City of Kitchener Careers

GIS Application Specialist

Competition Number

2024-325

Job Code

0548

Posting Date

September 24, 2024

Closing Date

October 8, 2024 (at 6:00pm)

Job Status

Permanent Full-Time

The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and dynamic city of approximately 292,000, in the heart of southwestern Ontario. As the largest municipality in Waterloo Region, Kitchener continues to be poised for development and growth, enhancing its reputation as a leader in city-building and innovation, with nationally recognized strategies to build its neighbourhoods, its digital infrastructure and its diverse economy.

The City of Kitchener is WHERE you want to work! Learn more about the top reasons to join us:

Why work at the City of Kitchener

Position Overview:

We are seeking a skilled GIS Application Specialist to drive the implementation and optimization of Geographic Information System (GIS) solutions across our organization. The ideal candidate will assess departmental needs, implement GIS solutions, and design operational standards to enhance efficiency and synergy. They will be responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining ArcGIS Enterprise for the corporation, ensuring its optimal performance and integration with other systems. Key duties include developing specialized GIS applications and interfaces, collaborating on data integrations, and providing technical leadership to staff. The specialist will conduct advanced spatial and statistical analysis for business planning and research, design automated data processes, and troubleshoot software and data issues. Additionally, they will contribute to GIS-related research, driving innovation in spatial analysis methodologies while maintaining up-to-date technical skills in GIS technologies.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for candidates with advanced degrees to apply their research skills and in-depth knowledge of spatial statistics to real-world business challenges, while managing enterprise-level GIS infrastructure.

Responsibilities:

• Determines needs of various departments regarding how GIS solutions can facilitate tasks and how the technology may be used to synergize functions throughout the corporation.
• Designs, develops, and implements GIS operational standards, administration standards, and procedures to ensure optimal GIS performance and integrity.
• Researches and identifies business process gaps across departments and determines how spatial technology can be applied to improve processes for efficiency.
• Develops specialized GIS applications and interfaces to create and maintain GIS information for systems including OnPoint, CityWorks, AMANDA, Teranet Xchange, and mobile field applications.
• Collaborates with development and database administration staff to design and implement data integrations with other corporate systems such as OnPoint, CityWorks and AMANDA.
• Develops, implements, and provides application support and maintenance for custom GIS applications (coding, testing, debugging, documentation, user training).
• Administers, installs, and supports GIS systems, tools, and technology (install, integrate into existing systems, test, and evaluate new versions of software).
• Provides technical leadership, guidance, and mentoring of staff in GIS enterprise solution technologies.
• Researches, plans, and recommends resource allocation; determines client and technology requirements.
• Works collaboratively with staff to identify issues with software and data to troubleshoot and develop workarounds and improvements to processes and applications.
• Provides spatial analysis and data modeling and consultation services to ensure the collection of useful information.
• Provides statistical analysis for business planning purposes.
• Designs and develops automated data handling, extraction, and validation processes.
• Maintains and enhances technical skills through training, conferences, user groups, peer mentoring, and self-directed learning.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• 3-year degree or diploma in a related field (e.g. Geographic Information Systems or Computer Science).
• 4-7 years of related experience including GIS application development and spatial analysis demonstrating increased responsibility and work complexity.
• Technical knowledge of key geospatial enterprise technologies (e.g. ESRI Enterprise, Cityworks, AMANDA, OnPoint, Safe Software FME, Oracle) with the ability to provide strategic planning for those systems.

• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of the ESRI Enterprise Geodatabase products including ArcGIS Server Geodatabase Design including Installation and upgrades, administration, configuration, monitoring, design, versioning, geodatabase advanced functionality and workflows, SQL data updates, data loading/export.
• Knowledge of geospatial relationships, geographical information systems, relational data

modelling, statistical analysis, standard computer systems design and relational database

systems.

• Advanced Proficiency in the ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Urban, ArcGIS Server/Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, and FME.
• Strong working knowledge of database management (ORACLE, SDE, FGDB), programming and scripting (Python, Arcade, R) and interacting with APIs.
• Knowledge of municipal software such as AMANDA and CityWorks along with experience in 3D GIS mapping would be an asset.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD / Civil3D would be an asset.
• Highly adaptable to change and function in a fast-paced technological environment.
• Ability to support and project values compatible with the organization and to participate as an effective team member.
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management and control. 
• Proven experience in GIS application development and spatial analysis
• Strong background in spatial statistics and research methodologies
• Expertise in ArcGIS Enterprise installation, configuration, and maintenance
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field welcome but not required.

GISP designation preferred but not required.

Note: All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In the event there is no successful applicant with the stated level of education and experience, other applicants will be considered if a combination of their education and experience meets the following pre-determined equivalency:

• 2-Year Diploma (or 2-Year Specialized Post-Secondary Program) with minimum 7 years related and relevant experience or 4-Year Honours Degree with minimum 2 years related and relevant experience.

The City of Kitchener is committed to an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and to ensuring our workforce reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity deserving groups.

We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please contact Human Resources at [email protected], or 519-741-2200 ext. 7261 to make your needs known, so that we can support your full and equal participation throughout the hiring process.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants. Only candidates whose skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the position will be contacted.

Please note that as per Human Resources Policy HUM-HIR-110, "Employment of Relatives of Staff Members and Elected Officials":

"The immediate relatives of staff of the Human Resources Division, all Directors, General Managers, or the Chief Administrative Officer and Elected Officials shall not be employed by the City in any capacity.

The immediate relatives of all other Management personnel shall not be employed where such employment would be:

1. within the same Department in the case of permanent full-time, temporary full-time and part-time classifications.

2. within the same Division in the case of students."

Department

Corporate Services

Division

Technology Innovation and Services

Union Affiliation

CUPE 791

Number of Positions

1

Hours of Work

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Location

Initial Location

City Hall 

City

Kitchener

Compensation

Salary Range

$87,244 - $109,055 annually

effective Nov 1, 2024: $91,885 - $114,856

Grade/Band

10