GIS Specialist – Storm Water Utility

Nature of Work:
This position involves developing, maintaining, planning and coordinating GIS and customer service work to support Rochester’s storm water permit program and its storm water utility. This position is supervised by the Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Coordinator within the Environmental Division of the Public Works Department; however, work direction will also be provided by the GIS Coordinator, who has GIS oversight duties and responsibility for all strategic GIS decisions within RPW. Primary duties are associated with the GIS related tasks needed to implement the City’s storm water permit and facilitate the collection of storm water utility revenues. Secondary duties are to provide GIS activities supporting the remainder of the Public Works Department when the GIS Coordinator is absent. Responsibilities include GIS planning, management and coordination activities specifically related to the City’s storm water management program, including infrastructure mapping and database development and management, GIS application development and management, and hardware/software support. The City primarily uses ESRI ArcGIS software for the completion of these duties, but also utilizes other custom-programmed and commercial databases to manage program tasks. 

Responsibilities:

• Administer, with Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), the Storm Water Utility Fees (SWUF) program and create plans and procedures for the development and use of new GIS data sets to meet the needs of all storm water management programs.
  • • Respond to all SWUF customer service calls (i.e., fees, fee corrections, credit applications, annexations, rate studies, etc.); coordinate billing services with RPU; and maintain/audit SWUF features. 
    • Plan, develop, and administer spatial and attribute data sets for storm water infrastructure and management data. 
    • Prepare functional descriptions and metadata for GIS components applicable to storm water management, including field definitions, application specifications, identification of user interfaces, and documentation of data sources, database designs, data flow diagrams, schedules, and reporting resource requirements. 
    • Develop GIS applications for storm water management programs.
• Maintain data, including conducting regular quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) assessments, and update GIS databases for the storm water management program.
  • • Update and maintain public and associated private infrastructure GIS datasets and applications for storm water management. 
    • Establish and apply policies and procedures to GIS data for routine quality control and quality assurance audits to insure data accuracy and integrity. 
    • Implement databases and GIS applications to maintain storm water management records, including database management, data entry, and data queries. 
    • Support the management of storm water management data using field inventory and inspection data. 
    • Administer user access and security for GIS databases.
• Develop GIS data, maps and reports and provide them to internal and external customers, such as staff, consultants, developers, citizens, and other agencies.
  • • Work with other departments and governmental offices in developing, sharing, and maintaining storm water management data in GIS and other databases of common interest to each entity. 
    • Represent the storm water program in computer application meetings or workshops. 
    • Upon request, respond to inquiries for technical storm water management information such as maps, summary tables, reports, and infrastructure data for City Council members, City staff, other agencies, neighborhood groups, professional organizations, and citizens.
• Provide or assist with training and technical support to storm water management personnel on GIS, design, or other mapping requirements.
  • • Recommend, install, operate, and support software and hardware systems used for storm water GIS applications. 
    • Provide training and technical support to storm water management personnel on use of GIS applications, design, or other mapping requirements. 
    • Review GIS and database work products prepared for storm water management to insure their accuracy and compatibility with existing GIS data.
• Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.
  • • Learn the fundamental processes managed by the GIS Coordinator and provide critical GIS services to the remainder of the Public Works Department when the GIS Coordinator is absent; work with GIS Coordinator to insure GIS-SWU progress is consistent with departmental GIS policies, procedures and goals. Develop, maintain, and implement the GIS – SWU work plan.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• • Education
    • Bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems or related field such as geography, planning, civil engineering, natural resources, or computer science, with an emphasis in GIS coursework and training; 
    • OR two years of post-secondary education and two years of experience with geographic information systems mapping and database management using ESRI ArcGIS software or its equivalent. 
  • Licenses and Certifications 
    • Valid driver’s license 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with network operating systems and Microsoft Office programs 
• Python or vbnet programming skills 
• Website development experience 
• Experience with data collection from Trimble PROXR, GeoXT, or similar GPS units and importing collected data into GIS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• • Knowledge of: principles, theories, and methods of Geographic Information Systems as applied to designing, planning, and maintaining information files; municipal engineering and surveying practices; current developments, trends, and technologies within the GIS field; database management concepts and structures; legal aspects of data management and data privacy; software/hardware needs and capabilities for developing recommendations on computer associated purchases; computer hardware/software installation and support; computer systems design and database programming; and the structure, systems, and functions of local governments and utility operations. 
  • Skill in: database management including Microsoft Access; using ESRI ArcGIS software or its equivalent and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, and other programs); written, oral and verbal communication; and delivering excellent customer service. 
  • Ability to: comprehend and problem-solve complex land based data systems involving interdepartmental interaction; coordinate systems, functions, and personnel to meet user needs and produce cost effective products; effectively coordinate database management practices and use associated software; create reports and recommendations using word processing and spreadsheet software; do technical research and make recommendations on GIS projects; express ideas clearly and concisely using good communication skills; think conceptually, analyze data, and prepare recommended courses of action; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; effectively manage variable and diverse workload and time commitments; establish and maintain effective working relationships with storm water utility customers; other departments and jurisdictions; employees, consultants and federal, state, and local officials.