POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Title: Part-Time, Undergraduate or Graduate student, Hourly Position
Functional Title: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician
Category Status: Part-Time, Term Appointment, academic year 2012-2013, 
summer 2013
Location: University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and sites in the Mid-
Atlantic Region

Nature and Purpose:
This part-time position for the academic year 2012/2013 offers the 
opportunity for the student to gain experience as part of a scientific 
investigative team.  The main function of the GIS technician will be as the 
model-builder and operator of one of the two computer-assisted decision 
support systems being tested. 

Duties and Responsibilities:
•       Become familiar with the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA) 
HAZUS-MH program run in the ESRI ArcGIS 10™ format (all software will be 
provided). 
•       Become familiar with the investigative project protocol. Training 
will be provided.
•       Enter local geographical/meteorological data into the HAZUS-MH 
program.
•       During the community meetings, make changes in the data to reflect 
(1) present flood risk to the community and (2) various flood risk scenarios 
based on flood risk mitigation strategies suggested by the meeting 
participants. Display the manipulated data on a large screen during the 
meetings.
 

Qualifications:
Required –
•       Currently enrolled as a University graduate or undergraduate student 
•       Experience with ESRI ArcView™ or ArcGIS™. 
•       Provide your own laptop capable of running ESRI ArcGIS 10™ and FEMA 
HAZUS-MH (software provided) with cable connection available for 
transmitting to a large screen. (Hardware specifications can be found online 
at http://www.mmrs.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_reqmnts.shtm)
•       Speak English well and be able to interact with the general public.
•       Be able to travel within the mid-Atlantic region for one to three 
days per trip for a maximum of seven trips or share this position with other 
applicants and travel a minimum of three trips. (Transportation, meals and 
lodging on the trips will be paid by project funds.)
 
Preferences - The following are not required, but will add value to your 
application:
•       ESRI certification in ArcView™ or ArcGIS™. Include a copy of your 
ESRI™ certificate(s) or ESRI™ transcript with your application. 
•       Familiarity with Google Earth™ maps, applications, such as the FEMA 
DFIRMs in a KMZ file, and drawing tools.
•       Experience with FEMA HAZUS-MH and/or other GIS programs/formats. 
•       Experience with spreadsheets, such as MSExcel™; databases such as 
MSAccess™; and statistical programs, such as SAS™.
•       Experience teaching.

Supervision: The GIS technician will work under the supervision of V. Beth 
K. Olsen, doctoral candidate, as directed by Dr. Bahram Momen, P.I. and Dr. 
Kaye Brubaker and Dr. Stacy Langsdale, Co-P.I.s.  

Geographical Assignment: Some training sessions will be on the UMCP campus. 
Other training and data collection sites will be off-campus within the mid-
Atlantic region. (Transportation, meals and lodging on the trips will be 
paid by project funds.)Travel schedule details: Initial training sessions 
and project follow-up meetings are flexible and efforts will be made to 
accommodate the personal schedules of individual participants whenever 
possible. The location, date, and time of the community meetings will be set 
by FEMA and are therefore not flexible. Dates will usually be set about one 
month in advance. We anticipate that most community meetings will occur on 
weekdays, October through December 2012 (No meetings will occur between 
Christmas and the New Year.) Some meetings may be close to College Park and 
require 1-2 days of preparation on or near UMCP followed by a day-trip to 
the meeting.  Meetings may be up to 500 miles away, in which case a 2-3 
night stay may be required.

Salary & Benefits: 
Hiring Range Minimum:  $11.00/hr (undergraduate rate) 
Hiring Range Maximum: $16.65/hr (graduate student rate) 

Applications: 
A complete application packet includes a letter of application, resume, and 
at least three professional references, including name, telephone number, 
and E-mail address. Include any relevant transcripts and/or certifications 
with your application.
Specific questions or inquiries can be sent to: Beth Olsen, doctoral 
candidate, UM Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Program: Cell 
Phone: 301-325-6770. E-mail:  [email protected]
Send applications to Beth Olsen, E-mail:  [email protected]


Closing Date: Applications will be accepted until October 8, 2012 or until a 
suitable candidate is selected.

Reply via email to