Geospatial Research and Analysis Expert

Meridial; United States; Remote; USD 83,000 - 179,000; Part time

Job summary

Meridial is seeking experienced geospatial practitioners who will contribute as independent contractors in a remote US-focused role. You will tackle complex geospatial questions, articulate reasoning, assumptions, data sources, and methods used to reach conclusions.

You will identify ambiguities, propose clarifications, design a detailed geospatial workflow, and define deliverables such as maps, analyses, and dashboards. Ideal candidates hold advanced degrees and strong GIS expertise.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in geography, GIS, geospatial science, remote sensing, environmental science or related field.
• Advanced expertise in geospatial analysis demonstrated through practice or research.
• Experience as a GIS Analyst, Geospatial Engineer, GIS Data Analyst, or in a comparable field.
• Strong familiarity with geospatial tools, platforms, and frameworks.
• Ability to translate complex geospatial reasoning into clear, structured, step-by-step explanations.

Responsibilities

• Identify ambiguities in geospatial queries and required outcomes.
• Propose reasonable clarifications and parameters for rigorous analysis.
• Develop a detailed geospatial workflow including datasets, tools, methods, calculations and validation.
• Define deliverables such as maps, datasets, dashboards, reports or analytical summaries.

Skills

Geospatial analysis

Education

Master’s or PhD in geospatial field

Job description

We’re seeking experienced geospatial practitioners and academics interested in contributing their expertise as independent contractors. In this remote opportunity, you’ll explore complex geospatial questions and explain how you would approach them, including the reasoning, assumptions, data sources, and technical methods involved.

What You’ll Contribute

For each query, you will:

1. Identify ambiguities
   Determine which terms, concepts, or requested outcomes are unclear, subjective, or missing essential parameters for rigorous geospatial analysis.

2. Propose clarifications
   Recommend reasonable assumptions and specific parameters that transform the query into a clearly defined, solvable geospatial problem.

3. Develop a detailed geospatial workflow
   Describe the step-by-step analytical process, including relevant datasets, tools, methodologies, calculations, validation methods, and decision points.

4. Define expected deliverables
   Recommend the most appropriate final outputs to help the user interpret the results, such as maps, spatial datasets, dashboards, reports, visualizations, or analytical summaries.
   

Expert Qualifications

Ideal experts will have:

• A master’s degree or PhD in geography, geographic information science, geospatial science, remote sensing, environmental science, or another related scientific discipline

• Advanced expertise in geospatial analysis, demonstrated through professional practice, academic research, or a combination of both

• Experience as a GIS Analyst, Geospatial Engineer, GIS Data Analyst, or in a comparable field

• Strong familiarity with geospatial tools, platforms, and frameworks

• The ability to translate complex geospatial reasoning into clear, structured, step-by-step explanations
  

Relevant Areas of Expertise

Experience in one or more of the following areas is especially valuable:

• Crisis response or crisis management, including damage assessment

• Agriculture or environmental monitoring

• Site selection and location analysis

• Market expansion

• Supply chain analysis

• Spatial forecasting or predictive modeling

• Other applied uses of geospatial data and analysis

Required assessments

• Geospatial Entry Verification (30 min)