About the Role
The San Mateo County Information Services Department is seeking a well-qualified individual for the position of
GIS and Open Data Supervisor (IS Data Supervisor)
to join the GIS and Open Data Program team
.
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership abilities and experience in effectively supervising teams. They should possess a comprehensive understanding of geospatial technologies and open data initiatives. The Supervisor will be responsible for managing the GIS and Open Data Program, overseeing day-to-day operations, and ensuring the timely delivery of geospatial services and successful implementation of open data initiatives. They will also manage the development and maintenance of the County's GIS infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and data integrity. In addition, they will also oversee the planning, implementation, and management of GIS projects, supporting County departments and stakeholders in their decision-making processes.
Under general supervision from an assigned higher-level manager, the GIS and Open Data Supervisor holds a full supervisory-level position and demonstrates independent judgment in diverse, specialized information services functions. They have significant accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work. The Supervisor organizes and oversees day-to-day activities, projects, and programs for a major section within the division. They provide professional-level support to the management team and supervise staff primarily assigned to enhancing the County's GIS capabilities and promote data-driven decision-making processes.
The ideal candidate for the position will possess:
Demonstrated ability to supervise and manage a GIS and Open Data Program, overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality geospatial services and open data initiatives.
Ability to effectively manage the development and maintenance of GIS infrastructure, including spatial databases, servers, and related software, ensuring optimal performance and data integrity.
Proven experience in planning, implementing, and managing GIS projects, including data acquisition, analysis, and mapping, to support decision-making processes.
Ability to develop and implement GIS data standards and policies, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and compliance with relevant industry standards and best practices.
Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work with County departments and external agencies, identify GIS needs, and provide expert guidance on the effective use of geospatial technologies and tools.
Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including managing and mentoring a team of GIS analysts and technicians, providing guidance, training, and performance evaluations to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
Ability to conduct research and stay up-to-date with emerging GIS technologies and trends, recommending innovative solutions to enhance GIS capabilities and support strategic objectives.
Proficiency in GIS project management, including preparing and evaluating Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scoping GIS projects, and defining project deliverables and timelines.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to perform complex spatial analysis, troubleshoot issues, and identify solutions to address GIS challenges.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with stakeholders, presenting GIS concepts to non-technical audiences, and building strong working relationships.
Proficiency in database management and SQL queries, with the ability to design and optimize spatial databases and perform data extraction and manipulation tasks.
Experience with web mapping technologies and platforms, such as ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Portal ArcGIS Server, VertiGIS, and MapBox to create and publish interactive web maps and applications.
Knowledge of data visualization principles and experience using visualization tools, such as ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Experience Builder Tableau or Power BI, to present geospatial data in a clear and compelling manner.
Familiarity with open data principles, including data publishing, data formats, licensing, and data governance, to support the implementation and management of open data initiatives.
Project management skills, including the ability to define project goals, develop work plans, allocate resources, and track project progress to ensure successful completion within established timelines and budgets.
Attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and quality control, with the ability to perform data validation, data cleaning, and other quality-assurance activities.
Knowledge of geospatial and open-data standards, data governance, interoperability, accessibility, and appropriate data-sharing practices; familiarity with FGDC, ISO, OGC, or comparable standards is desirable.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conducts the supervision and management of the GIS and Open Data Program, overseeing the day-to-day operations and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality geospatial services and open data initiatives.
Manages the development and maintenance of the County's GIS infrastructure, including spatial databases, servers, and related software, ensuring optimal performance and data integrity.
Oversees the planning, implementation, and management of GIS projects, including data acquisition, analysis, and mapping, to support County departments and stakeholders in their decision-making processes.
Develops and implements GIS data standards and policies, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and compliance with relevant industry standards and best practices.
Collaborates with County departments and external agencies to identify GIS needs, requirements, and opportunities, and provides expert guidance on the effective use of geospatial technologies and tools.
Manages and mentors a team of GIS analysts and technicians, providing guidance, training, and performance evaluations to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
Conducts research and evaluates emerging GIS technologies and trends, recommending innovative solutions to enhance the County's GIS capabilities and support strategic objectives.
Coordinates and participates in the development and implementation of open data initiatives, working with departments to identify and publish datasets, ensuring data quality, accessibility, and compliance with data sharing policies.
Manages GIS project management activities, including the preparation and evaluation of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), scoping GIS projects, and defining project deliverables and timelines.
Collaborates with IT and other relevant stakeholders to integrate GIS technologies with other systems and platforms, facilitating data sharing, interoperability, and the development of comprehensive information solutions.
Represents the County in meetings, conferences, and professional organizations, sharing expertise, promoting GIS initiatives, and staying informed about industry developments and best practices.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience :
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in management information systems, computer science, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in database management, including two (2) years of lead, supervisory, or project management responsibility and specific to the specialty area assigned which includes logical and physical database administration; integration; business intelligence, analytics, and report scripting; and/or data quality and integrity. Additional related experience may substitute for education requirement on a year-for-year basis, up to four (4) years.
Licenses and Certifications :
Some positions may require possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License.
Some positions may require possession of information technology industry recognized certifications.
Some positions may require ability to pass security background check.
Application/Examination
Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply.
Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online .
If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the
"Apply"
button . If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.
Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Monday, October 5, 2026
Combined Panel Interviews: Monday, October 19, 2026