Nova Scotia Nature Trust ,GIS Conservation Planner Job Vacancy in Canada

Trust, a conservation charity focused on
protecting outstanding and unique natural areas through private land
conservation, seeks an experienced conservation GIS expert to advance
its conservation planning work by enhancing the use of spatial data
and GIS in prioritizing its conservation work, and creating a series
of ‘conservation blueprints’ for private land conservation in Nova
Scotia.

The successful candidate will oversee an ambitious endeavor designed
to integrate best practices, data, science, and expert knowledge to
develop a series of conservation prioritizations, and to design models
to inform strategic planning around conservation on privately?owned
lands in Nova Scotia. The position entails acquiring, compiling and
integrating environmental, ecological and property-related data,
seeking input from experts and conservation partners, and developing
and implementing GIS-based prioritization methodology and models to
develop specific conservation prioritization “blueprint” and to
support the strategic, science-driven advancement of the Nature
Trust’s conservation work.

We are seeking someone with academic training and extensive
professional experience as a GIS analyst, specialist or consultant,
and a strong background in conservation biology and/or protected areas
planning. Our ideal candidate is a detail-oriented individual with
strong organizational, project management and time management skills,
who is able to work independently. At the same time the ideal
candidate is able to build positive working relationships and
communications with the many experts, conservation partners and Nature
Trust stuff involved as advisors in this effort.

Key Activities
• Review relevant data collection, and GIS conservation strategies and
models completed or underway.
• Identify, acquire, compile, manage and/or integrate environmental
and property-related spatial data sets and knowledge from partner
organizations. Where necessary identify and fill data and knowledge
gaps.
• Develop a replicable GIS?based private land conservation model, plan
and priority map that can be used to assess, rank and make decisions
related to specific private lands identified for potential
conservation.
• Seek input from experts and conservation partners through workshops,
and through ongoing communication. Liaise and cooperate with other
conservation organizations and individuals regarding testing and
refinement of methodologies and sharing of findings related to
conservation planning.

Required Qualifications
• Degree, diploma or other GIS certification from a recognized
institution specializing in Planning, Cartography, Geographic
Information Systems, Surveying or Remote Sensing.
• Post secondary qualification in geography, planning or a related field.
• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience developing, implementing and
maintaining complex GIS solutions, and performing a wide diversity of
GIS-related tasks.
• Proficiency using ArcGIS 10.x
• Experience in organizing, editing, managing and manipulating spatial data.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner.
• An enthusiastic self-starter with the ability to take initiative,
work independently and to meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in conservation, particularly land preservation and
habitat/species conservation.
• Proven abilities to use GIS specifically in the land
conservation/conservation science planning context
• Experience managing large, complex GIS projects
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with other parties to obtain
data sources and to coordinate scientific peer review of products,
modelling methodology etc.
• Experience using Python and Model Builder

Remuneration/Term:

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. The contract is to
begin as soon as possible and will extend for 12 months (potentially
more depending on funding)

Application Process:

Application deadline: 20 December 2014 (Interviews will be held in January
2015)

To apply, please include the following in your application package:
1. Resume
2. Names of at least 3 professional or educational references.
Indicate your relationship with the reference (i.e. previous employer,
teacher etc., and how long he/she has known you, and contact
information for the references).
3. Cover letter

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please send your completed application to:
Peter Green, Conservation Manager
Nova Scotia Nature Trust
PO Box 2202 Halifax, NS B3J 3C4
or fax 429-5263 or email nature@nsnt.ca

We thank all applicants, but only those who are selected for an
interview will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in working with the Nature Trust! We look
forward to reviewing your application.