GIS Analyst

GIS Analyst - Planning (G)
​Business Services
Education Centre

Applicants will be considered in the following order:

1) Qualified probationary , temporary and Temporary Hourly Rated (THR) ESS/OSSTF employees.

2) Qualified external applicants (includes employees from other Bargaining Units)

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Planning, the GIS Analyst - Planning will support the Senior Planners and other internal departments (e.g., Facilities, Transportation, Research, Learning Support Services, etc.) and provide technical assistance and analysis on a wide range of Planning and demographic issues. The GIS Analyst may attend public meetings outside of the regular workday and assist with presentation materials in this regard, including web-based applications.

The successful applicant for the Educational Support Staff position Level G ($56,664 - $70,380), will be working 35 hours per week, 12 months per year, effective as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

• GIS Data Collection, Generation and Maintenance
• Liaise with the municipal partners to obtain current information, including single-line street networks, addresses, development and birth data.
• Generate and maintain WRDSB spatial datasets (e.g., schools, attendance boundaries, students, etc.)
• Liaise with Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) on transportation and boundary data (e.g., BusPlanner datasets).
• Manage student geocoding and development application tracking and support the Planning Department’s use of SPSPlus.Net and other tools to project enrolment.
• Perform geo-referencing and digitizing.
• Perform data maintenance per established schedules.
• Assist the Senior Planners with fieldwork, building permits, annual portable classroom needs and related site plan applications.
• Spatial and Data Analysis
• Assist the Senior Planners in preparing and conducting analysis on enrollment, demographics, student yields, and housing data for enrollment projections.
• Analyze student demographic patterns and present statistical data in a visual format
• Evaluate and synthesize large data in an array of formats
• Create and/or Update GIS Databases and Student Projection Software Standards
• Develop and maintain a Geodatabase
• Create models and develop workflows for repetitive tasks to reduce time spent on data manipulation.
• Build, improve and optimize internal department data management, analysis and visualization processes.
• Coordinate with stakeholders as required.
• Data Visualization/Mapping
• Develop analytical and interactive mapping and data analysis tools to support various projects (e.g., Long-Term Accommodation Plan, Capital Planning, Education Development Charges By-law review, Pupil Accommodation Reviews, Boundary Reviews, Board Equity and Improvement Plan, etc.).
• Create and maintain school attendance area maps and online school locator tool.
• Create dynamic mapping and data products to assist in strategic student accommodation planning exercises and the development of student accommodation and planning solutions.
• Other
• Assist in the review of municipal development applications; property matters, including the selection, acquisition, and disposition of school sites; ongoing boundary and accommodation reviews; the development of enrolment projections; and
• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities as required.

Education & Experience:

• Completion of a three (3) year College Planning Technician or Geography course in addition to completion of a College GIS Specialist course or equivalent; or
• Completion of a University degree in Urban and/or Regional Planning, Geography or related combined with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems or a College GIS Specialist course; and
• Two (2) or more years of related experience, preferably in a school board or broader public sector GIS position.

Other Qualifications/Assets:

• Certified Planning Technician (CPT) or Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation is an asset;
• Demonstrated proficiency with technology and advanced computer applications (e.g., Microsoft suite of tools, Adobe, Google suite of tools, ArcGIS, SPSPlus, BusPlanner, WordPress, etc.);
• Knowledge of AutoCAD is an asset;
• School board planning experience and knowledge of the Ministry of Education processes as well as the Education Act is an asset;
• Demonstrated research and data management skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge of GIS principles, methods and procedures with emphasis on spatial analyses;
• Ability to access, evaluate and synthesize large data sets in an array of formats and mediums from various information sources (e.g. Region of Waterloo, local municipalities, Statistics Canada, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) data, student information systems, birth data, etc.);
• Record-keeping and data-entry skills, attention to detail and accuracy;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a detail-oriented work environment, managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines and maintaining confidentiality on a broad range of personal and business information;
• Experience in data collection and analysis, with specific emphasis on actual student enrolment, projected student enrolment, facility utilization, and school capacity data, is an asset;
• Ability to exercise considerable independent judgment, tact, and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external contacts;
• Knowledge of the municipal development review process is an asset;
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours as required; and
• Knowledge of Waterloo Region.

The position requires regular travel to various sites within the WRDSB’s jurisdiction and occasionally beyond. All applicable travel is reimbursed according to Board policy and procedures using the Board’s posted mileage rate.

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External candidates are asked to electronically submit a copy of their covering letter and resume, quoting posting #3707263 – GIS Analyst no later than 3:00 p.m. on April 11, 2024 to Laurie Pett, Human Resources Officer at ess_resumes@wrdsb.ca.

The Waterloo Region District School Board is committed to equity in employment. We are committed to fair and equitable hiring practices that allow us to hire qualified staff who reflect the diversity of the community we serve, who will foster the success and well-being of our students and who demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion in the classroom.

We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
• members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• person who identify as women; and
• persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions

We will make any appropriate accommodation based on any of the human rights protected grounds, to support candidate participation in the hiring process.

Upon request, we will provide reasonable accommodations in the hiring process to support applicants with disabilities.

While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2024-04-11