Geospatial Analyst – Forests, Peatlands, and Climate Change

at  Wildlife Conservation Society

Position Title: Geospatial Analyst – Forests, Peatlands, and Climate Change
Level: 7
Position Type: Full-time
Program: Forests, Peatlands & Climate Change (FPCC)
Position Location: Toronto/GTA (Hybrid) or Remote in Canada.
Date Written/Revised: October 7, 2024
Reports To: Dr Lorna Harris, Director of Forests, Peatlands & Climate Change Program
Supervises (Direct supervision only): N/A
Term: 3-month contract (with possibility of extension)
Salary: $70,000 to $75,000 annually based on experience (plus travel and research expenses)
Start date: December 9, 2024
Position Contact: Dr Lorna Harris, Director of Forests, Peatlands & Climate Change
Benefits: Paid vacation days, Paid sick and Personal emergency leave, Self-care days, DEIJA Team, Weekly Wellness sessions, Mentorship program.
Application Closing date: November 6, 2024 at 6pm EDT

POSITION SUMMARY

WCS Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada) is a national, non-profit, charitable organization established in 2004. WCS Canada’s national Forests, Peatlands, and Climate Change (FPCC) program focuses on connecting field-based, geospatial, and policy research for forests and peatlands across Canada, with a particular focus on high-integrity forests and peatlands in boreal and subarctic regions. The program is also closely connected to WCS global conservation programs for peatlands and forests and other international peatland groups.
To support our work, WCS Canada is seeking a Geospatial Analyst for a 3-month contract, with possibility of extension. With support from our Lead Geospatial Analyst, the geospatial analyst will use a combination of data on mining and mineral exploration activities, land cover and ecosystems, and other relevant spatial information to identify areas across Canada that have greater potential for the advancement of protected and conserved areas. The geospatial analyst will also provide GIS support to connected projects led by FPCC.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• MSc with a specialization in GIS, geomatics, geography, data science or remote sensing, and a minimum of 2 years’ experience post-MSc.
• A certificate or diploma from a recognized post‐secondary institution or college in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Strong skills with geospatial software (e.g., ArcGIS Pro) and coding (e.g., Python, R).
• Strong research and problem-solving skills, detail oriented, and resourceful.
• Knowledge of data management processes, including quality assurance and control.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• An understanding of Indigenous-led conservation and governance across Canada.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team on multiple projects concurrently.
• A passion for the conservation of nature and wildlife.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge and experience working with spatial wetlands data, or other ecosystem data.

ABOUT WCS CANADA

WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to save wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of actors. WCS Canada has a track record of our science being recognized as relevant, credible and legitimate by researchers, NGOs and agencies. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed, while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries.
Diversity and inclusion are core WCS Canada values. We value the diversity of the people we employ and work with and we strive to provide an inclusive and equitable workplace in which we recognize the unique characteristics, skills and experiences of all employees. We are committed to engaging our employees in our diversity, equity and inclusion work and together we aim to create a workplace where all staff feel they belong and can grow.
WCS Canada’s programs occur on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples whose relationships various governments are described in historic (numbered) Treaties, modern land claim agreements, and negotiations around unceded lands. We recognize and support the international ecological and social commitments and responsibilities to Indigenous Peoples that Canada has signed, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Our commitment to engagement with Indigenous Peoples ranges from notification of research to the provision of scientific advice, to co-creation of research. We respect Indigenous knowledge systems and include this knowledge in our research and conservation programs where possible. We engage in land use planning and impact assessment processes that affect Indigenous Peoples, seeking ways to advance conservation as well as opportunities to sustain the livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous communities. We seek to motivate positive conservation outcomes by supporting effective governance and decision-making processes by Indigenous communities, particularly by supporting Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas.
WCS Canada is committed to contributing to the field of conservation science and the professional development of its employees. Employees are encouraged to participate in professional societies and present their research at conferences and meetings, as well as participate in relevant workshops and training opportunities. Employees are likewise encouraged to mentor graduate students, participate in relevant graduate student committees, and pursue adjunct status with universities as appropriate

• Review and compile spatial datasets showing the extent of petroleum, oil, natural gas and coal extraction and exploration across Canada.
• Complete a geospatial analysis of relevant datasets (including mining and mineral exploration data - identified in an earlier review) to identify areas across Canada with greater potential for the advancement of protected and conserved areas.
• Complete a summary report describing the datasets and processes used to collate the data, data availability, any challenges met along the way, and any recommendations for future work.
• Co-author peer-reviewed publications.
• Present research plans and findings at meetings and conferences.
• Contribute to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that promotes engagement and belonging.
• Support WCS Canada’s goal of transforming WCS Canada’s conservation practice through reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.