Overview

Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center is a non-profit organization that has captured the attention of leaders in cities across the country. Our model of creating neighborhood-based environmental education centers energizes urban public natural areas. Located in vibrant public green spaces, our fast-growing organization serves over 200,000 people of all ages annually.  Our innovative team of cutting-edge non-profit professionals work in creative, high-energy open offices in state-of-the-art green facilities. The Urban Ecology Center serves socially and culturally diverse communities. We are committed to having a team of employees that reflect the richness and diversity of these communities.

Our team enjoys many benefits that include a UEC membership, workplace flexibility, a generous PTO program to have time to enjoy the outdoors, health and wellness benefits, and retirement saving plan to name a few!  All this and employees who are passionate about achieving our mission of connecting people in cities to nature and each other!

We have an opportunity to join the Urban Ecology Center team and are seeking a GIS & Field Data Coordinator.  Details here:

Position Summary

The Geographic Information System (GIS) and Field Data Coordinator is a full-time year-round position responsible for managing GIS and research and monitoring data for the Urban Ecology Center’s three branches. The GIS & Field Data Coordinator has a strong commitment to the conservation of biological diversity and will manage geospatial and other relational databases and help visualize data related to land stewardship, wildlife monitoring, public use of green spaces, and other research projects.

This position will serve as coordinator for a number of the Center’s monitoring projects, assist in field surveys and management activities for the natural areas of the three branches, and generate reports to stakeholders including the Annual Review.  This person will work collaboratively with the Urban Ecology Center’s Manager of Research and Community Science, Research and Community Science Coordinator, Land Stewards, and staff from the Marketing, Education, Community Programs, and other departments.  Additional duties include volunteer recruitment, coordination, and training for various research projects and assisting with the daily operations of the Center, including program development, newsletter, blog, and environmental education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

GIS services

  • Manage geospatial and other relational databases for the Urban Ecology Center which supports research, land stewardship, wildlife monitoring, public use of green spaces and community health, as well as education, community programs, and leadership
  • Create maps and reports using ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, and ESRI Story Maps
  • Assist in location-based (GPS) surveying and monitoring and hands-on restoration efforts
  • Provide data and mapping support for Leadership, Education, Community Programs, Marketing, and other departments
  • Supervise summer interns, High School Outdoor Leaders, credit interns, and volunteers

Research Data Management

  • Field data collection and assurance of quality control and quality assurance across wildlife monitoring and natural area research projects
  • Steward all of the Center’s field data in duplicate electronic and paper formats and make them accessible to internal and external parties
  • Interpret visually and in writing data and results generated by the Center’s Research and Community Science and how it relates to Land Stewardship efforts
  • Create various reports to stakeholders, including the Annual Review of Research
  • Assist development staff in writing grants, producing grant reports, and writing manuscripts for publication and conference proceedings
  • Assist in integrating Research monitoring projects and Land Stewardship management plans into an Adaptive Management Plan
  • Coordinate Center data management pertaining to iNaturalist, eBird, and other data portals

Programming and other duties

  • Act as the primary investigator or lead coordinator for some of the Center’s monitoring projects and research, as determined by specific skills of the applicant and needs of the Center
  • Lead groups of volunteer community scientists in field-based monitoring and provide training in data collection, analysis, and reporting
  • Work with Center staff in furthering the goals and mission of the UEC and assist, as needed, with daily Center operations and special projects

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Education/Training: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree or work experience equivalent in natural sciences, botany, natural resources, land management, forestry or related field.

Experience: 2-5 years working in a related field and experience coordinating groups of people.

Skills and Abilities: 

  • Proficient in the use of GPS, ArcGIS software products and applications (ArcMap, ArcGIS online, ESRI Collector, ArcGIS Pro) for mapping and geospatial analysis
  • Proficiency in summarizing data in a coding environment (e.g., R) preferred, or in Microsoft Office Excel for creating pivot tables, graphs and charts and using the data analysis add-in package
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Access, creating tables and forms, entering data, updating and creating forms
  • Strong interest in community engagement and working with volunteers and partnering organizations
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and public speaking abilities
  • Ability to work with others in a collaborative setting
  • Knowledge of and an interest in learning native Wisconsin plant communities and wildlife, including monitoring protocols, field data collection, and appropriate analyses
  • Strong organizational skills for both data management and virtual and in-person event coordination
  • Self-motivated and ability to work independently
  • Valid driver’s license with ability to meet requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Center’s commercial vehicle insurance policy (prefered)
  • Experience with statistical software such as SPSS, Systat, R, JMP or other similar program (preferred)
  • Experience with Adobe Design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (preferred).
  • Proficiency in producing and editing virtual content (video editing) a plus
  • Acoustic bat monitoring, water quality monitoring, land stewardship knowledge/experience, and/or first aid/CPR a plus

Working Conditions:

Job Conditions/Work Location: A combination of field data collection (outside in uneven terrain and different weather conditions) and office work with both in-person and remote components (open office work space with active team atmosphere).

Physical Requirements: Sitting in an office chair at a computer for extended lengths of time. Endurance to work outdoors throughout the seasons, lift heavy objects and properly use hand and power tools and equipment. Must be able to lift objects up to 40 pounds.

Equipment Used: GPS Units, GIS software, iPad, computer, printer/copier, power tools, wildlife monitoring equipment: cameras, traps, nets, water quality devices, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises summer interns, High School Outdoor Leaders, field technicians, and credit interns as needed