GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Officer

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is the newest, state-sponsored centre, established to support biodiversity data and information needs to address the Biodiversity Crisis. It was established as a Company Limited by Guarantee in December 2022, following a decision of Government to secure the long-term future of the Centre. The primary role of the Centre is to contribute to build the knowledge base on biodiversity and track how it is changing in Ireland. It works to ensure that data and information on Ireland’s biodiversity is more freely available and accessible for use in research, conservation management and decision-making. A priority of the Centre is to ensure that data and information is easily accessible to promote a better understanding and appreciation of biodiversity at the local level. The National Biodiversity Data Centre is a predominantly publicly funded entity, rather than a public sector body.

Since its establishment as a Company Limited by Guarantee, the National Biodiversity Data Centre has undergone a transformative phase with new and improve governance structures, has developed its five-year Strategic Plan, and has almost doubled its staff complement. Consequently, it is now better equipped to make a real and lasting impact on what we know about the state of biodiversity in Ireland, and what evidence-based actions are best to address biodiversity loss.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre has built and manages an extensive biodiversity digital infrastructure to meet many of the national biodiversity data management needs. This infrastructure is offered as a shared service to partner organisations to assist their biodiversity data management needs and to facilitate data mobilisation. Underpinning this infrastructure is a national biodiversity database that contains almost seven million species occurrence records from 199 different datasets.

A Digital Services Team has been established to support the work of the Centre and to assist the growing number of staff being recruited. Working closely with Compass Informatics Limited, the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s current Technical Support Partner, the Digital Services team is responsible for the entire suite of digital bioinformatics infrastructure, which is used for the capture, management, reporting and publication of biodiversity data.

The newly adopted Prioritised Digital Infrastructure Plan has been designed to enhance the centre’s core bioinformatics infrastructure, enabling it to effectively pursue its seven strategic objectives: Mobilising data, Tracking change, Informing decision-making, Developing strategic partnerships, Facilitating international collaboration, Communicating effectively, and Strengthening the recording base.

At the centre of the Prioritised Digital Infrastructure Plan is the full-scale expansion of ArcGIS (Online and Desktop) and the comprehensive rollout of FME data workflow software, including Form and Flow (local and hosted). With the centre’s unique remit and newly acquired charity status, it now has access to the complete ArcGIS technology stack and FME suite of software through not-for-profit licensing agreements. These new opportunities are unlocking transformative digital capabilities which offer exciting new opportunities for the way the centre captures, collates, analyses and shares its data. The new ArcGIS and FME environments will create an agile mobile friendly platform that will enable NBDC to react quickly to initiatives and support the scientific work of staff to assist in the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Ireland.

The GIS Officer role has been established to implement, develop, and administer the centre’s new ArcGIS Online EU environment and to support staff in the roll out and use of ArcGIS Pro. The GIS Officer will also work closely with the Head of Digital Services, and the centre’s FME support partner IMGS Limited, to administer and develop its FME Flow environments.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is based at Beechfield House, SETU West Campus, Carriganore, Co. Waterford and operates a hybrid working policy with staff based in Waterford and working remotely. It currently has a staff complement of 30.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The primary duties of the role will include:

