Geographer

This Geographer will support the Cultural Resource (EH) organization at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). This position provides advanced, professional GIS (Geographic Information System) services utilizing computerized data capture, storage, and analysis techniques for visual displays, spatial analysis, and tabular reports on a wide variety of geographical projects. The position also develops and maintains other types of relational databases used to manage data for thousands of archaeological, historic, and traditional cultural sites affected by BPA actions.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provides SDE enterprise GIS cultural geodatabase administration and maintenance functions within scope and authority of non-IT GIS personnel to validate optimal database integrity and performance. This includes the development and maintenance of documents related to data management and multi-user version editing workflow processes, procedures, and tools to provide training and guidance for cultural staff.
• Maintains technically complex GIS projects in support of cultural resource legal compliance for BPA transmission construction projects, fiber optic projects, communication system projects, land management and environmental projects, Fish and Wildlife Program projects and operation and maintenance of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Support includes project specific spatial analysis, design, and preparation of publication-quality cartographic and tabular report products.
• Promotes multiple long-range GIS/database priorities for cultural resource programs. Coordinates and tracks projects, workload forecasting, and work assignments for FCRPS operations and maintenance work, and for Area of Potential Effects and public notification maps related to a wide variety of Transmission, Fish and Wildlife, and FCRPS Cultural Resources Program projects.
• Assists with the creation and maintenance of an enterprise-wide set of standard ArcGIS feature classes specific to the cultural resources group, that include standard schemas, projection, symbology, database query statements and current metadata.
• Develops, configures and administers ArcGIS Online cloud-based web mapping portal environment using industry standard web and software development tools and scripting languages.
• Maintains and updates an enterprise mobile data collection workflow using off-network Android tablets, Trimble R1 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Global Positions Systems (GPS) receivers and ArcGIS Online (AGOL) off-premises hosted services.
• Performs geographic analyses, including but not limited to viewsheds, spatial joins, proximity analysis, buffer creation, optimal path and resource allocation, and point and linear event processing with dynamic segmentation.
• Maintains geospatial databases and schemas and validates data quality and integrity using automated and manual techniques to enter, edit, and process data sets.
• Creates advanced geoprocessing models and/or scripts to assist in data collection, storage, integration, visualization, and retrieval and analyses using automated techniques.
• Develops custom web mapping applications using industry standard software development tools (HTML) and scripting languages such as JavaScript, Visual Basic, Perl, etc. to support project specific visualization and status reporting portals. May also include the use of version control systems to manage and document code revisions.
• Prepares and maintains metadata of newly created data sets to track the source, scale, currency and other pertinent geographic information, as well as any modifications to the data set.
• Publishes map services of spatially enabled datasets to facilitate program level planning, estimating, and reporting in ArcGIS Server for on premise data hosting.
• Serves as liaison to BPA's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) department for integration of cultural resource program's GIS/GPS data with GIS department data. Also serves as technical point of contact for cultural resource GIS and database contracts.
• Develops, tests, and maintains MS Access relational databases.
• Designs logical/physical data models using MS Visio.
• Drafts and maintains schema and metadata standards for cultural resource GIS contract deliverables. Reviews draft contract statements of work and resulting deliverables for consistency with established standards. Alerts BPA manager (or designee) of any inconsistencies or potential issues.
• Prepares and maintains BPA GIS datasets for external data sharing agreements and requests.
• Provides demonstrations, presentations, and related documentation to BPA staff and partners across the region. Also provides technical guidance and user training to external partners and BPA staff as requested.
• Supports the timely delivery of data between Geospatial Services and other organizational units used in the design, acquisition, and construction of BPA's Transmission facilities, Fish and Wildlife mitigation projects, and operation and maintenance of the FCRPS.
• Trains staff on web mapping applications (eGIS and AGOL), SAS applications (Collector for ArcGIS) as well as desktop ESRI clients (ArcMap, ArcCatalog).
• Provides support for EH staff in the field when requested, which could involve travel and overnight stays.
• Marks documents and maintains filing system(s), files, emails and records in accordance with compliance requirements. Shares and disperses documents only to appropriate personnel (those with a Lawful Government Purpose [LGP] to know). Marks and maintains all official records in accordance with the Information Security (INFOSEC) and Information Governance & Lifecycle Management (IGLM) standards and procedures. Validates official records are accurately maintained for auditing purposes.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Geography, Cartography, Natural Resources, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental, Urban or Regional Planning, with a strong emphasis in computer assisted spatial analysis or a related field, is highly preferred.

• 6 years of experience is required with an applicable Bachelor's degree.

• 8 years of experience is required with an applicable Associate's degree,

• 10 years of experience is required without a degree or applicable degree.

• Experience should be directly related to GIS Support and include providing professional GIS services utilizing computerized data capture, storage, and analysis.

• Expertise in integrated GIS/GPS principles, systems and technologies, data collection techniques and expert understanding of geodesy and datum transformations.

• Ability to develop, maintain and modify geo-processing models and/or scripts, design and maintain geographic and relational databases, design, and implement complex spatial analyses.

• Ability to diagnose and resolve spatial data discrepancies, such as correcting datums, coordinating systems, and projections.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Proficiency with GIS mapping and analytics software, preferably ESRI products, such as ArcGIS platforms (ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro), extensions (such as ArcGIS Spatial Analyst and ArcGIS Editor), app development (such as ArcGIS StoryMaps and ArcGIS API for Python [or other scripting language]), and field data collection (such as ArcGIS FieldMaps, QuickCapture, Survey123, or Collector).

• Ability to lead or train technicians or related staff in the conduct of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analytical procedures.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Portland, OR.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $53.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Portland,OR.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 10, 2026.

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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.