SENIOR GIS TECHNICIAN

City of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Houston’s Planning & Development Department seeks a Senior GIS Technician to manage the address and road-data repository and support 911 dispatch and planning efforts.

The role leads complex GIS editing, validation, and QC while delivering customer service to the public and city partners. Requires a Bachelor’s in GIS/related field and 2 years of GIS experience.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Science, Planning, Geography, Computer Science or a closely related field.
• Two years of professional experience working with a comprehensive geographic information system.
• Substitution: experience may substitute for the degree; related fields may substitute for education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Edit and maintain mission-critical GIS data in ArcGIS Pro, ensuring geometry and attribute integrity while upholding database standards and system security.
• Geocode data files, create address locators, and troubleshoot locator behaviors to support address validation.
• Review, create, and maintain address and road data (ranges, attributes, and point features) in compliance with Chapter 41 ordinance.
• Interpret plats, deeds, and other legal documents; convert legal descriptions into GIS features and reconcile conflicting data sources.
• Perform quality control (QC) within a versioned SDE environment to ensure data integrity.
• Provide customer service to the public and other city departments by answering Chapter 41-related questions and validating addresses.
• Prepare maps and other cartographic products of varying complexity to support departmental needs.

Skills

GIS editing

QA/QC

Customer service

Geoprocessing

Cartography

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science, Planning, Geography, Computer Science or a closely related field

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

SQL

Traverse tool

Job description

Position Overview

You are invited to bring your passion for public service and improving the Houston community to our team as a Senior GIS Technician. Houston is an ideal place to live, where it is enjoyable to be outside most of the year and has a booming population thanks to a rapidly expanding job market. Houston is a place where the cost of living is more than 25% below the top 20 metro average, and with no state income tax, it is possible to buy a house with a modest income. As the fourth largest and most ethnically diverse city in the U.S., Houston has unlimited choices when it comes to food, festivals, sports, museums, and the performing arts.

ALL PERSON INTERESTED

Applications accepted from: ALL PERSON INTERESTED

DIVISION

Geographic Information Systems

Reporting Location

611 Walker

Workdays & Hours

Monday - Friday 8am-5pm*

• Subject to change

About Us

The City of Houston’s Planning & Development Department is a key player in the mayor’s efforts to improve public safety and infrastructure, enhance the quality of life, and maintain an efficient government that works for more than 2 million residents. Much like Houston itself, we are a culturally diverse team that is committed to improving Houston’s built environment. Our team draws and retains passionate, curious, life-long learners, and big picture thought leaders who make a difference every day by balancing the needs and interests of the community we serve. We strive to operate as a customer-focused, goal-oriented, and efficient organization. We treat ourselves, our partners, and our customers with respect while placing continuous learning at the center of our operations.

POSITION PROFILE

The Planning and Development Department is seeking a highly skilled Senior GIS Technician to join the Addressing and Data Maintenance Team. This role is responsible for maintaining the City’s address and road range repository as well as other core datasets that are critical to 911 dispatch operations and city planning efforts. The successful candidate will serve as a lead resource for complex GIS editing, address validation, quality control, and public-facing customer service.

General Summary

The Senior GIS Technician will be responsible for performing complex data entry, advanced updates, and maintenance of the GIS database, while also performing lead functions for various GIS projects.

Responsibilities

• Performs complex data entry and advanced update and maintenance functions for a GIS database using workstations, personal computers and GIS software. Works on core data while maintaining database standards and system security.
• Researches and evaluates source data using non-routine methods and documentation. Interprets and transfers data from source documents.
• Assists in establishing data preparation standards and procedures to ensure data standardization and integrity and to optimize section productivity; prepares data for entry. Performs quality control for database maintenance. Reviews input and output. Assures integrity of database changes.
• Schedules and reviews work and provides technical training and assistance to others for various assigned projects to create and manipulate GIS data files.
• Locates and compiles graphic data and attributes from plans, profiles and other sources.
• Geocodes data files using GIS software. Analyzes output and research and corrects source problems. May manually locate address.
• Operates and maintains data input/output devices. May contact service personnel for maintenance and repair of equipment.

Specific Responsabilities

• Edit and maintain mission-critical GIS data in ArcGIS Pro, ensuring geometry and attribute integrity while upholding database standards and system security.
• Geocode data files, create address locators, and troubleshoot locator behaviors to support address validation.
• Review, create, and maintain address and road data (ranges, attributes, and point features) in compliance with Chapter 41 ordinance.
• Interpret plats, deeds, and other legal documents; convert legal descriptions into GIS features and reconcile conflicting data sources.
• Perform quality control (QC) within a versioned SDE environment to ensure data integrity.
• Provide customer service to the public and other city departments by answering Chapter 41-related questions and validating addresses.
• Prepare maps and other cartographic products of varying complexity to support departmental needs.

DESIRED EMPLOYEE ATTRIBUTES

• Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Adaptive and flexible in a fast-paced, shifting-priority environment.
• Comfortable making complex decisions that may affect multiple departments or stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively in a team environment.

Working Conditions

The position requires stooping, bending and/or lifting of items of up to 30 pounds with occasional periods of walking on rough surfaces. There are occasional minor discomforts from exposure to less-than-optimal temperature and air conditions. The position may involve dealing with modestly unpleasant situations, as with occasional exposure to office chemicals and/or extensive use of a video display terminal.

This is a Planning and Development Department Position at the Tier II Level.

All duties and responsibilities may not be included in the above job description.

Minimum Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science, Planning, Geography, Computer Science or a closely related field.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science, Planning, Geography, Computer Science or a closely related field.

Experience Requirements

Two years of professional experience working with a comprehensive geographic information system are required.

Substitution:

Experience equivalent to or as a GIS Technician may be substituted for the degree required on a year-for-year basis. A Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science, Planning, Geography or a field directly related to work being performed may substitute for the education and experience requirements.

License Requirements

None

PREFERENCES

• Proficient in ArcGIS Pro, with advanced editing and quality control expertise.
• Strong experience in geoprocessing, tabular data management (SQL), and GIS workflows.
• Ability to Geo-reference CAD drawings and use the Traverse tool to create features
• Solid understanding of data standardization and database best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in cartography and QA/QC processes.
• Excellent troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong customer service skills with experience interfacing with the public and responding to ordinance-related inquiries.
• Exceptional communication, documentation, and presentation skills
• Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.

Selection/Skills Tests Required

The selection process will involve application review and/or interview. The hiring department may administer a skill assessment.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION

No.

Salary Information

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.

Pay Grade

17

EOE Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.