About the Role
ABOUT THE ROLE
The GIS Development Manager is a senior technical leadership position, working from home in the Philippines, responsible for the research, design and development of the Geographic Information System (GIS) capability that the Company delivers to its Australian operations and clients. The role owns the GIS development strategy, manages the back-end architecture of ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online (including ArcGIS Enterprise where deployed), leads technical collaborations with advanced users in Australian client and partner organisations, and leads the development of the Company's framework for recording schemas, data models and related tables.
The GIS Development Manager designs, tests and releases the platforms, schemas and tools used across the GIS function, working closely with the GIS Manager to ensure solutions meet operational needs and deliver measurable efficiencies. The role is accountable to the Technical Services Director.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
To provide a secure, well-governed and continuously improving GIS platform by setting and delivering the GIS development strategy; designing and maintaining the Esri back-end environment and its collaborations; establishing consistent recording schemas and data standards; and developing tools and automations that measurably improve the quality, speed and value of GIS services delivered by the operational team to Australian clients.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
GIS Development Strategy and Research
Develop, maintain and deliver a multi-year GIS development strategy and roadmap aligned to business objectives, approved by the Technical Services Director.
Research emerging Esri capabilities, releases and deprecations and assess their impact, risk and opportunity for the Company and its clients.
Prepare business cases, proof-of-concept builds and technical recommendations for new tools, platforms, licensing models and integrations.
Evaluate and pilot GeoAI, deep learning and imagery capabilities, including drone and satellite imagery workflows using tools such as ArcGIS Drone2Map, ArcGIS Reality and ArcGIS Image, for environmental and land management applications.
Maintain the R&D backlog, project plans and roadmap reporting in Asana, including priorities, dependencies, milestones and benefits.
Provide quarterly strategy and R&D reporting to the Technical Services Director, highlighting progress, benefits realised, risks and decisions required.
ArcGIS Platform Architecture and Back-End Management
Own the architecture and configuration of the Company's ArcGIS Online organisation and, where deployed, ArcGIS Enterprise, including roles, privileges, groups, sharing models, user types and licence allocation standards.
Design and manage the structure of hosted feature layers, views, services, web maps, apps and content to support secure, scalable and reusable solutions.
Establish standards for ArcGIS Pro projects, geodatabases, layer files, styles, templates and project packaging used across the GIS team.
Administer enterprise geodatabases on SQL Server or PostgreSQL/PostGIS where deployed, including connections, privileges, versioning, replication, maintenance and performance tuning.
Plan and manage platform projects, including ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online upgrades, migrations and new functionality, to agreed scope, schedule and budget with minimal disruption to client delivery.
Monitor platform performance, credit consumption, storage and licensing, and recommend optimisation and cost controls.
Maintain backup, archiving, recovery and environment management practices (development, testing and production) for GIS content and services.
High-End User Collaborations
Establish, configure and manage partnered and distributed collaborations between the Company's ArcGIS environment and those of client and partner organisations.
Act as the senior technical counterpart for advanced ArcGIS users in client and partner organisations, agreeing technical terms, content ownership, synchronisation methods and access controls.
Document each collaboration, including purpose, participants, shared content, data ownership, review dates and exit arrangements, and conduct scheduled access reviews.
Resolve complex collaboration, synchronisation and integration issues escalated by the GIS Manager.
Recording Schema and Data Model Framework
Lead the design, documentation and governance of the Company's framework for recording schemas, data models and related tables.
Define standards for feature classes, tables, fields, naming conventions, domains, subtypes, contingent values, relationship classes, attribute rules, editor tracking and versioning.
Build reusable schema templates for field data capture across ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123 and QuickCapture, including repeat and related-table structures, configured for connected and offline use in remote field environments (offline map areas, sync management and conflict handling).
Set coordinate reference system and datum standards for Australian data, including GDA2020 and GDA94 with MGA projections, and the transformations applied between them.
Maintain the master data dictionary, metadata standards and the schema change-control process, including impact assessment on existing projects and collaborations.
Review new project schemas prepared by the operational team for conformance with the framework and approve justified variations.
Esri Ecosystem Integration and Business Solutions
Maintain an in-depth understanding of how Esri products interrelate, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, Field Maps, Survey123, QuickCapture, Dashboards, Experience Builder, Hub and ArcGIS Notebooks.
Design end-to-end business solutions that connect data capture, storage, analysis, visualisation and reporting across these products.
Integrate ArcGIS with approved business systems such as Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power BI and Asana using supported connectors, APIs and webhooks.
Advise the Technical Services Director on platform choices, product fit and the long-term sustainability of solutions.
Tool Development, Automation and Efficiency
Identify inefficiencies in operational GIS workflows in consultation with the GIS Manager and prioritise improvement opportunities by measurable benefit.
Develop, test and maintain tools and automations using ArcPy, the ArcGIS API for Python, ModelBuilder, Python toolboxes, Arcade and other approved methods.
Apply sound development practice, including version control, code review, testing and documentation, so that tools are maintainable by others.
Measure and report the time, quality and cost benefits of released tools against an agreed baseline.
Release, Handover and Enablement
Run a controlled release process for tools, templates and schemas, including user acceptance testing with the GIS Manager and nominated GIS Analysts and Technicians.
