Job Description

GIS Specialist

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GIS Specialist

Salary

$72,238.40 - $111,238.40 Annually

Location

Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-01786

Agency

645 Iowa Department of Transportation

Opening Date

01/09/2026

Closing Date

1/19/2026 11:59 PM Central

LinkedIn Tag

#LI-POST

Point of Contact

Peggi Knight, Peggi.Knight@Iowadot.us

• Description

• Questions

Job Description

We are seeking aGIS Specialist to join the Research & Analytics team, supporting quality management and geospatial strategy within the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). This role ensures compliance with standards, governance, and strategic business planning while working collaboratively across DOT bureaus and GIS teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensure compliance with DOT's standards, guidelines, Strategic Business Plan, and Geospatial Strategy.

• Collaborate with the Research & Analytics Bureau, Iowa DOT bureaus, the GIS Program Manager, and the Warehouse Analyst to maintain high-quality geospatial resources.

• Facilitate AI-driven preparation and refinement of geospatial resources.

• Lead GIS project development by identifying integration needs, collaborating with stakeholders, and documenting workflows, system structures, and requirements.

• Execute complex queries, generate reports, and manage ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.

• Support enterprise GIS operations by collaborating with program managers and analysts to resolve issues, optimize workflows, and implement strategic geospatial initiatives.

• Utilize ESRI software, develop GIS applications, provide technical training, and create spatial visualizations to enhance decision-making and efficiency.

• Enhance geospatial integration by developing, deploying, and maintaining FME Form and FME Flow workspaces, while troubleshooting and optimizing workflows.

• Provide technical support, manage relational systems, and execute SQL queries to ensure efficient GIS application performance.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in integration, GIS software, spatial data analysis, and project management.

Location : Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA

Shift Requirements : Days, Monday-Friday; Flexible schedule available. Some travel may be required

Iowa Department of Transportation's Mission isMaking Lives Better Through Transportation. To accomplish our Mission, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation's five CORE values:Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance

• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment, and costs can be reviewed here. (

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.

• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match

• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.

• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

We encourage you to learn more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website ( !

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa - Apply now!

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity (AA/EEO) Officer at: aa-eeo@iowadot.us .

Reasonable accommodation, such as an interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify,a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit

Selectives

121 T-SQL Business Query Writing 6 months' experience writing complex T-SQL queries against SQL Server database which includes:

• SQL database experience must use most recent SQL release or two versions prior

• Queries against normalized, de-normalized and dimensional SQL database

• Use of database data models to design and construct queries

• Analyzing end-user presentation requirements and business rules and then translating into T-SQL queries

• Creating parameterized queries for application database calls

• Providing input to DBA(s) on data element formats and data granularity necessary to meet end-user requirements

"OR"

230 Categorical Selective List Geographic Information Systems (Department of Natural Resources)

• 18 semester hours of education or 1 year of experience that demonstrates the applicant has competencies in the following areas:

• Ability to create, edit, import, export, project, and georeference GIS data.

• Demonstrated proficiency with the major ESRI software products. These products include ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcGIS.

• Utilize user-developed and/or ESRI scripts and extensions for incorporation and utilization in projects.

• Ability to conduct spatial analyses and queries in order to answer complex questions relating to spatial data.

• Ability to produce cartographic documents which clearly present outputs from spatial analyses. Document formats should at a minimum include hardcopy as well as the following digital formats .pdf, .tif, and .jpg.

• Ability to work with, or train, others to use GIS to attain a common goal

Applicant must provide specific work examples to demonstrate each of the competencies. The examples should include a thorough explanation of the project goal, the process utilized and the result of the process.

"OR"

984 Business Information Technology 6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both, in business information technology including any of the following: support for management decision-making using computer technology, i.e., computer decision support systems, billing, accounting, queries, data modeling, and IT/manager interface including support for individual, group and corporate goals and managerial concerns with the design, use and implementation of information technology.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Six years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research,

or data science.

2) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in business analytics,

economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or

industrial management, and experience equal to two years of full-time work (as described in

number one).

3) All of the following (a and b):

a. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical

analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited

college or university coursework in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics,

mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management equals one year of

full-time experience; and

b. A total of two years of graduate-level education and/or full-time experience (as described in

part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university

coursework in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics,

management information systems, or industrial management equals one year of full-time

experience.

4) All of the following (a and b):

a. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical

Analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited

college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and

b. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in business

analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information

systems, or industrial management.

5) All of the following (a, b, and c):

a. Two years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic

research, or data science; and

b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where

thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one

year of full-time experience.

c. Possession of a professional certificate in data science, business analytics, or data

analytics.

6) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of

full-time work as a Data Analyst 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description ( and\ pay/JobClassDescriptions/DataAnalyst2-00512-90512.pdf) .

