GIS Engineer

“Outagamie County is seeking a dynamic GIS professional to join and grow with one of the most cutting edge local government GIS teams in Wisconsin.  Candidates will enjoy the potential for flexible hours and a collaborative, cross functional, team-based work environment.”

Reporting to the GIS & Land Information Manager, the GIS Engineer performs various development and administration duties of the county GIS including building and managing the enterprise geodatabases (GIS Database Administrator), GIS web services and GIS desktop applications. This position relies on extensive experience and professional discretion to provide recommendations and expertise for the entire GIS environment including project management, analysis, design, implementation, support, maintenance, and monitoring. This position serves as a subject matter expert and technical resource such as coordinating the maintenance of the E911 GIS infrastructure and numerous other county maintained GIS solutions.

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are most critical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Operates and maintains the technical aspects of the County’s Geographical Information System (GIS); develops system goals, strategies and initiatives. Acts as a technical liaison for GIS related activities.

• Creates and maintains complex databases in order to support GIS functionality; ensures that the GIS databases meet the approved County operational standards; develops county-wide standards for GIS procedures, analysis, map production, documentation and data management.

• May informally direct, lead, and train departmental and interdepartmental staff in regards to GIS; assists in resolving and troubleshooting GIS related problems and requests.

• Serves as project leader of internal and external resources for installations and upgrades of complex technology systems.
  • Define GIS system scope, integration, security, and reporting needs.
  • Create technical specs for RFPs, ensuring technical feasibility.
  • Coordinate purchase, installation, implementation, and training for GIS hardware and software.
  • Manage project budgets, internal staff resources, third party vendors.
  • Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure business goals are met.

• Serves as the Geofile Manager for Outagamie County; facilitates, administers and maintains the County GIS databases used as part of the E911 system; troubleshoots the system; Supervises multi-county and multi-agency GIS processes to support E911 and regional GIS uses. Oversees the county-wide uniform addressing system and its integration with other organization systems.
• Coordinates the research, design, installation, and testing of new GIS software; provides procurement, implementation and support assistance to County departments in integrating GIS technology to meet the specific needs of various departments. May serve as project manager for GIS projects at GIS & Land Information Manager’s direction.
• Observes, interprets, and monitors installed systems. Checks application performance for potential bottlenecks, identifies solutions, and works with developers to implement fixes.
• Establishes and maintains relations with hardware and software vendors. Engages with vendors and other GIS/IT personnel for problem resolution.
• Documents GIS/GIS-related systems, applications and procedures with flowcharts, diagrams, manuals, detailed instructions, and other documentation.
• Provides information, including but not limited to addressing, parcel mapping and base mapping to the general public, public agencies and other units of government.
• Provides assistance and conducts project research, surveys and prepares analytical reports for departmental and interdepartmental spatial reporting tasks, including election reporting, census redistricting and miscellaneous planning analysis projects.

Education/Certifications/Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in GIS, Geography, or a related field, with a minimum of 7 years of experience; experience with current departmental and County GIS and database applications, GISP certification is preferred.

• Or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Required or Preferred Skills

• Ability to provide briefings to both technical and non-technical senior management audiences.
• Experience with a variety of applications including ESRI Desktop & Server suites, Microsoft(MS) SQL, MS Visual Studio, MS SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), select web integrated development environments (IDE’s), Laserfiche, Ascent Tax System, CityView Permitting System, MS Office, etc.
• Ability to use and interpret relational database, scripting and program language, and related terminology.
• Must be able to use extensive independent judgment.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including database dictionaries, scripting languages, technical white papers, RFP and contract documents, survey and other maps, address and other requests, site plans, permits, deeds, County and other ordinances and statutes, planning reports, etc
• Ability to install new equipment and software and troubleshoot and resolve associated problems.
• Ability to prepare a variety of documents including script or source code documentation, metadata, maps, procedure manuals, billing statements, letters, and other correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with DLS, Sheriff, IT and other County department personnel, town officials, vendors, local police, fire and EMS agencies, and the general public verbally and in writing.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail and work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to analyze and design information flow.
• Ability to analyze software/hardware and make recommendations.
• Ability to understand and interpret departmental user needs.
• Ability to problem solve issues between department and IT and to resolve conflicts.
• Ability to use and interpret computer related terminology.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently making sound decisions using good judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with County department personnel, computer users, consultants, sales representatives, outside agencies, and the general public verbally and in writing.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions and make decisions.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percent’s, and make use of the principles of descriptive statistics and college level algebra, trigonometry, and geometry.