Geospatial Services Lead

Job Title: Geospatial Services Lead
Location: Washington, D.C. 20250
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Senior

About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Geospatial Services Lead to lead the design, implementation, and management of advanced geospatial data solutions. This senior-level position will play a critical role in coordinating with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Geospatial (GEO) Branch to ensure all geospatial initiatives align with agency-wide standards, practices, and strategic priorities. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise in geospatial technologies with strong leadership and collaboration skills to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Oversee the development, deployment, and maintenance of enterprise-level geospatial systems, tools, and data solutions to support agency missions.
• Compliance and Alignment: Serve as a subject matter expert to ensure geospatial workflows, data formats, and tools adhere to NRCS GEO Branch standards and federal geospatial protocols (e.g., FGDC, OGC, ISO).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal teams, external stakeholders, and NRCS GEO Branch personnel to identify needs, resolve technical challenges, and optimize geospatial capabilities.
• Project Management: Lead geospatial initiatives from concept to delivery, including budgeting, scheduling, and risk management, while maintaining compliance with federal IT and data governance policies.
• Team Mentorship: Guide and mentor junior geospatial professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Technical Innovation: Stay abreast of emerging geospatial technologies (e.g., AI/ML in spatial analytics, cloud GIS, remote sensing) to recommend and implement cutting-edge solutions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Geography, Geospatial Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial data management, GIS development, and geospatial service delivery, with 3+ years in a lead/supervisory role.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, etc.) and geospatial programming (Python, SQL, R).
  • Experience with geospatial data formats (raster/vector, Shapefiles, GeoJSON, etc.) and metadata standards.
  • Familiarity with federally mandated geospatial frameworks and standards (e.g., FGDC Metadata, OGC web services).
• Certifications: Relevant certifications (e.g., Esri Technical Certification, GISP, PMP) are a plus.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Working understanding of NRCS geospatial protocols and agricultural conservation data needs is highly desirable.

Additional Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience with cloud-based GIS platforms (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure).
• Background in agricultural or environmental data systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on scalable, data-driven solutions.