Title: GIS Specialist
Locations: La Quinta, CA; Calipatria, CA; or Urbandale, IA (On-Site job)
Duration: 12+ Months Contract


Please note that this position can be located in Imperial Velley, CA or La Quinta, CA or Calipatria, CA or Urbandale, IA. Please consider candidates from any of these locations.
Provides Support to the Following Positions: SVP of Development, Engineering and Construction, Senior Directors and General Managers of Development, and Real Estate Manager
Works closely with: Project Managers, permitting teams, land teams, construction teams, engineering teams, and drilling and resource team(s)

Purpose of Position:
The GIS Specialist in Renewable Energy Development plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable energy initiatives by leveraging geospatial expertise. This role is dedicated to optimizing project planning, execution, and compliance through the meticulous analysis of linear features, land rights, and subsurface elements. The purpose is to harness Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and data to support all aspects of developing renewable energy projects. Effective management of spatial information allows for progress and investment to be made in renewable energy projects that will contribute to the energy transition.
The GIS Specialist will support developments of renewable energy projects and transmission lines, renewable energy operations, and associated real estate, geothermal and drilling departments. This will include support of and engagement with project managers, engineers, geologists, real estate professionals, and executives. Technical site visits and data collection may be required. Work products will include spatial analysis, dynamic GIS datasets, and executive-quality figures, analysis, maps and presentations. Manages timely completion of work products and due diligence analysis. Works with coworkers, consultants, title companies and surveys to identify, evaluate and mitigate site control and entitlement risks. Supports permitting process, regulatory approvals, landowner easements, interconnection process and design engineering consultations. Communicates and aligns plans, schedule, activities and designs with other project development leads an
d operations staff.

Responsibilities:
Utilize GIS tools and software to support renewable energy development projects.
Analyze and map linear features, such as transmission lines and pipelines, to optimize project planning and execution.
Manage spatial data related to land and mineral rights, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for legal compliance and stakeholder communication.
Conduct geospatial analysis of subsurface features, including wells and other geological data, to enhance project feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments.
Work closely with internal and external real estate staff, including external title companies, to evaluate and mitigate site control and entitlement issues.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate GIS data into project workflows and decision-making processes.
Develop and maintain GIS databases, ensuring data integrity and accessibility for project team.
Coordinates the acquisition of site-specific spatial data.
Establish GIS revision and project creation workflows that communicated to and functional for the project teams.
Maintain the accuracy of the GIS database(s), technical files, and documentation.
Complete data and coordinate conversion, digitizing, spatial data editing, attribute editing, data validation and maintenance of digital infrastructure spatial data and related attribute information.
Analyze data and perform QC/QA related activities, standards enforcement, and data validation.
Support high paced due diligence evaluations.
Train project teams in use of GIS software for basic queries and map creation.
Stay abreast of industry trends, tools, systems, vendors and advancements in GIS technology to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of renewable energy projects.
Understand and adhere to company policies, practices, and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as requested or assigned.


Position Requirements:
Technical certification or equivalent in drafting, GIS, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
2 to 5 years of related experience working in a fast paced, high volume production environment using ArcGIS.
Prefer candidates with a bachelor's or advanced degree in geography, GIS, Natural resources, environmental science, or a related field or equivalent work experience.
Proven experience in GIS, with a focus on renewable energy development projects
Strong knowledge of linear features mapping, land rights management, and subsurface features analysis.
Proficient in GIS software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD and similar tools.
Ability to convert between CAD and GIS file formats and coordinate systems while retaining accuracy and integrity of the map features.
Familiarity with legal and regulatory aspects related to land rights and environmental compliance.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including digital file organization and sharing skills. It is critical that other team members can access and use GIS files without guidance.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt GIS solutions to specific project requirements.
Project management skills and the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects concurrently.
Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation.