Job Title: Geospatial Program Manager

​Organization: Conservation Innovation Center - Chesapeake Conservancy

Career Overview: Emily helps partners on the ground make the best conservation decisions to achieve both local water quality goals and goals for the Chesapeake Bay. This is achieved by using data, working with GIS, and developing web-mapping tools. Emily also interacts and communicates with various partners to help them accomplish their goals.

A Day on the Job: On any given day, Emily will code and automate data processes, develop web mapping tools, give training/demonstration sessions on our tools, and communicate with partners about how data and maps can help them accomplish their goals.

Skills Needed: ARCGIS, Teaching/Communication, Program and project Management, and Communication.

Education: Emily earned a Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Biology, as well as a Masters in Environmental Management.

Experience and Training: Emily gained experience while on the job, including project management and client communications. Emily also strengthened her skills in independent work and selfmotivation as these were keys to her success in the position.

Personal Career Path: “In undergraduate, I developed a hard science background and planned to attend medical school. But, I had a couple of summer volunteer abroad experiences doing conservation work that sparked my passion for the conservation and restoration of the natural world. I decided during my senior year to switch fields entirely and apply to interdisciplinary graduate programs in environmental management.” “I was accepted at Duke, and while I was there working towards my Masters, I became fascinated with GIS (geographic information systems) and how mapping natural features and processes can help decision-makers save the environment. At a GIS Careers event through school, I connected with an alum that gave a fascinating presentation on the Chesapeake Conservancy. As I was wrapping up my graduate program, I stayed in touch with him, ended up applying to a Geospatial Analyst position at the Chesapeake Conservancy.”

Pay and Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2018 median pay for environmental scientists and specialists was about $71,000. The projected percent change in employment in the field is expected to rise 11% by 2026.

Favorite and Most Challenging Aspect to the Job: “My favorite aspect of the job is developing tools that partners believe in, get excited about, and are able to use in their everyday jobs. Building something to help others meet their goals and maximize their positive impact on the environment brings me joy.” “One of my biggest accomplishments has been developing a parcel-scale prioritization and mapping tool for restoration in central Pennsylvania. The tool has helped our partners on the ground make the best decisions to achieve both local water quality goals for the Chesapeake Bay. Projects that were identified using the tool are now being implemented, and partners continue to use the analysis to target their outreach to plan for future high impact projects.” “One challenge I have faced is communicating to different audiences about GIS. The level of technical knowledge and expertise with GIS in the environmental field ranges very widely. So knowing your audience, listening carefully, and tailoring your message so people can understand and feel comfortable with it is very important.” “Another aspect of my job that I am still learning and getting better at is estimating and planning project timelines and budgets. It takes time and experience to develop a sense of how long things will take, and it is always a good idea to leave some buffer room for when unforeseen obstacles come up (which happens often in GIS).”

Advice for Young Professionals Interested in this Career: Research organizations in the field as you are conducting informational interviews and applying to positions. Showing interest and actually believing in an organization’s mission is critical to nailing an interview and more importantly getting a fulfilling job that you love. Remember that how you fit in within a team, communicate, and contribute to the spirit of the organization are just as important as the qualifications listed on your resume. Take advantage of alumni networks and the contacts you meet at presentations or conferences.