Utility GIS Specialist in Corning, New York at Corning Natural Gas Corp

JOB SUMMARY

The Utility GIS Specialist is the primary technical resource for the ESRI-based geographic information systems supporting natural gas and electric distribution operations at Corning Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), Pike County Light & Power Company (PCLP), and Leatherstocking Gas Company (LGC). The position creates, validates, and maintains accurate GIS mapping and asset records for each utility using GPS/GNSS surveys, as-built records, engineering drawings, field inspections, work orders, and other approved sources. The Specialist establishes enterprise-wide data standards, editing procedures, and quality-control workflows while keeping each company’s records separate and appropriately controlled, and works with Engineering, Gas Operations, Electric Operations, Information Technology, contractors, and consultants to support construction, operations, asset management, regulatory reporting, emergency response, damage prevention, and system planning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Enterprise GIS Administration and Data Maintenance

• Serve as the primary point of contact and technical lead for ESRI GIS data maintenance and mapping for CNG, PCLP, and LGC gas and electric distribution systems.
• Administer each company’s GIS datasets, geodatabases, map services, and applications, applying common enterprise standards where practical while preserving company-specific data models, permissions, data ownership, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate spatial locations and attributes for gas and electric facilities, such as mains, services, valves, regulators, meters, poles, conductors, transformers, switches, and underground cables, including material, size, pressure, installation information, identifiers, ownership, and status.
• Organize supporting records such as as-built drawings, work orders, easements, real estate records, and inspection records.
• Reconcile discrepancies among GIS records, CAD mapping, field conditions, and source documents, and identify opportunities to improve legacy records.
• Maintain version control, change tracking, backups, access controls, and documentation in accordance with Company procedures.

GPS/GNSS Data Collection and Field Verification

• Coordinate, process, validate, and maintain GPS/GNSS data for existing and newly installed facilities using approved equipment and software.
• Establish and follow standards for coordinate systems, positional accuracy, collection methods, metadata, and field documentation for each service territory.
• Evaluate field data for completeness and accuracy before incorporating it into the applicable company GIS and resolve discrepancies with existing records.
• Work with construction, engineering, operations, and contractors to capture new, relocated, retired, or modified facilities, and maintain traceable survey records.

Construction Records and As-Built Processing

• Review, process, and incorporate work orders, construction records, as-built drawings, and GPS/GNSS data into the correct CNG, PCLP, or LGC GIS environment.
• Establish consistent workflows for processing completed projects and verify required attributes and records before publishing updates.
• Track outstanding as-built information, follow up on incomplete, late, or conflicting records, and escalate issues requiring engineering review or field confirmation.
• Produce GIS-based construction drawings, exhibits, and data products for capital projects, system improvements, maintenance, and facility relocations.

GIS Quality Assurance, Security, and System Integration

• Perform routine quality-control reviews for spatial accuracy, attribute completeness, duplicate records, connectivity, topology, and data-model consistency.
• Maintain documented procedures for editing, review, validation, correction, and publication, along with records of data sources, known limitations, unresolved discrepancies, and company-specific exceptions.
• Protect each company’s GIS information by following user access, data security, record retention, backup, and change-management requirements.
• Coordinate approved data exchanges and integrations with work management, asset management, customer information, outage management, inspection, and mobile field systems using repeatable import, export, and validation processes.
• Identify workflow improvements through ESRI tools, automation, mobile data collection, and dashboards, and coordinate with Information Technology, vendors, and consultants on upgrades, licensing, data conversion, cybersecurity, and technical support.

Operational, Emergency, and Regulatory Mapping Support

• Produce maps, map books, exhibits, and data extracts to support facility locating, UDig New York and Pennsylvania One Call activities, third-party design requests, engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance.
• Create and maintain maps, inspection forms, mobile applications, and records for leakage, valve, corrosion, regulator station, electric inspection, and other maintenance programs, as applicable to each company.
• Prepare GIS information for emergency response, outage and incident support, system planning, asset management, risk assessment, and regulatory reporting.
• Ensure GIS records used for operational and regulatory purposes are current and support applicable federal, New York, Pennsylvania, and local requirements.

Project Coordination and User Support

• Coordinate GIS work for capital projects, system improvements, asset inventories, data conversions, and GPS surveys across CNG, PCLP, and LGC.
• Review contractor and consultant GIS deliverables for compliance with Company specifications, data standards, and required formats.
• Work with Engineering, Gas Operations, Electric Operations, Information Technology, and other departments to set priorities, resolve data issues, meet deadlines, and fulfill requests for maps and data.
• Provide technical guidance and training to GIS and mobile application users.
• Perform other GIS, mapping, and related technical duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS, including ArcGIS Pro, and managing spatial databases and published GIS content.
• Working knowledge of GPS/GNSS data collection, coordinate reference systems, positional accuracy, metadata, and spatial data processing.
• Knowledge of natural gas and electric distribution systems, utility asset mapping, and construction documentation.
• Ability to administer multiple company GIS environments, maintain data ownership and access controls, and establish standards, procedures, and quality-control workflows.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, as-builts, survey information, utility plans, and easements, and to investigate and resolve data discrepancies, including connectivity and topology issues.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing requests, and meet deadlines, with strong organization, analytical judgment, and attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including explaining technical matters to field personnel, engineers, contractors, and management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with Autodesk or other CAD software.
• Ability to apply Company policies and safety, cybersecurity, records, and regulatory requirements.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate’s degree in GIS, geomatics, surveying technology, engineering technology, CAD, or a related discipline required; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years of full-time GIS experience using ESRI software required.
• Preferred: experience with GPS/GNSS data collection, ArcGIS Pro and ESRI mobile field applications, utility mapping or asset records, natural gas or electric distribution systems, and supporting multiple operating companies or service territories.
• Valid driver’s license required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Primarily office-based, with periodic travel and field visits to CNG, PCLP, and LGC facilities, construction sites, and service territories; routinely uses computers, phones, photocopiers, plotters, GPS/GNSS equipment, and other technology.
• Requires prolonged sitting and computer work, manual dexterity, and repetitive finger motion; field activities may require standing, walking, reaching, climbing, balancing, crouching, stooping, operating assigned equipment, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Requires speaking, hearing, seeing, close and distance vision, color discrimination, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, including distinguishing map symbology and field markings.
• Field work may involve outdoor weather, wet or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, traffic and construction hazards, loud noise, risk of fire, explosion, or electric shock, and natural gas or electric utility environments. Compliance with safety rules, personal protective equipment requirements, and safe-driving practices is required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides employment opportunities in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, reporting relationships, and assigned work may change at any time, with or without notice, consistent with applicable law.

I accept the position as outlined above and acknowledge that I have read and understand this job description.