Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Officer

Job Purpose

After more than a decade of conflict, conditions in Syria remain volatile and marked by violence and socioeconomic deterioration. The scale, complexity, and severity of humanitarian needs in Syria extends the necessity for up to date, timely, and accurate information. Evidence-based planning and programming remains paramount to ensure that the response adequately meets the needs of the most vulnerable people and is tailored to different realities across communities and over time. REACH has been conducting assessments on the humanitarian situation in Syria since 2013 and has since grown significantly as an actor in the response. 

Broadly speaking, REACH Syria facilitates a humanitarian evidence base via four key research streams: 

·      Monitoring of the humanitarian situation in Syria, including joint market monitoring to track prices of goods as per the survival minimum expenditure basket (SMEB); 

·      Displacement tracking, through tracking the movement of IDPs and returnees. 

·      Remote sensing activities, including market functionality, flood hazard assessments, etc; 

·      Technical support to clusters, including thematic assessments and capacity building. 

The GIS officer will be part of the GIS Unit in charge of producing geospatial analysis, maps, and remote sensing analysis for our multiple Research Cycle though Research Units:

• Resilience and Early Recovery
• Camps & Displacements
• Humanitarian Situation Monitoring
• Cash & Markets

Under the supervision of the GIS Specialist in charge of the GIS unit, the GIS officer will respond to the GIS needs: map production, geospatial analysis, data update, data quality check, etc.…

Objectives

The objectives of the GIS officer will be set up following the needs of REACH Syria, the skills, and aspirations of the candidate. The GIS Unit is responsible of the GIS analysis, map productions, templates update, Web-mapping and Remote Sensing analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities

A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Officer plays a crucial role in an INGO involved in the humanitarian response. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks related to data collection, analysis, and visualization to support the organization's mission. Here's a detailed breakdown of the duties and responsibilities of the REACH GIS Unit:

1. Data Collection and Management:

  - Collect and compile geospatial data from various sources, including satellite imagery, aerial photographs, field surveys, and remote sensors.

  - Organize and maintain a GIS database to store spatial data, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.

  - Manage metadata associated with spatial datasets to facilitate data retrieval and usage.

2. Remote Sensing Analysis:

  - Utilize remote sensing technologies and software to monitor flood events, crop health, and environmental changes.

  - Interpret satellite imagery and other remote sensing data to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies.

  - Generate maps and graphs based on remote sensing analysis to support decision-making.

3. Geospatial Analysis:

  - Conduct geospatial analysis to assess the impact of humanitarian events or natural disasters on affected areas.

  - Support the Research Cycles in their spatial analysis needs in the appropriate visualization format: maps, dashboards, etc…

4. Mapping and Cartography:

  - Create basic maps and cartographic products to visualize and communicate spatial information effectively.

  - Produce maps for stakeholders and field teams to aid in navigation, disaster response, and resource allocation.

  - Customize map layouts and symbology for specific project requirements.

5. GIS Software and Technology:

  - Proficiently use GIS software and tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, or other relevant software for data analysis and map production.

  - Stay updated with the latest GIS technologies and incorporate new tools into project workflows when applicable.

6. Field Data Collection Support:

  - Assist field teams in collecting geospatial data using GPS devices or mobile data collection tools.

  - Support Field data collection

7. Collaboration and Communication:

  - Collaborate with other team members, researchers, and external partners to gather data and share geospatial insights (depends on the research cycle)

  - Communicate GIS findings and analysis results to the assessment team

8. Quality Assurance and Validation:

  - Conduct data validation and quality control checks to ensure the accuracy and reliability of GIS data and analysis results.

  - Troubleshoot and address data-related issues promptly.

  - Building Standard Operations Procedures to automatize and improve quality of processing

9. Capacity Building:

  - Provide technical support to colleagues to ensure effective GIS utilization within the organization.

10. Project Management:

   - Manage GIS projects using template and documentation

   - Monitor project timelines and deliverables to meet project goals

   - Report regularly to the supervision/coordination on project progress and needs

11. Ethical Considerations:

   - Adhere to ethical and privacy guidelines when handling sensitive geospatial data, especially in humanitarian contexts.

   - Ensure data security and confidentiality as needed.

12. Documentation and Reporting:

   - Maintain comprehensive documentation of GIS processes, workflows, and methodologies.

   - Prepare regular reports on GIS activities, progress, and achievements for internal and external stakeholders.

This is an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities of the REACH GIS Unit; all those analysis and maps needs are properly distributed among all the team members depending on their workload and their skills.

Key Performance Indicators

The Key Performance Indicators for each appraisal period will be focus on:

• The quality and on-time delivery of maps/analysis production for the Research Cycles the GIS officer will be in charge.
• The interpersonal skills (ethics, adaptability as well as the creativity and problem-solving mindset)
• The technical skills: quality of work, commitment as well as reporting and administration requirements
• The managerial skills: Communication skills, team working, integrity and time management.