Senior Research Assistant, Mapping MB Social Housing

at  University of Winnipeg

Senior Research Assistants are normally graduate students, or University of Winnipeg undergraduate students, employed to assist in the execution and evaluation of research projects in their area of study. The positions may oversee Research Assistants in areas such as the use of proper techniques, analysis, and documentation.
Senior Research Assistants work under the general supervision or direction of more senior researchers or faculty members, and are expected to exercise judgment in prioritizing, planning and organizing their own work within defined parameters.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

This position will undertake a short-term project to produce an online map of social housing in Manitoba for the Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association (MNPHA) and Manitoba Housing. The map will require a very high-level usage of ESRI online, including developing a dataset that can be updated easily, producing an interactive map with ‘pop up’ information across a dozen variables, as well as additional variable layers that must remain confidential. The map will be transferred to an ESRI account owned by MHPHA and MNPHA will maintain the map in perpetuity.
The focus of the position is data retrieval and cleaning, data-management, and data-presentation all within an online platform. Position also assists with research design, and a small amount of writing for the webpage presentation and to document metadata for future updates.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Honours Degree Geography with an emphasis on data collection/analysis, mapping, and data visualization, Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum 3 years experience working with data and mapping.
• Very high level skills and experience using ESRI online and GIS.
• Familiarity with UW policy and procedures when using confidential data.
• Familiarity with website design and porting ESRI online maps to webpages.
• Familiarity with HTML.
• Graphic design / visual design / data visualization / map design skills

• High level of skills in GIS Mapping/Geocoding in an online environment.
• Assist in the design of the project, taking into account the need for a long-term updatable database that automatically feeds the online map, as well as strict procedures regarding confidentiality of private information-across multiple map layers and/or webpages.
• Data collection, verification, and cleaning.
• Database development.
• Writing: webpage explanations/descriptions as well as metadata that allows ongoing maintenance of the online map.
• Meeting with project proponents and partners.
• Other project related duties as required or assigned.