electronic cover letter, resume, three professional references and a completed SWWRPC Application (available at http://swwrpc.org/wordpress/about/employment-opportunities/) to jobs@swwrpc.org . Only electronic applications will be reviewed.

Applications will be accepted until 5pm on October 4th, 2013. Applicants should expect to bring a portfolio of work at the time of the interview.

QUESTIONS

Questions about the position should be directed to Troy Maggied, Planning Program Manager via phone (608) 342-1636 or by e-mail: t.maggied@swwrpc.org.

SWWRPC is fully committed to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.