Shoreline Management Act GIS Specialist (IT Data Management Journey)
IT, Data Science
Lacey, WA, USA
Description
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Shoreline Management Act GIS Specialist (IT Data Management Journey) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program.
Location:
Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule:
This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Please Note: This is a project position with funding through June 30, 2027, with the potential for further extension based on legislative appropriation.
Application Timeline:
Apply by July 24th, 2026.
Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.
Duties
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This IT Data Management Journey position provides an essential opportunity to lead the SEA Program’s geospatial data management, spatial database administration, and GIS application development efforts that support statewide shoreline, shorelands, and coastal hazard work. In this role, you will manage and modernize the program’s spatial data infrastructure—designing database schemas, administering enterprise geodatabases, automating ETL workflows, and delivering authoritative datasets that underpin regulatory decisions, environmental analyses, and Coastal Atlas functionality. You will serve as the program’s primary technical authority for spatial data systems, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and interoperability across Ecology, local governments, Tribes, and federal partners.
You will also develop and maintain Coastal Atlas applications and data services, conduct advanced spatial analyses, and support coastal and environmental models that inform statewide planning and regulatory processes. By building tools, documentation, training, and data workflows, you will strengthen staff and partner capacity to use geospatial information effectively and promote consistent, defensible environmental decision making. As the SEA Program’s primary geospatial specialist, you will play a central role in shaping data standards, improving workflow efficiency, and enhancing the accessibility of critical shoreline and coastal data used by planners, regulators, researchers, and the public.
What you will do:
• Design, administer, and maintain the SEA Program’s enterprise spatial databases, ensuring high-quality, well-documented, and reliable geospatial data that support shoreline permitting, policy development, environmental review, and Coastal Atlas updates.
• Develop and maintain Coastal Atlas web applications, map services, and automated geoprocessing tools that provide statewide access to authoritative shoreline photos, hazard layers, habitat information, and other critical datasets.
• Conduct advanced spatial analyses and develop automated spatial modeling workflows using Python, R, and ArcGIS tools to support coastal hazard assessments, ecological analyses, regulatory decisions, and resilience initiatives.
• Lead the design and implementation of ETL workflows that integrate multisource datasets from local governments, Tribes, federal agencies, scientific models, and enterprise systems, ensuring seamless, accurate, and standardized data delivery.
• Provide technical assistance, guidance, and training to SEA staff, local governments, Tribes, and partner agencies on the use and interpretation of spatial datasets, Coastal Atlas tools, and geospatial workflows.
• Coordinate with Ecology GIS/IT teams, shoreline subject matter experts, and external agency partners to align data standards, resolve technical issues, and support shared coastal and shoreline initiatives.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, metadata, file structures, and records that meet agency and statewide standards for data transparency, continuity, accessibility, and Public Records Act compliance.
• Communicate data design decisions, QA/QC results, system changes, and application updates to program staff, managers, and external partners to promote consistent understanding and effective use of geospatial information. Qualifications
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For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.
Required Qualifications:
Five (5) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:
1.Geospatial Data Management: Ability to maintain enterprise spatial datasets, perform QA/QC, document metadata, ensure data accuracy, and support program-wide environmental and regulatory workflows.
2.Spatial Database Design: Ability to design spatial database schemas, create data models, define entity relationships, and ensure geodatabase structures support analytical, regulatory, and program needs.
3.Enterprise GIS Administration: Ability to administer geospatial database systems such as ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcSDE, and SQL Server; manage versioning and replication; monitor performance; and troubleshoot geospatial data issues.
4.Advanced Spatial Analysis: Ability to conduct complex spatial analyses using ArcGIS Pro, Python, R, and spatial statistics; synthesize findings; and generate analytical products that support environmental, regulatory, and planning decisions.
5.ETL Process Development: Ability to design automated ETL workflows that integrate and standardize spatial and tabular data from multiple sources such as local governments, Tribes, federal partners, scientific models, and enterprise systems.
6.GIS Application Development: Ability to develop, publish, and maintain web maps, data services, map layers, and geoprocessing tools that support internal staff, external partners, and public users accessing program datasets.
Education: involving a major study in Computer Science, GIS Applied Science, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), or closely related field.
Examples of how to qualify:5 years of experience.
4 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
3 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
2 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
1 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Desired Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to use Web GIS (ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise) and ArcGIS Pro.
Supplemental Information
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Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Our Commitment to DEIR
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.
Application Process
Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:
Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
Resume
Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.
For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.
Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
Need an Accommodation?
If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:
Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.
Questions?
For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Arati Kaza d at Arati Kaza@ecy.wa.gov
If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov
About the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program
The mission of the SEA Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.
About the Department of Ecology
As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentive, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
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