Help Wanted: Wisconsin State Cartographer

The Badger State is looking for a new State Cartographer (PDF). The University of Wisconsin-Madison has advertised for a person to head the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office, a permanent unit of the Geography Department at the UW-Madison.

This position offers a challenging and unique opportunity to serve as one of the state’s leading experts in mapping and geospatial information technologies. It provides leadership, outreach, coordination, and the gathering and dissemination of information on a variety of issues serving the geospatial community and the general public.

The incumbent, Ted Koch, is retiring after a long and distinguished career. The job posting closes on June 15. Further information and application instructions are available on-line from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rhode Island is Looking for a State GIS Coordinator

The Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program has posted a job announcement for a "Supervising Geographic Information Specialist" (PDF) to serve as Coordinator for the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS).

The RIGIS Coordinator serves in the role of State GIS Coordinator for Rhode Island. The Coordinator's core responsibilities include:

• Coordinating updates of existing geospatial data and metadata, as well as the acquisition of new geospatial data on a statewide and regional basis.
  
• Working with local, state, regional and federal agencies, as well as with academia, non-profits, and private industry on common data needs.
• Supporting the ongoing work of the University of Rhode Island to provide access to RIGIS data by the general public through direct data access as well as web mapping services.
• Leading the implementation of the Rhode Island State government Enterprise GIS, and coordinate future hardware, software, and geospatial data maintenance.
• Responding to the needs identified by the RIGIS Executive Committee as described by the RIGIS Strategic Plan.
• Representing the interests of RIGIS and the Statewide Planning Program at a State, Regional (NEARC and URISA), and National levels (NSGIC).
• Overseeing geospatial data development and supporting GIS use within the Statewide Planning Program.
• Promoting the development of a team of professionals that support the use of geospatial technology in the State similar to the Massachusetts Office of Geographic and Environmental Information (MassGIS) or the Vermont Center for Geographic Information Inc (VCGI).
• Actively seeking out funding sources that support these core responsibilities.
  

GIS Coordination requires a wide range of skills, including excellent verbal and written communication, technical competence, team-building, contracting, and grant-writing. GISP certification is a plus.

More information and application instructions are available at on the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training web site. The posting is open through December 15. Even more information is available from Jared Rhodes, Chief of the Statewide Planning Program, at (401) 222-5772. I presume he'd be the Coordinator's new boss.

Note: The information above was largely cribbed from an e-mail announcing the posting to several regional GIS listservs from Greg Bonynge (GISP) of the University of Rhode Island Geospatial Extension Program.

California Opens A GIO Position

Last week, California opened an executive position in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) for a Geospatial Information Officer. This is big news for California, and comes nine months after the California GIS Council adopted a Strategic Plan (see http://cgia.org/CA%20StrategicPlan%20P2.pdf ) calling for a GIO.

The GIO will be responsible for ensuring that the State of California receives the benefits associate with Geospatial data, specifically,

• increased data access and sharing;
  
• reduced GIS duplication and costs;
  
• developments of GIS standards;
  
• Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) centers of expertise; public outreach; and
  
• increased collaboration.

We are enthusiastic about this development and look forward to good things to come from now having

1. an executive sponsor,
2. close ties with our Chief Information Officer, and
3. a Paid full-time coordinator.

The link for the job announcement and details for the application process is here.

Job Opening: GIS Coordinator for West Virginia

The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey has posted a job opening for a Statewide Geographic Information System Coordinator.

If you have ever wanted to enter into the fast-paced and exciting world of statewide GIS coordination (and can meet the requirements listed in the job posting) this may be your big break.

The position will be in Charleston, West Virginia. The posting is open through November 14.

Job Posting: Maine GIS Coordinator

The State of Maine is advertising for a Systems Group Manager for the Maine Office of GIS (MEGIS). This is a position that appears to be GIS Coordinator for the state.

The previous head of the Office, Dan Walters, has taken a job with the USGS. The job posting (WORD), on the Direct Hire page of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services web site, outlines the role of a GIS Coordinator:

As the System Group Manager, you will be responsible for directing the MEGIS program and facility, including designing and managing the GIS development plan, a general GIS database, managing the activities of MEGIS staff personnel, coordinating with other departments on GIS matters, facilitating statewide GIS policy with the interagency Stakeholders committee, and representing Maine State Government GIS outside of Maine State Government.

The job is in Augusta, Maine. The closing date on the job posting is November 2.

Job Posting: Wisconsin GIO

The word is out, over on the Wisconsin Mapping Bulletin, that the Wisconsin Department of Administration is looking for a new Geographic Information Officer (GIO). Until recently, that post had been held by Dave Mockert (Dave's in the private sector now). The job announcement is posted on the DOA web site.

NY Times on GIS Jobs

The New York Times has a look at GIS jobs in its "Fresh Starts" section of August 12. The article, Technology Reveals New Worlds to Map, looks at geospatial work as a growing new area of employment.

More companies see the value of G.I.S. services, and there are not enough people to fill all the available jobs, said Richard Serby, a founder of GeoSearch, which recruits people for jobs in mapping sciences.

The article profiles a few workers in different parts of the industry and makes note of the GIS Certification Institute. (VIA All Points Blog)

Job Posting: WV GIS Coordinator

The WV Geological Survey (State Agency) seeks to fill the Statewide Geographic Information System Coordinator (GIS) position which is housed in Charleston, WV. Interested candidates should respond by Friday, September 7, 2007.

Link: www.nsgic.org/news/giscoordinator.cfm

Job Posting: Idaho GIO

The State of Idaho has posted a Job Announcement for a Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) in the Office of the CIO:

The State of Idaho’s Office of the CIO is seeking a Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) to lead state government GIS efforts as well as serve as a collaborative leader for statewide GIS initiatives. This position will provide GIS direction and staff support to the state’s Information Technology Resource Management Council (ITRMC).

The job posting is open through July 23.