Manager, Geospatial Scientist

Position: Manager Geospatial Scientist

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Keller Science Action Center

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical dental vision plans and even pet insurance.

• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off paid sick leave and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.

• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

Were dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!

The Field Museums Keller Science Action Center (KSAC) translates museum science collections and partnerships into results for conservation and quality of life. Our interdisciplinary teams of ecologists social scientists and specialists work with communities scientists conservation practitioners and public agencies to co-create knowledge and action for biodiversity conservation territorial management and human well-being. The Manager Geospatial Scientist oversees and develops the application of geospatial science across KSACs Andes-Amazon and Chicago Region programs.

Manager Geospatial Scientist provides the advanced technical skills and strategic thinking to make KSAC a leader in the management and application of spatial data for conservation. The position combines advanced technical expertise with management ensuring that spatial analysis remote sensing cartography and data systems directly inform KSAC projects from the initial planning stages through execution data analysis and follow-up. The Manager Geospatial Scientist will proactively identify high-impact opportunities for KSAC translate complex spatial information into actionable insights for our staff and partners and guide multiple initiatives from scoping through delivery and evaluation. Expected projects include expert participation in biological and social inventories of remote areas of the Andes-Amazon region; modeling of biotic and abiotic assets of unvisited natural areas; application of novel remote-sensing technologies to inventory large tropical landscapes; and monitoring of conservation impacts and interventions.

This position works closely with ecological and social scientists community engagement specialists program leaders museum colleagues and spatial data science leaders in partner organizations. The Manager Geospatial Scientist establishes shared geospatial standards oversees quality and spatial data governance manages staff and collaborators and strengthens geospatial capacity across teams and partner organizations. The role is expected to balance technical leadership with responsive relationship-based collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in design and implementation of geospatial science in support of KSACs conservation territorial management and strategic planning. Work with Andes-Amazon and Chicago Region program teams to identify priority spatial questions develop analytical approaches that advance program strategies and partner-defined conservation goals and lead multiple initiatives providing effective project management and implementation work plans indicators publications.
• Supervise staff to support geospatial management and analysis. Develop staff leadership capacities and effective collaboration with partners in academia communities Indigenous federations government agencies and conservation organizations.
• Identify strategic opportunities to expand geospatial programming and funding and collaborate on grant writing budget management progress evaluation reporting and communications that strengthen Action Center programs and projects in Andes-Amazon and Chicago.
• Integrate satellite and aerial imagery field observations biodiversity inventories climate and environmental data participatory mapping and appropriate social and cultural information into interdisciplinary assessments and analyses including land-use and land-cover change habitat and ecological connectivity climate vulnerability and resilience hydrology and socio-environmental dynamics.

• Evaluate and selectively apply emerging methods such as machine learning GeoAI cloud-based remote sensing automated change detection and predictive modeling; ensure that methods are scientifically appropriate explainable and validated.
• Professional development museum citizenship.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in geography GIS/geospatial science ecology environmental science remote sensing earth system science conservation science anthropology or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in GIS remote sensing spatial analysis applied conservation science or a closely related field including technical leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects including scopes work plans schedules budgets deliverables partner relationships and quality review.
• Advanced proficiency with Esri platforms QGIS geospatial analysis workflow programming and analytical environments (e.g. R Python Google Earth Engine).
• Demonstrated experience with satellite imagery raster analysis spatial statistics or modeling cartography spatial databases and integration of large or multi-source environmental datasets.
• Effective spatial data management including metadata quality assurance and quality control data security and sharing and long-term stewardship.
• Ability to convert complex analyses into clear findings visualizations recommendations and decision-support products for scientific community policy donor and public audiences.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff and coordinating multidisciplinary multicultural or multi-institutional teams.
• Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese with strong professional proficiency in the other language preferred.
• Working knowledge and/or direct experience with conservation territorial management or socio-environmental governance issues in the Andes-Amazon region.
• Ability and willingness to travel periodically work occasional non-traditional hours and participate in field activities in variable and sometimes remote conditions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Experience with participatory mapping or co-production of spatial knowledge with community or Indigenous partners.
• Experience with machine learning or GeoAI image classification ecological modeling LiDAR radar drone or multispectral imagery or automated monitoring workflows.
• Experience developing web maps dashboards interactive decision-support tools or other accessible geospatial applications.
• Record of contributing to peer-reviewed publications applied research products or high-impact conservation plans and proposals.
• FAA Remote Pilot Certificate.

Application Materials:

• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position.
• Portfolio with at least two examples of maps geospatial analyses spatial data visualizations dashboards or decision-support products.
• Contact information for three professional references.

Working Conditions:

Supervision Received:

Receives general supervision from Sr Conservation Ecologist.

Supervision Exercised:

Supervises Lead GIS Analyst; provides project direction to interns fellows consultants and collaborators as assigned.

Work Hours and Shift:

Full-time 35 hours/weekly; occasional evening or weekend work and travel may be required.

Hybrid Eligibility:

Eligible

Location:

1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Chicago IL 60605

Union Representation: Not applicable

Pay Range: $

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The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination embracing diversity and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings which strengthens our ability to innovate and address complex challenges.

At the Field Museum we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application or if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the selection process please contact

Required Experience:

Manager