GIS Support Specialist at Rice University in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

Special Instructions to Applicants : All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application. A cover letter is welcomed but not required. We suggest the documents be in a PDF format to avoid formatting issues.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name - RICE - Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

Fondren Library, located at the center of Rice University's academic quad, is a key center of learning in our educational community, providing access to scholarly information, research support, library instruction, and computing and study facilities. As a staff member of Fondren, the GIS Support Specialist manages the day-to-day functions of the GIS/Data Center (GDC), which provides a central location on campus for faculty, staff, and students to work with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and use geospatial data. Typical duties will include managing schedules for staffing coverage of the GDC, scheduling and providing reference appointments with GDC patrons, preparing for future appointments by researching GIS tasks and searching for data, authoring and updating instruction materials, and working with staff on campus regarding mapping. The GIS support specialist uses expert knowledge in the implementation and application of GIS software, processes, and data to assist patrons with GIS projects. The GIS support specialist also provides training through classes and one-on-one instruction with geospatial/numeric analysis, display, and management. Additionally, they manage and consult on GIS projects, work with the Fondren Library's IT staff to configure and maintains hardware, software, and equipment, manage and train student employees and researchers and recommends new technologies to be used at the GDC. An ideal candidate has demonstrated experience in these areas: using GIS on a variety of projects, giving group and one-on-one instruction, and supervising or mentoring students.

The ideal candidate has excellent time management and organization skills and is proactive and service-oriented.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Fondren Library, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the salary is $63,100, with the potential for a higher rate based on qualifications and experience. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• 
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  
  • lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
  
  
• 
  Two plus (2+) years in a position that uses GIS software, including but not limited to ArcGIS Pro
  
  
  • lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education , above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
  
  
• 
  Skills
  
  
  • Ability to work well with a variety of users within the University community
  • Quality oral and written communication, as well as excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills
  • Ability to work in a team-based environment; meet deadlines in a fast-paced multitasking environment
  • Ability and experience in giving presentations and/or group instruction
  • Knowledge of spatial data, databases, data structure / GIS dataset management
  • High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Windows
  
  

Preferences

• Master's degree in geography, earth science, geology, GIS, IT, engineering, architecture, or other related fields.
• Experience with:
  
  
  • Providing user support and education; experience giving group and one-on-one instruction.
  • Using GIS on a variety of projects.
  • Mentoring students
  
  
• Adaptable to working with different operating systems (e.g., Windows, Mac and Unix)
• Adaptable to working with new software
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability with spatial and statistical analysis techniques, cartographic principles, and geographic approaches in a variety of disciplines
• Knowledge metadata standards for geospatial data
• Experience using numeric data, including census data
• Certified GIS Professional (GISP)

Essential Functions

• Assists patrons with the use of GIS digital applications and projects
• Advises users in the analysis, display, and management of geospatial and numeric data
• Works with faculty, staff, and students to develop Geographic Information Systems (GIS) projects
• Plans, delivers, and assesses services to the community in support of teaching and learning involving GIS
• Resolves/coordinates computer software and hardware problems
• Teaching classes and workshops on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data
• Authors instructional materials
• Creates maps, charts, tables, graphs, and graphics using GIS and related software

Additional Functions

• May supervise student workers as needed

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

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