Senior GIS Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The Resource Mapping and Analysis (RMA) team is looking for and enthusiastic, inquisitive person to join our team as a Senior GIS Specialist.

This full-time position provides an exciting opportunity to build relationships, conduct research, troubleshoot complex issues, and perform analysis and mapping to support energy and mineral resource business operations. You will have significant opportunities to develop innovative online maps and enhance mapping applications that contribute to the operational and policy priorities of the department and the Government of Alberta.

Who Are We?

• The exclusive provider of GIS mapping, spatial analysis, and geospatial expertise within the Department of Energy and Minerals, supporting a diverse range of internal and external clients across all aspects of resource management. We take pride in contributing to the responsible stewardship of Alberta’s natural resources and the economic benefits they bring to all Albertans.
• A collaborative and diverse team, with experience ranging from recent graduates to seasoned subject matter experts in geospatial data, cartography, and spatial analysis. Our team is committed to mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and helping you grow your career.
• A technology-focused group that fosters a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and professional development.
• Key partners in several high-profile initiatives that leverage GIS, including Market Access Opportunities, AI Data Centres, Carbon Capture and Storage, and Emerging Resources programs.
• A team that is modernizing how information is delivered through collaborative dashboards, web maps, applications, and our flagship initiative currently in development - the Energy and Minerals Atlas.

 
Join us and play a direct role in supporting and advancing this exciting work.

What You’ll Get to Do:

• Build a strong understanding of Alberta’s mineral ownership framework and operational mapping products that support mineral rights disposition. Provide specialized analysis and geospatial expertise to help business areas assess mineral ownership and rights availability.
• Partner with operational and policy teams to design custom mapping solutions that support decision-making, while anticipating client needs, expectations, and intended uses.
• Help shape the future of digital decision-support tools by conceptualizing and developing innovative web maps, applications, and story maps.
• Engage directly with clients to understand business requirements, conduct research, and present processes, results, and innovative solutions that align with organizational objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support collaboration, resolve issues, and ensure successful project outcomes.
• Provide leadership and peer mentorship within a supportive, collaborative team culture that encourages continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.
• Work independently to provide expert advice, consult with clients and stakeholders, and effectively manage competing priorities and deliverables.
• Apply sound judgment and discretion while operating within established legislation, regulations, policies, and business frameworks.

Role Responsibilities (cont'd)

What You Bring to the Team:

• A genuine interest in learning about our business, departmental priorities, and the resource sector, combined with the confidence to ask questions and share your own knowledge through collaboration and peer mentorship.
• Strong research, technical, and analytical skills, with a passion for problem-solving and creating innovative solutions that support business operations and policy implementation.
• Experience developing and configuring web maps and geospatial applications using Esri technologies, including ArcGIS Online and Experience Builder.
• A creative, curious, and thoughtful mindset, with a commitment to continuous learning and staying current with emerging technologies, geospatial tools, and data visualization practices.
• The ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment while making decisions and managing priorities.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills that enable you to work effectively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• A detail-oriented approach to your work, with a strong focus on organization, accuracy, and quality assurance.
• A commitment to delivering exceptional client service and building trusted partnerships.

You will be part of a highly experienced, multidisciplinary team that provides guidance, mentorship, and support to help you succeed. Team members collaborate closely, offering input, sharing expertise, and reviewing work to ensure high-quality analysis, research, and sound professional judgment.

A collaborative leadership team is also available to provide direction on complex matters with significant implications for operations, resource allocation, and client or stakeholder relationships.

If you're excited by the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, grow your expertise, and be part of an innovative and supportive team, we'd love to hear from you.

The Job Description is provided for further details on this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

• Build Collaborative Environments – Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with clients, stakeholders, and other affected parties. Fosters collaboration, encourages input and feedback, and consults the management team as well as promote development of new ways of online product and service delivery.
• Develop Networks - Pro-actively anticipate and plan for requirements of diverse clients and stakeholders and develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with clients, stakeholders, and other affected parties. Ability to function independently as well as lead and contribute effectively within a team environment.
• Creative Problem Solving - assess problems and recommend and implement viable solutions, pro-actively anticipate and plan for requirements of diverse clients and stakeholders and identify emerging trends, issues and opportunities relating to GIS technologies. It also involves the ability to consistently demonstrate initiative, professional judgement, and creative approaches to responsibilities.

Qualifications

Completion of a two-year technical diploma in a related field (e.g. GIS, Physical Geography, Cartography, Earth Sciences, etc.) plus six years related experience; or equivalent as described below.

The position requires experience in the following:

• Geographic information systems, processes, techniques.
• Proficient use of Esri software such as ArcGIS Pro, Enterprise Portal, ArcGIS Online.
• Experience creating and maintaining online maps, dashboards and visualizations using Esri applications: Experience Builder, Story Maps, Dashboards, Instant Maps, etc.
• Dataset and Data Catalog management experience including understanding of effective data governance practices.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Note: Related experience would be professional work experience in areas such as geographic information systems and web mapping applications, natural resources management, geospatial data analysis and cartographic products (e.g. maps, atlas publications.

The following are considered assets for the position:

• Working knowledge and experience with M365 or Microsoft Office suite.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and policies affecting mineral availability and ownership (e.g., Mines and Minerals Act; Land Titles Act, Public Lands Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act; Parks Act; Surface Rights Act).
• Land conveyance principles, land tenure and mineral ownership in Alberta.
• Familiarity with the third systems of surveys and earlier survey systems (e.g. settlements, river lots etc.) used in Alberta.
• Understanding of departmental information systems, databases, Alberta Geospatial Services.
• Experience with online legal and technical document resources such as Service Alberta SPIN2 and Canada Lands Survey Records.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Hours of Work:

• 36.25 hours per week (full time) Monday to Friday.

Term of Employment:

• This is a full-time permanent position.

Location:

• Petroleum Plaza Building, North Tower, Edmonton.

 
Final candidates will be required to undergo an academic credentials verification.

This competition maybe used to fill future vacancies across the Government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.

Successful candidates will be required to disclose any business or financial interests, including the owning of shares or financial investments in the energy sector, to comply with the Department of Energy & Minerals’ Supplementary Code of Conduct.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate.

Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) 
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.