• Implement, develop, and administer ArcGIS Online (EU) tenant.
• Support staff in the roll out and use of ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online applications.
• ArcGIS Online application development / configuration (including ArcGIS Story Maps, ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Hub Sites, and ArcGIS Experience Builder).
• Develop, support, and implement mobile GIS solutions (ArcGIS Survey 123, ArcGIS Field Maps, and ArcGIS workforce) using smartphones and tablets.
• GIS Data management. Including collection, validation, integration, manipulation, enrichment, and dissemination.
• In conjunction with the ICT Systems Administrator establish a central repository to provide staff with authoritative datasets and a dedicated workspace for developing projects and generating new data assets.
• GIS Project management, operations management, and system implementation
• Provide spatial data analysis and mapping services for internal customers, including preparation of data and occurrence maps to support the production of atlases.
• Undertake spatial data gap analysis
• Use FME Forms to develop complex workspaces that read, validate, audit, cross-reference, manipulate, enrich, and disseminate spatial and non-spatial data.
• Work with Technical Support Partners and ESRI Ireland to resolve day-to-day ArcGIS and FME Technical Support issues and to provide Front-Line / onsite support wherever possible.
• Assist in the administration, development, and capacity building of FME Flow environment.
• Develop and administer appropriate training programmes and materials.
• Engage with colleagues within NBDC and with stakeholders to develop and deliver online solutions to support business needs.
• Support the use of standards and best practices in regard to metadata and data cataloguing.
• Act as a champion by promoting GIS, FME, and associated spatial technology use within the National Biodiversity Data Centre for the purpose of enabling transparent decision making and introducing efficiencies.
• To keep abreast of ArcGIS and FME technology developments and identification of opportunities to be gainfully utilised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
• Continue to develop ArcGIS, FME, and general GIS skills as technology changes.
• Working with ESRI Ireland and SAFE Software to ensure the organisation is adequately licensed.
• Ensure GDPR compliance.
• Training and mentoring of staff.
• Performing other duties as directed or required.

Essential Criteria for the Role

Candidates must demonstrate in their cover letter and Curriculum Vitae that they meet all the below essential criteria. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, have:

a) hold a qualification of at least Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in GIS, Geomatics, Geosurveying or a comparable qualification and at least 2 years directly relevant, recent GIS hands-on experience from your employment to date; OR b) have at least 3 years of directly relevant GIS professional experience using ESRI technology from your employment to date; AND c):

• Have good working knowledge of GIS principles and mapping concepts, e.g. grids, projections, transformations, generalisation, accuracy, precision etc.
• Have experience in the management of GIS Projects from inception to delivery.
• Have very good working knowledge of ArcGIS Online including hands on experience with, but not limited to, the following components: Content Management, Web App Builder or Experience Builder, Survey 123 or Field Maps, Dashboards, Story Maps
• Have very good working knowledge of ArcGIS Pro.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Have a full clean Irish, EU or UK driving licence.
• Have full rights to work in Ireland.

Additional Desirable Criteria for the Role

• Certified FME Professional
• Very good working knowledge of FME Forms and building repeatable workspaces.
• Hands on experience with FME Flow and / or FME Cloud Hosted and components such as: Automations or Scheduled Tasks, Notifications, Workspace Apps
• Hands on experience of configuring ArcGIS Hub Sites.
• Have experience in the use and configuration of map services (ArcGIS REST, OGC).
• Working knowledge of SQL Server databases.
• Training in use of biodiversity and ecological data.

The ideal candidate will also possess all or a subset of the following for the role:

• Have knowledge of spatial analysis and visualisation techniques.
• Have experience of processing, cleaning, quality checking, auditing, creation, and maintenance of spatial datasets.
• Have experience in geospatial data storage and management.
• Possess strong cartography and map representation skills.
• Experience in providing technical support, skills transfer, and training.
• Have a proven ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and to deliver results in a changing and fast-moving environment.
• Have knowledge of Data Governance and familiarity with Open Data concepts.
• Have excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Have a keen eye for detail, a commitment to accuracy, and a relentless pursuit of perfection, which is reflected in high quality mapping outputs.
• Be a self-starter and dedicated project finisher, capable of continuous self-learning and innovative thinking, working to tight deadlines, and committed to achieving high-quality results.
• Possess strong interpersonal and communications skills and an ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to encourage the use and integration of GIS in daily work practices.

Reporting

The GIS Officer will report to the Head of Digital Services.

Conditions of Service

The post is whole-time and permanent.

Salary: The salary scale for the post of GIS Officer is: €40,905 - €42,420 - €44,440 - €45,955 - €47,975 - €49,743 - €51,515 - €53,045 - €55,085, with increments being awarded annually, subject to satisfactory performance in the role. After 3 years on the maximum, a Long Service Increment to €56,616 (1st LSI) will be available, with an additional Long Service Increment to €58,146 (2nd LSI) being available after a further 3 years, both of which will again be subject to satisfactory performance in the role.

Closing Date for Applications: 5pm on Friday the 22nd of October 2026 (Late Applications will not be considered)