Additional Qualification Requirements

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship(additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers ( and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants (

01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely.Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question.Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the state of Iowa.

• Yes - I understand and agree.

• No

  02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq?

• No - I have NOT filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

• Yes - I HAVE filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq

  03

Have you graduated from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management, AND have experience equal to two years of full-time work in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science?

• Yes

• No

  04

Do you meet A, B and C: A. Two years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science; and B. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience. C. Possession of a professional certificate in data science, business analytics, or data analytics.

• Yes - I meet A, B and C

• I do not meet A, B and C

  05

Do you have six years of full-time work experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science?

• Yes

• No

  06

Do you meet A and B: A. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management equals one year of full-time experience; and B. A total of two years of graduate-level education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science, where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university coursework in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management equals one year of full-time experience.

• Yes

• No

  07

Do you meet A and B: A. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience in business/data/statistical analytics, economic research, or data science, where thirty semester hours of accredited \college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and B. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in business analytics, economics, data science, statistics, mathematics, management information systems, or industrial management.

• I meet A and B

• I do not meet A and B

  08

Are you a current, permanent State of Iowa employee? If yes - do you have continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Data Analyst 1?

• Yes - I am a current permanent State of Iowa employee with continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Data Analyst

• I am NOT a current permanent State of Iowa employee with continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Data Analyst

  09

Does your application demonstrate that you have 18 semester hours of education or 1 year of experience in the following areas:

• Ability to create, edit, import, export, project, and georeference GIS data.

• Demonstrated proficiency with the major ESRI software products. These products include ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcGIS.

• Utilize user-developed and/or ESRI scripts and extensions for incorporation and utilization in projects.

• Ability to conduct spatial analyses and queries in order to answer complex questions relating to spatial data.

• Ability to produce cartographic documents which clearly present outputs from spatial analyses. Document formats should at a minimum include hardcopy as well as the following digital formats .pdf, .tif, and .jpg.

• Ability to work with, or train, others to use GIS to attain a common goal Applicant must provide specific work examples to demonstrate each of the competencies. The examples should include a thorough explanation of the project goal, the process utilized and the result of the process?

• Yes

• No

  10

If you answered "Yes" to the question above - please list exactly HOW you meet it: list exact classes and credit hours, employer, dates and hours per week and exact duties. Please do not paste or state - See application or resume. If you answered no to the question above please type in "No" in the box below.]

11

Do you have 6 months' experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both, in business information technology including any of the following:

• Support for management decision-making using computer technology, i.e., computer decision support systems, billing, accounting, queries, data modeling, and IT/manager interface including support for individual, group and corporate goals and managerial concerns with the design, use and implementation of information technology.

• Leveraging information technology in business strategy?

• Yes

• No

  12

If you answered "Yes" to the question above - please list exactly HOW you meet it: list exact classes and credit hours, employer, dates and hours per week and exact duties. Please do not paste or state - See application or resume. If you answered no to the question above please type in "No" in the box below.

13

Does your application demonstrate that you have 6 months' experience writing complex T-SQL queries against SQL Server database which includes:

• SQL database experience must use most recent SQL release or two versions prior

• Queries against normalized, de-normalized and dimensional SQL database

• Use of database data models to design and construct queries

• Analyzing end-user presentation requirements and business rules and then translating into T-SQL queries

• Creating parameterized queries for application database calls

• Providing input to DBA(s) on data element formats and data granularity necessary to meet end-user requirements?

• Yes

• No

  14

If you answered "Yes" to the question above - please list exactly HOW you meet it: list exact classes and credit hours, employer, dates and hours per week and exact duties. Please do not paste or state - See application or resume. If you answered no to the question above please type in "No" in the box below.

15

What is the major degree field of your BA degree? It is required to list the name and state (i.e.., Iowa, New York, Indiana) of the location of institution.

16

What is the major degree field of your MA degree? It is required to list the name and state (i.e.., Iowa, New York, Indiana) of the location of institution.

17

How many years do you have of full-time work experience in performing statistical/data analysis to specifically examine business practices and guide business decisions? Describe the duties performing this work. It is required to list the number of years AND exact duties performed.

18

How many years do you have of full-time work experience performing economic research and analysis? Describe the duties performing this work. It is required to list the number of years and exact duties performed.

19

How many years do you have of full-time work experience processing raw data to extract meaning from the data? This involves gathering data from sources such as databases/customer users, cleaning the data, data analysis, presenting the data and making recommendations. Describe the duties performing this work It is required to list the number of years and exact duties performed.

Required Question

Employer

State of Iowa

Agency

645 Iowa Department of Transportation

Address

800 Lincoln Way

Ames, Iowa, 50010

Website

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Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, H1b, Work at office, Immediate start, Monday to Friday, Flexible hours, Shift work,

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