REACH Senior GIS Officer


REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two INGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT).
REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process.

We are currently looking for qualified candidates in the capacity below to support the REACH Initiative team:

Job Position: REACH Senior GIS Officer

Job Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Start date: Immediately

Job Description

  • Under the supervision of the REACH Country Focal Point, the REACH Senior GIS Officer is responsible for the processes and outputs related to database and mapping in country.
  • He/she will be responsible for supporting the development and maintenance of a country/region database for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country/region.
  • He/she will manage the rapid production of static maps on targeted crisis and issues as well as providing required inputs for the development of mapping solutions. He/she will conduct office work, but also conduct field trips

Key Responsibilities
Database/Data Entry activities:

  • The REACH Senior GIS Officer will manage the maintenance of database(s) for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country.
  • He/she will ensure the capitalization of tools and procedure related to mapping and databases.
  • Furthermore, he/she will support the assessment team in the collection and management of spatial datasets, verification and update of the collected data.
  • He/she will monitor the accuracy of collected data.

Technical Support:

  • The REACH Senior GIS Officer will contribute towards the identification and implementation of effective and adapted technical solutions and partnerships.
  • The REACH GIS Officer will provide technical backstopping of database to REACH team and support the collection of spatial datasets and integration with REACH activities.

GIS Activities:

  • The REACH Senior GIS Officer will streamline processing of raw data to mapped end products.
  • At the field level, he/she will participate in the support of all REACH program products regarding GIS.
  • By doing so, he/she will participate in continued development of interactive based mapping tools at the field level and ensure the update process from the field to interactive publishing is organized and well documented.

External Relations:

  • The REACH Senior GIS Officer will respond to information requests from REACH and its partners.
  • In order to support the development of joint database tools and processes with REACH partners in country, the REACH Senior GIS Officer will maintain regular interactions and reporting with key IM partners including cluster lead agencies, UN agencies, NGOs and technical partners.
  • He/she will respond to information requests from REACH partners in country related to data and mapping as well as solicit information from partner organizations to be incorporated into database.
  • Furthermore, he/she will liaise with these partners to ensure the data is shared with REACH team when required.

Confidentiality and Data Protection:

  • The REACH Senior GIS Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality of data and processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of information and data

Required Skills

  • Fluency of English is mandatory
  • Bachelor degree in GIS, Information System/Management, Research or other relevant discipline required
  • Minimum 2 year professional experience using GIS, preferably in humanitarian context
  • Previous experience with industry standard mapping tools, ESRI products or QGIS is a must
  • Experience in database and general computer software (such as SQL Server, MySQL and Access)
  • Knowledge of analytical software (SPSS, Stata, Tableau, etc) an asset
  • Good organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to think creatively in terms of tool and process development
  • Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
  • Flexibility and adaptability to ever-changing needs and responsibilities
  • Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements an asset
  • Prior knowledge of the region an asset
  • Ability to work independently