Geospatial Analyst/Programmer

Position Title: Geospatial Analyst/Programmer

Program: Ontario Northern Boreal (ONB)

Position Level: 7

Position Type: Full-time, Term (Leave Cover)

Term: 4 January 2027 to 3 September 2027

Position Location: Remote in Canada

Salary: $74,000 to $84,000 annually depending on experience

Start Date: 4 January 2027

Date written/revised: 29 October 2026

Reports to: Constance O’Connor, Director of ONB Program

Supervises: Not applicable

Benefits: 4 weeks’ vacation, Paid sick and Personal emergency leave, Self-care days, Health and Dental care, Life insurance, RRSP match, DEIJA Team, Weekly Wellness sessions, Mentorship program.

Vacancy: Currently Open

Application Closing Date: November 20, 2026 at 5PM EDT

Position Summary

The Geospatial Analyst/Programmer provides advanced geospatial analysis, programming, database management, and technical expertise to support the conservation objectives of the Ontario Northern Boreal (ONB) Program and broader WCS Canada initiatives.

The position is responsible for developing, maintaining, and enhancing geospatial tools, databases, automated workflows, and analytical products that support conservation planning, ecological assessment, landscape-level monitoring, and natural resource development analyses. This includes maintaining the Ontario Mineral Tracker, supporting ecological atlas and cumulative effects assessment initiatives, conducting geospatial analyses, and producing high-quality cartographic and data visualization products.

Working closely with conservation scientists, researchers, and external partners, the Geospatial Analyst/Programmer identifies innovative applications of geospatial technologies and develops technical solutions that improve decision-making and advance conservation outcomes. The role also contributes to nationally scoped projects focused on ecological integrity, landscape connectivity, climate resilience, critical minerals, and other major land-use and infrastructure initiatives.

Position Objectives

• Provide advanced geospatial analysis, programming, and technical expertise to support conservation science, planning, and decision-making across the ONB Program and WCS Canada.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance geospatial databases, analytical tools, and automated workflows that improve organizational efficiency and conservation outcomes.
• Support strategic conservation initiatives through the application of innovative geospatial technologies, spatial modelling, and data visualization.
• Strengthen organizational geospatial capacity through technical guidance, resource sharing, training, and GIS licensing support.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop geospatial solutions that advance shared conservation objectives.

Principal Responsibilities

Geospatial Analysis and Programming

• Design, develop, maintain, and enhance geospatial databases, analytical tools, automated workflows, and custom applications supporting ONB and broader WCS Canada priorities.
• Manage and maintain the Ontario Mineral Tracker, including associated databases, automated workflows, web-scraping applications, and reporting products.
• Conduct geospatial analyses, spatial modelling, and data visualization to support conservation planning, ecological assessments, resource development analyses, and strategic decision-making.
• Develop reproducible analytical workflows using Python, R, SQL, ArcGIS Pro, and related technologies.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation for geospatial databases, analytical processes, scripts, and workflows.
• Support the development and maintenance of geospatial databases and analytical products for ecological atlas initiatives, cumulative effects assessments, and other conservation science projects.
• Acquire, manage, integrate, and validate geospatial datasets from multiple sources to support research, monitoring, and conservation planning.
• Collaborate with scientists and conservation practitioners to identify analytical approaches that inform conservation priorities and policy development.
• Produce maps, dashboards, visualizations, and other geospatial products that effectively communicate scientific findings and conservation priorities.

Organizational and Strategic Support

• Provide technical expertise and advice regarding GIS technologies, data management practices, and geoprocessing workflows.
• Administer GIS software licensing and support organizational access to geospatial resources and tools.
• Share knowledge, provide training, and promote best practices in geospatial analysis and conservation GIS across the organization.
• Contribute to project reporting, funding proposals, and technical communications as required.

External Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

• Represent WCS Canada at conferences, workshops, academic institutions, and professional forums to share conservation research, geospatial innovations, and analytical approaches.
• Contribute to publications, presentations, articles, blogs, and other communication products that support conservation science and organizational visibility.
• Develop collaborative relationships with external partners to advance the application of geospatial technologies for conservation outcomes.

Organizational Culture

• Support WCS Canada’s goal of transforming WCS Canada’s conservation practice through reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues across programs and contribute to a positive, inclusive, and respectful workplace.

• Support WCS Canada's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility in all aspects of work.

Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience

• Graduate degree in Geomatics, Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Landscape Ecology, or a related discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in geospatial analysis, GIS database management, spatial modelling, geoprocessing workflow development, and cartographic production.
• Advanced proficiency with Esri GIS technologies, including ArcGIS Pro and related applications.
• Demonstrated experience using programming and scripting languages such as Python, R, SQL, Arcade, and the ArcGIS API for Python.
• Experience designing, managing, and analyzing complex geospatial datasets.
• Experience working with ecological, environmental, land-use, natural resource, or conservation-related spatial data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent cartographic design and data visualization capabilities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications, Skills, Experience

• GIS Professional (GISP), GIS diploma, remote sensing certification, or other relevant professional designation.
• Experience developing web-based GIS applications, dashboards, or cloud-based geospatial solutions.
• Experience contributing to scientific publications, technical reports, or applied conservation research.
• Familiarity with conservation planning, cumulative effects assessment, landscape ecology, natural resource management, or environmental impact assessment.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively within interdisciplinary, geographically dispersed, and cross-cultural teams.

How to apply

Please submit your resume with a cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills and experience.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Constance O' Connor at [email protected]

For questions regarding the application process, please contact Okechukwu Ezibe at [email protected]

Application closing date: November 20, 2026 at 5PM EDT

WCS Canada does not use AI to screen, assess or select applicants.

Accessibility and inclusivity

WCS Canada is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. We are dedicated to providing accommodations throughout the hiring process, in accordance with applicable accessibility and human rights legislation.

If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment or selection process, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone at 437-770-2776. We will work with you to meet your needs in a timely and respectful manner.

We recognize that strong candidates may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed qualification. If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity and believe you have relevant experience and skills, we encourage you to apply.

About WCS Canada

WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to save wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of actors. WCS Canada has a track record of our science being recognized as relevant, credible and legitimate by researchers, NGOs and agencies. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed, while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries.

Diversity and inclusion are core WCS Canada values. We value the diversity of the people we employ and work with and we strive to provide an inclusive and equitable workplace in which we recognize the unique characteristics, skills and experiences of all employees. We are committed to engaging our employees in our diversity, equity and inclusion work and together we aim to create a workplace where all staff feel they belong and can grow.

WCS Canada’s programs occur on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples whose relationships various governments are described in historic Treaties, modern land claim agreements, and negotiations around unceded lands. We recognize and support Indigenous Peoples in Indigenous-led conservation initiatives as well as the international ecological and social commitments and responsibilities to Indigenous Peoples that Canada has signed, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Our commitment to collaboration with Indigenous Peoples ranges from provision of scientific advice to co-creation of research and conservation priorities. We respect Indigenous knowledge systems and include Indigenous ways of knowing in research and conservation programs. We engage in land use planning and impact assessment processes that affect Indigenous Peoples, seeking ways to advance conservation as well as opportunities to sustain the livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous communities. We seek to motivate positive conservation outcomes by supporting effective governance and decision-making processes by Indigenous communities, particularly by supporting Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas.

WCS Canada is committed to contributing to the field of conservation science and the professional development of its employees. Employees are encouraged to participate in professional societies and present their research at conferences and meetings, as well as participate in relevant workshops and training opportunities. Employees are likewise encouraged to mentor graduate students, participate in relevant graduate student committees, and pursue adjunct status with universities as appropriate.