GIS Technician (Intern)

Position Description: The GIS Technician will work on a variety of projects that blend scenario-planning and exploratory GIS mapping with capacity building and asset mapping projects. The GIS Technician will work alongside our GIS Coordinator, GIS Planner, and other staff to conduct both field and office work related to four key projects:

• Development of an asset map of the Richland Center and Bowen Cemeteries used to track burials and plan for future land use decisions, provide greater community transparency, and reduce administrative duties in the city.
• Develop an interactive map of communities eligible for funding through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) that will allow communities to effectively prioritize community housing investments.
• Provide support for infrastructure mapping projects, including frequent updates to asset maps for the City of Platteville and Village of Dickeyville, and support the development of an infrastructure map for the City of Boscobel.
• Provide scenario planning maps to identify risks and opportunities from potential climate change impacts in southwestern Wisconsin. This exploratory work will inform SWWRPC’s future planning and economic development projects.

A Day in the Life: Serve. Learn. Build your network. We view interns as integral to our projects. You will grow and explore new skills while enjoying a collaborative environment of mentors and colleagues. We are interested in fostering future leaders and keeping in touch with the needs and growth opportunities of our future workforce. The GIS Technician will deliver actionable benefits to our region, learn from our expert staff, and build a GIS portfolio for future career opportunities.

About Us: We have been providing southwestern Wisconsin with community and economic development services for over 50 years. We advocate for necessary and positive change grounded in a history of innovative land and resource management. Our staff are interdisciplinary and service-driven. Read our Strategic Plan here: SWWRPC Strategic Plan.

Location: The GIS Technician will be based out of our Platteville office. This position offers a remote work option. Applicants must have the ability to attend project meetings and bi-weekly staff meetings in our Platteville office and attend project meetings and site visits around the SWWRPC region as needed.

Requirements:

• Experience working with GIS and knowledge of ESRI is required.
• Ability to communicate GIS concepts with non-GIS partners and staff, converting technical language into the language of our clients and stakeholders.
• Attention to detail and ability to retrieve, organize, and analyze data
• Ability to work on several projects at once, work both independently and as part of a team, and manage multiple project deadlines.

Education or Experience:

• Coursework leading to a degree in Geography, Planning, or similar program, with an emphasis on GIS applications. Pursuit of a GIS Certificate will qualify.

Estimated use of time:

• Richland Center cemetery mapping: 30%
• WHEDA eligibility mapping: 25%
• Community infrastructure mapping: 20%
• Climate scenario mapping: 15%
• Other mapping projects: 10%

Compensation and Availability: The GIS Technician will have a wage of $20 per hour, exempt from benefits. This position is full-time from June through August, estimated at 480 hours of employment. Start and end dates are negotiable.

Interested applicants should submit a resume to t.maggied@swwrpc.org by April 19, 2024. Interviews will begin the week of April 22.

SWWRPC is 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.