Geospatial Conservation Analyst

Department: Plant Science & Conservation

Supervisor: Curator of Living Collections

Supervises: GIS/Mapping Volunteers; assigned interns/volunteers

FLSA Salary Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Revision Date: October 2026

Availability: Primary schedule of standard business hours with occasional evening and weekend availability required to support departmental and organizational needs. Some travel and field work required.

Position Summary:

Develop, maintain, and analyze spatial data to support Huntsville Botanical Garden's living collections, conservation, research, natural-area management, infrastructure, and organizational decision-making. Serve as the Garden's organizational GIS administrator and a technical and analytical resource within the Plant Science & Conservation Department, working both indoors and in the field. Manage spatial data and GIS systems; integrate spatial, biological, collections, and infrastructure data; conduct geospatial analyses; and translate complex information into maps, applications, metrics, and decision-support products. Collaborate with staff, volunteers, universities, conservation organizations, agencies, and other partners while independently developing and improving GIS workflows, analyses, and applications.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain and develop the Garden’s authoritative GIS/geospatial data environment (ArcGIS), including base maps, utilities, infrastructure, living collections spatial layers, natural-area data, and other organizational spatial datasets.
• Collaborate with the Plant Recorder and other staff to collect, integrate, validate, and analyze spatial and attribute data associated with living collections, conservation projects, infrastructure, field research, and other organizational needs.
• Conduct spatial analyses to support conservation, research, and planning, including habitat suitability, species distribution, gap analysis, spatial prioritization, change detection, and related analyses appropriate to project needs.
• Develop maps, analyses, dashboards, web applications, visualizations, geospatial metrics, and other decision-support products for conservation, collections planning, natural-area management, Garden development, grants, research, publications, stakeholder communication, and organizational decision-making.
• Troubleshoot GIS technology and perform QA/QC to ensure the accuracy, consistency, security, and integrity of spatial data and analytical products; develop and maintain GIS workflows, data standards, metadata, and SOPs.
• Coordinate field data collection and mapping initiatives involving staff, interns, and volunteers, providing training and technical guidance on approved GIS, GPS, mobile data-collection, and mapping workflows.
• Serve as a collaborative geospatial resource across the Garden, helping staff frame and answer spatial questions, identify appropriate analytical approaches, and translate technical information and findings for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Provide geospatial expertise and project support for grant-funded initiatives, conservation partnerships, research collaborations, safeguarding and restoration efforts, and other departmental or organizational priorities; maintain appropriate project documentation and perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in GIS, Geography, Geospatial Science, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Data Science, or a related field and 1.5+ years of professional GIS/geospatial experience or an equivalent combination thereof required. Proficiency in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, including spatial analysis, geospatial data and geodatabase management, field data collection, and development of cartographic or analytical products required. Must demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills; sound data quality and workflow practices; and the ability to manage priorities and work independently within interdisciplinary teams.

Success Factors:

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use spatial information to investigate complex questions and support evidence-based decisions across conservation, research, living collections, natural-area management, infrastructure, and other organizational needs.
• Demonstrates strong attention to data quality, documentation, reproducibility, information security, and organizational standards; effectively manages multiple priorities and deadlines while working independently and collaboratively.
• Communicates technical concepts and analytical findings clearly through accurate, useful maps, visualizations, and decision-support products.
• Exemplifies the Gardens Core Values and has a true desire to collaborate with others to better a process, idea, or task.
• Demonstrates an interest in plants, biodiversity, conservation, and botanical garden research and collections stewardship. Embraces the Garden’s mission of connecting people to plants through sharing expertise with staff, visitors or volunteers.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in GIS, Geography, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Data Science, or a related field preferred. Experience applying geospatial tools to environmental, ecological, botanical, or conservation data, including spatial modeling, conservation planning, monitoring, or natural-area management, is preferred. Experience with GIS automation or scripting (e.g., Python, SQL, ModelBuilder), decision-support applications, and scientific or conservation partnerships is desirable. GISP or other relevant professional credential preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Physical Demands: Occasional physical activity including lifting and carrying up to 30 lbs. and frequently traversing varied terrain while traveling by vehicle and on foot. Work Environment: Garden grounds, office environment, and field work. Work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Equipment: GPS/GNSS and mobile data-collection equipment, GIS and general office equipment, two-way radio, Garden vehicle or cart, and field equipment as appropriate. Some travel required.

Job descriptions are guidelines that attempt to characterize essential functions and responsibilities of a job and are subject to change as needs and programs change. At Huntsville Botanical Garden job descriptions are considered neither inclusive nor exclusive. It is expected that up to 20% of your duties may change annually.

Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

The Huntsville Botanical Garden supports a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Garden is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.