Geographer

This Geographer 3 contract position will work within Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA’s) Civil Design department (TELF) organization. The Civil Design department provides design, contracting, and construction management for new and existing facilities. This position will provide advanced professional Geographic Information System (GIS) services utilizing computerized data capture, storage, and analysis techniques for visual displays, spatial analysis, and tabular reports on a wide variety of geographical projects.

Project Assessment and Initiation:

• Maintain and update an enterprise mobile data collection workflow using iOS tablets, Trimble R1 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Global Positions Systems (GPS) receivers, Geode Connect GNSS GPS Receivers and ArcGIS Online (AGOL) off-premises hosted services.
• Design, develop and administer disconnected Field Map for ArcGIS workflows for Access Road data collection and updating.
• Build data capturing and attribution processing tools that facilitate the collection of real-time GNSS status information such as Root Mean Square (RMS) values, horizontal location and GPS position information used in accuracy reporting standards.
• Design and develop geoprocessing tasks using Python scripting and Model Builder for ArcGIS; used for feature service creation, AGOL admin tasks, and Extract-Test-Load (ETL) processes.
• Design workflow/technical process to spatially enable legacy databases using ArcGIS tools with SharePoint/Access tracking tools. Maintain the spatial location for all Work in Progress (WIP) projects stored in SharePoint and use ESRI collaboration tools to distribute and share this TELF project information transparently. Use Operations Dashboard to configure custom widgets to summarize and quantify the WIP spatially enabled data.
• Publish map services of spatially enabled databases to facilitate program level planning/estimating/ reporting in ArcGIS Server for on premise data hosting.
• Maintain versioned enterprise Spatial Database Engine (SDE) for weekly edits and work closely with ITGIS staff to manage users, reconcile and postscripts, and schema changes.
• Design updated Geodatabase schema and subsequently administer and maintain SDE Planned Access Roads feature classes and verify data quality. Maintain versions, reconcile and post and provide QA/QC for enterprise GIS data editors.
• Act as technical expert on ArcGIS software, GNSS/GPS Hardware/Software, and provide training to staff on the following GIS/GPS technical areas:
• GIS editing
• GPS data collection/best practices
• GIS data management
• Perform all functions associated with the creation, maintenance and attribution of BPA’s rock pit spatial database which stores the location and status of rock pit locations in the BPA service area.
• Perform integration of GPS cameras to capture digital data relating to access road design.
• Perform business analysis to streamline data collection, processing and enterprise consumption.
• Work with Access Road Engineers, Surveyors and the GIS group to discern best practices for Access Road/Mobile integration into the enterprise GIS accounting for workflow/available technologies/legacy systems-processes.
• Build custom ModelBuilder tools to process GPS data and share with inter-agency groups.
• Serve as technical expert on ETL related business processes between the Surveying & Mapping Group, GIS and outside contractors. This includes building ETL solutions to share spatial data between enterprise Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) based systems, Trimble software and Microstation design packages.
• Design, build and maintain BPA’s transportation system network.
• Develop and create resource planning tools utilizing the ArcGIS Server to assist management with project and organizational planning, resource allocation and overall group direction.
• Develop and build Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams to design enterprise level geodatabases using Visio.
• Work with Project Managers and Contracting Officers Representatives to spatially represent current expense and capital projects prior to and during the design process. This was previously stored as SharePoint lists to spatially enable Work In Progress by hooking SharePoint lists into Access/ArcGIS joined tables for publishing in enterprise AGS deployment.
• Utilize computerized data capture, storage, query and analysis techniques for visual displays, spatial analysis, and tabular reports on a wide variety of geographical projects
• Create geo-processing models and scripts to support Access Road Engineer transportation design process.
• Design and maintain geographic and relational data bases to support Access Road Engineer transportation design process.
• Perform general GPS hardware maintenance, as necessary.
• Train staff on web mapping applications (eGIS and AGOL), Field Map for ArcGIS as well as desktop ESRI clients (ArcMap, ArcCatalog).
• Create and update training documentation as needed to support the Access Road Engineer design.
• Support the development of a GIS Strategic plan for TELF and determine review timelines to ensure the plan meets TELF’s objectives and encompasses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in in a related field such as geography, natural resources, environmental, urban or regional planning or landscape architecture Cartography, Surveying or Engineering is preferred.
• With an applicable Bachelor’s degree, 6 years of experience is required.
• Without an applicable Bachelor’s degree, 10 years of experience is required.
• Experience should include geospatial related experience.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.x, ArcGIS Online, ArcPro, SDE, Field Maps, Survey123, Navigator, FME Workbench
• Expertise in GPS technology and data collection techniques and expert understanding of geodesy and datum transformations
• Knowledge of spatial data standards and QA/QC methodology
• Knowledge of distributed geodatabases utilizing check-in/check-out processes
• Ability to diagnose and resolve spatial data discrepancies
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical GPS issues
• Knowledge and understanding of integrated GIS/GPS principles, systems and technologies
• GIS data editing skills and knowledge
• Ability to create geo-processing models and scripts to assist in data collection, storage, retrieval and analysis
• Demonstrated ability to develop, maintain and modify geo-processing models and scripts, design and maintain geographic and relational data bases, design and implement complex geographic analysis
• Proven experience working with GPS technology including data collection, post-processing, and integration with ArcGIS software

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Vancouver, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $47.00 - $52.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Vancouver,WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 1, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.

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