Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Developer/Specialist

The University of Iowa Libraries seeks to hire a Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Developer/Specialist (PIA2/4B) in the Libraries Information Technology (LIT) department. Reporting to the Application Development lead in LIT, the Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Specialist serves as the technical lead for GIS-related projects supported by the University Libraries. The position works in close partnership with the Research Manager in the Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio, who serves as Product Owner and Business Analyst for GIS initiatives, providing research context, requirements definition, and stakeholder coordination. The GIS Specialist supports faculty, staff, and students by contributing technical expertise in the development of a wide range of GIS and mapping projects. This position plays a key role in advancing the University Libraries’ mission to support research and teaching through the innovative use of geospatial information across disciplines. The GIS Specialist supports activities such as training sessions, workshops, and consultations with graduate students and faculty, fostering geospatial literacy and collaborative research.

The specialist supports research by contributing to the development and maintenance of standard, scalable GIS project frameworks that promote sustainability, reproducibility, and broader access to geospatial methods and outputs. In addition, the GIS Specialist collaborates closely with campus partners, including academic departments, IT services, and research offices, and actively participates in the campus-wide GIS community. This role contributes to building a cohesive and forward-thinking GIS ecosystem, helping to apply and refine best practices in geospatial research within an academic setting. The specialist also contributes to the development of tools and applications for customized geospatial data visualization using relevant coding libraries for interactive maps, enhancing the discoverability and usability of spatial data. The GIS Specialist carries out this work in coordination with the Research Manager and with guidance and mentorship from the Application Development lead to ensure alignment with institutional development standards and practices.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Supporting faculty, staff, and students in the creation, analysis, visualization, and management of geospatial data using GIS software, spatial analysis tools, and custom-coded interactive web applications.

• Designing and developing, under the guidance of the Application Development lead, scalable GIS-based web applications and tools with a focus on usability (UI/UX), sustainability, and integration with research and instructional needs.

• Providing consultation and contributing to instruction through workshops, classroom sessions, and individual training on GIS methods, tools, and best practices for geospatial research and data management.

• Supporting digital mapping projects from inception to completion, including workflow optimization, project intake, and migration of legacy projects to modern open-source platforms.

• Collaborating with campus partners, academic departments, and IT units to support a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to GIS services and to strengthen the campus-wide GIS community.

• Serving as a university liaison to the Big Ten Academic Alliance Geospatial Information Network (BTAA-GIN), contributing metadata, participating in committees, and supporting the BTAA-GIN Geoportal and conference planning.

• Curating, promoting, and enhancing access to geospatial datasets and producing static & dynamic maps for research presentations and publications.

• Staying current with emerging GIS and web mapping technologies and incorporating those into services and project solutions.

• Coordinating student employees and supporting graduate research projects that incorporate geospatial techno