Hand over released solutions to the GIS Manager with documentation, standard operating procedures, training material and a named operational owner.
Lead change management for the adoption of new standards, schemas and tools, including impact assessment, stakeholder communication, training plans and post-adoption review, in partnership with the GIS Manager.
Deliver training and technical coaching to the GIS team on new tools, schemas and platform standards.
Provide third-line technical support for platform, schema and tool issues escalated by the GIS Manager.
Governance, Security and Compliance
Develop and maintain GIS data governance, access and security standards for approval by the Technical Services Director.
Maintain a register of authoritative datasets and establish data lineage, change history and audit trails, so that spatial data supporting environmental, cultural heritage and regulatory reporting in Australia is controlled, traceable and defensible.
Ensure GIS data handling complies with the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012, the Australian Privacy Act 1988, client contracts and data-sharing agreements, including the cross-border transfer and storage of Australian client data.
Apply protocols for restricted and culturally sensitive information, including Indigenous cultural heritage data, in line with client and Traditional Owner requirements.
Apply Company security requirements for remote work, including device security, secure connections and the protection of client data in the home workspace.
Report and help manage any GIS security incident, data breach or unauthorised sharing in line with Company procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geomatics, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science or a closely related field.
Typically eight (8) to twelve (12) years of progressive GIS experience, including senior responsibility for GIS platforms, architecture or development. Candidates with fewer years but demonstrably equivalent depth and breadth of capability will be considered.
Expert capability in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online administration, with practical experience of ArcGIS Enterprise.
Demonstrated experience designing and implementing partnered or distributed collaborations between ArcGIS organisations.
Demonstrated experience designing geodatabase schemas and data models, including domains, subtypes, relationship classes, related tables and attribute rules.
Advanced Python scripting with ArcPy and the ArcGIS API for Python, and working knowledge of Arcade.
Strong SQL skills and experience administering enterprise geodatabases on SQL Server or PostgreSQL/PostGIS.
Experience with FME or equivalent ETL tools for data transformation, migration and integration.
Demonstrated experience managing technical projects, such as platform upgrades or system implementations, to scope, schedule and budget.
Demonstrated experience leading the adoption of new systems, standards or ways of working across a technical team.
In-depth understanding of the interrelationships between Esri products and how they combine into business solutions.
Excellent written and spoken English, including the ability to explain technical matters to non-technical stakeholders and to document systems clearly.
A dedicated, secure home workspace with reliable high-speed internet and contingency arrangements for power or connectivity interruptions.
Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and communicate effectively in a remote team using Microsoft Teams, Asana and similar tools.
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification in GIS, spatial science or information systems.
Esri Technical Certification(s) at Professional level in ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online/Enterprise administration or development.
Experience with ArcGIS Pro SDK, ArcGIS REST API, ArcGIS Data Pipelines or ArcGIS Data Interoperability.
Experience applying GeoAI and deep learning tools in ArcGIS Pro, and processing drone, aerial or satellite imagery.
Experience in environmental, natural resource management, mining or cultural heritage sectors.
Experience delivering services to Australian clients from the Philippines or another offshore location, including working across time zones.
Familiarity with Australian spatial data sources and standards, such as state government spatial catalogues and Australian environmental and cultural heritage reporting requirements.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Strategic and systems thinking, with the ability to translate business needs into durable technical solutions.
Rigorous attention to data integrity, standards and documentation.
Analytical problem-solving and sound judgement on when to standardise and when to allow justified variation.
Confident, credible engagement with highly technical external users.
Commitment to enabling others, including clear handover, training and coaching.
Change leadership, with the ability to bring a team through new standards and tools while maintaining service delivery.
Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on measurable benefit.
Accountability for agreed outcomes and ability to work collaboratively as part of a high-performance team.
DECISION-MAKING AND AUTHORITY
May approve the technical design of schemas, templates, tools and platform configurations within the approved GIS strategy and standards.
May approve the release of tools, templates and schemas to production once user acceptance testing has been completed with the GIS Manager.
May set and enforce ArcGIS organisation configuration standards (roles, groups, sharing and naming) within approved policy.
May manage the technical operation of approved collaborations, including content, synchronisation and access reviews.
Must obtain approval from the Technical Services Director for the GIS strategy and roadmap, new external collaborations or data-sharing arrangements, licensing changes and expenditure outside approved budgets.
Must escalate security incidents, privacy concerns, release of culturally sensitive data and any change that may affect client deliverables or contractual obligations.
Requests for GIS Analyst and GIS Technician time and resources for testing, training or development work are made to the GIS Manager as a peer, who allocates them against operational priorities.
Has no direct reports at commencement and does not hold authority for formal employment decisions or disciplinary action unless separately delegated.
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GIS MANAGER
The GIS Development Manager works alongside the GIS Manager, who leads the operational GIS team. The GIS Development Manager is accountable for the design and development of the GIS platform, schemas and tools; the GIS Manager is accountable for their application in client delivery. The two roles operate as peers. The GIS Development Manager requests GIS Analyst and Technician time and resources through the GIS Manager, who allocates them against operational priorities. Improvement opportunities identified by the operational team are prioritised with the GIS Development Manager, and tested, documented solutions are released to the team through an agreed handover process with training and support. Priorities that cannot be agreed between the two roles are referred to the Technical Services Director.