Job Description
About Wildlife Works
Wildlife Works is a community-centered conservation company that implements market-based initiatives to protect the planet’s threatened wilderness and endangered wildlife. The company was founded on the premise that if we want wildlife in our world, it must work for local communities who share their environment. Wildlife Works’ conservation projects drive direct financing to forest communities to fund their own economic development, while preventing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere annually.
Job Summary
Wildlife Works is seeking a GIS/Data Analyst to contribute to geospatial and data-based forest science tasks for successful avoided deforestation projects in the Global South. The candidate should have strong geospatial skills and experience in GIS and remote sensing, ideally with experience in forestry and biodiversity conservation. This position requires an exceptional communicator who can adeptly navigate complex, evolving geospatial challenges.
Reporting to the Manager - Geospatial Science in Burlington, Vermont USA, the GIS/Data Analyst will be based in the Nairobi office, working daily with the East Africa regional staff and other team members. They will contribute to Project Description (PD) documents and yearly monitoring reports (MRs), as well as project sourcing and feasibility studies. The ideal candidate is passionate, has proven expertise in geospatial techniques, and is committed to making tangible social and biodiversity impacts with market-based forest conservation. This individual will work with global teams, government counterparts, and local communities.
Responsibilities
General Duties:
• Support WWC teams in Nairobi and the US with geospatial tasks.
• Assist project sourcing at pre-feasibility stage and in cartography for feasibility studies, PDs and MRs.
• Support forest inventory tasks and ensure secure data transfer.
GIS Skills:
• Cartography, geoprocessing and spatial data management using ArcGIS Pro.
• Land use/land cover change analysis and image classification techniques.
• Focus on East African dryland forest observation and geospatial analysis.
Forestry/Biometrics:
• Conduct field visits for forest biometrics collection (DBH, crown cover, tree height).
• Lead GPS navigation and train local stakeholders.
• Familiarity with standard forestry equipment.
Requirements
Required
• Candidates should possess at minimum a bachelor’s degree in physical geography, forestry, environmental science or another similar field and with university qualifications in GIS / remote sensing.
• At least five years of full-time work in the field of environmental science or forestry.
• Excellence in GIS analysis (ArcGIS Pro preferred), including cartography, raster and vector data organization, geoprocessing and vector editing.
• Computer proficiency is required with the ability to effortlessly use mainstream software.
• Experience working in an international, diverse, and rapidly growing team, with ability to perform under tight deadlines and accept a dynamic work environment.
• Excellent interpersonal abilities for effective multi-cultural team collaboration.
• Strong communication skills, organized, thorough and detail oriented.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Kiswahili.
• Legal authorization to work in Kenya.
Computer Skills:
• Mastery of ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel and Word, Adobe products and programming (Python, Google Earth Engine, .NET) desirable.
• Use of ArcGIS Model Builder
Desired
• Forest biometrics / biomass inventory experience a plus.
• Advanced spreadsheet management, innovative data entry skills, Python programming and ArcGIS model builder experience.
• A focus on landcover change analysis in the dryland forests of East Africa.
• Proficiency in French or Lingala.