Maternal and Child Health GIS Analyst for Montana DPHHS

Position Title: GIS Programmer Analyst

Salary: $ 30.96 - 30.96 Hourly ($64,397 Annually)

Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings: 1

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: None

Primary Location: Helena

Agency: Department of Public Health & Human Services

Union: Montana Federation of Public Employees

Posting Date: Jan 6, 2020, 9:29:57 AM

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone): Ongoing (review of applications will begin on 1/24/2020)

Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume, Supplemental Questions (Refer to Job Posting at https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=19142683&tz=GMT-07%3A00&tzname😃

Contact Name: Department of Public Health and Human Services | Contact Email: hhshumanresources@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 406-444-3136

Description:

This position will lead geographic information systems (GIS) projects for the Family and Community Health Bureau, including projects specific to the Maternal Health Innovation Grant. The GIS Programmer/Analyst will be responsible for developing geospatial products that integrate the bureau and agencies data sources related to maternal, infant, child, and adolescent populations (e.g. birth and death records, FCHB program participation, reports of child abuse and neglect, hospital discharge data) with an emphasis on identifying geographic patterns to adverse health outcomes and service shortage areas.

The GIS Programmer/Analyst is responsible for all aspects of developing, maintaining, and disseminating the content of the agency’s geographic information systems (GIS) databases, web resources, and related applications. The position’s duties include overseeing GIS system administration, data management, application development, technical consulting, training, data analysis, mapping application development, map production and cross-division and cross-agency collaboration and support.

The GIS Programmer/Analyst serves as an interface between functional users and technical resources, ensuring GIS architecture, application design, and management are aligned with business needs while providing robust, scalable, efficient, and coordinated services that comply with state and agency policies. Overall support and coordination with the FCHB Programs is responsibility of this position.

Major Duties or Responsibilities:

Data and Systems Development and Management
Participates as a lead on the development of data delivery systems and end user tools.
Conducts analysis for new computerized GIS applications, enhancements to existing applications, maintenance, and correction of bugs or defects.
Determines the feasibility of automation and makes recommendations to management for solutions that will effectively meet informational and user requirements.
Participates in all aspects of system design, development, and implementation activities; enhances code to make the code more efficient and effective.
Assesses interrelationships between available databases, data sources, and users’ intended use of the data; determines the most effective methods for acquiring data or establishing links to new data sources; enters data into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
Coordinates the design of spatial datasets and databases to ensure efficient and effective collection, conversion, access, and analysis of geographic resource data for all user types.
Coordinates quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), data conversions, maintenance, and troubleshooting; ensures compatibility, consistency, and effective integration with other DPHHS systems.
Actively monitors and evaluates new technologies, resource information management strategies, industry trends, system capabilities, limitations, and requirements; researches appropriate new information and makes recommendations for integration into Section business practices.
Serves in a lead capacity on technical teams for GIS application development and infrastructure design, including development of GIS architecture, data management, development processes, coding, testing, documentation, migration of GIS applications to the production environment, security, and maintenance standards.
Identifies agency and end-user requirements, goals and constraints; recommends technical and process solutions; develops and implements GIS application specifications.

Data Analysis and Processing

Documents spatial and tabular attribute definitions and criteria, data development methods, data querying processes, and automated and customized procedures. Manages data types as assigned.
Conducts advanced statistical and spatial analyses of tabular and geospatial data to provide analytical products to address and inform FCHB management questions, decisions, and actions.
Performs geospatial data building and modeling using advanced spatial analysis, and data manipulation, including the use of scripting languages such as Python to automate repetitive tasks.
Designs, develops, and implements processes to automate geospatial analyses and produce cartographic products depicting the analyses.

Coordination and Support

Coordinates between Divisions and Data Services to ensure priority GIS and Data Management needs of the Divisions are met. Advises and demonstrates to Agency staff the utility of data management and GIS technology so they understand those capabilities and how to leverage them to meet Agency goals and objectives.
Designs or prepares graphic representations of GIS data, using ESRI software applications; develops and/modifies computer programs.
Assists in DPHHS planning initiatives including soliciting, reviewing and finalizing project priorities from the Divisions, on an agreed upon schedule.
Provides technical support to Division users of GIS databases, equipment, or applications and aids and support for demonstrations at meetings or other relevant gatherings.
Leads, trains, or supervises technicians or related staff in the conduct of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analytical procedures.

Physical and Environmental Demands: Typical office work environment. Occasional overnight travel to locations across the state or out of state for meetings or events may be required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

Knowledge of web application technologies and design, including SOAP protocols, REST, HTTP, XHTML and HTML5, JSP, JavaScript, JSON, CSS, XML and related technologies, web services, and rich internet application development.
Knowledge of Windows, Microsoft office, Oracle relational databases, Oracle PL/SQL, Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Knowledge of GPS principles, hardware and software, field data collection techniques, and interfacing GPS and GIS.
Functional knowledge of a variety of programming languages using both procedural and object-oriented development techniques, particularly Python, JavaScript, data modeling principles, and database driven application design.
Knowledge of public health or epidemiology principles, practices, and methods.
Knowledge of geospatial analysis techniques such as the use of geospatial data overlays, buffering, filtering, spatial statistics, surface analysis and network analysis.
Knowledge of cartographic design principles and standards.
Skill in using GIS applications, tools, and resources, including geodatabase configuration and management, geoprocessing, ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Server.
Skill in using Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and associated SQL techniques for accessing, analyzing, and managing data stored in multiple systems and databases.
Extensive experience with data conversion techniques.
Ability to assess complex problems and to exercise sound judgment for analyzing, appraising, evaluating. And solving difficult problems.
Ability to develop clear understandable procedures, policies, and system documentation
Ability to communicate effectively and provide accurate information both verbally and in writing.
Ability to maintain a high level of professional and technical expertise, anticipate future technological needs, and determine how new methods and technologies may affect users.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience😞

Bachelor's Degree in geographic information systems, information management, public health or health sciences, geography, computer science or a related field.
Two years of job-related work experience in geographic information systems, geographic analysis,
Public health work experience is preferred.
Other combinations of directly related education and experience may be considered on a case by case basis.