GIS Technician II (Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician II)

Job Appointment: Full Time Regular
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Alternate schedules may be available.
Work Location: The current schedule for this position is primarily remote. Occasional on-site time may be expected for meetings. The City is reevaluating a return-to-office (RTO) policy, which could change in-person requirements with notice. The hiring manager for this position will have more up-to-date information at the time of all verbal/contingent offers. In-person work will be conducted at 810 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97201. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here.
Union Representation: Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC17).  To view current labor agreements, click here.
Starting Pay: The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Position Summary:

This recruitment is to hire one (1) GIS Technician II that will work within the Bureau of Technology Services (BTS). This position will be embedded in the Community and Economic Development Service Area’s (CEDSA) Data Services Team. The Community and Economic Development Service Area is comprised of the following bureaus and offices: Portland Permitting and Development, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Portland Housing Bureau, Prosper Portland, Portland Children's Levy, Office of Arts and Culture, and Spectator Venues Program.

The GIS Technician II in CEDSA is an analytical GIS role that will take on challenging and exciting work involving managing, integrating, analyzing, and sharing GIS data and mapping products to meet the needs of the City of Portland and CEDSA’s projects and programs. It will require sophisticated GIS analysis skills, as well as project/product management and partner engagement experience. This position will be part of a team working in an internal services role that can sometimes be fast-paced and high-volume, so keen organizational and communication skills are critical to managing project timelines.

Products created by CEDSA and City of Portland staff are an important element in engaging all members of the community. We are looking for a GIS Technician II who is interested in creating mapping products that are accessible and welcoming to all Portlanders, especially those underserved by government. We are also seeking someone who is excited by the opportunity to design and develop the innovative, highly regarded, and far-reaching GIS products for which the City of Portland is known.

Successful GIS Technicians II are highly collaborative, self-motivated, innovative, attentive to detail, great communicators, and effective translators of complex spatial relationships into jargon-free, accessible concepts. They work with internal and external partners to develop geospatial products that meet the needs of Service Area projects and programs and promote the City of Portland’s Core Values of Anti-Racism, Equity, Transparency, Communication, Collaboration, and Fiscal Responsibility. 

What You’ll Do:

• Perform complex GIS data creation, maintenance, manipulation, analysis, and extraction assignments.
• Coordinate with internal partners, community-based partner organizations, and other external partners on spatial data collection methods, data management, analysis, and mapping products to address the Service Area’s strategic priorities.
• Help to maintain the City of Portland’s GIS data related to community and economic development, such as zoning and building permit data, and presenting that data through maps and public-facing web applications.
• Utilize analytical models to support the needs of the Service Area’s programs.
• Work with Data Analysts to analyze and share demographic data for use by the City of Portland.
• Prepare, design, and produce a variety of maps and other graphic representations using cartographic techniques to present spatial data in a legible and accessible manner.
• Generate tabular data for reports and dashboards.
• Develop and maintain data layers using GIS editing tools and automated workflows.
• Consult with partners to define requirements of GIS requests; research and evaluate available data and propose methods to be used; assist in the development of production schedules for mapping and analysis projects.
• Work with GIS developers to translate user needs for spatial data tools into geospatial applications that can assist internal users or the public.
• Assist in installing and testing new GIS software; assist in resolving and troubleshooting GIS-related problems and requests; provide GIS software training for service area personnel.
• Research building permit history to maintain data integrity in permit-related datasets.

• Analytical Lens: Ability to use complex data and mapping skills to develop geospatial solutions that promote the strategic goals of the Service Area and the City of Portland.
• Solutions-Oriented Approach: Ability to leverage strong communication skills to work with a variety of internal and external partners to create, implement, and document solutions.
• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to apply technical and GIS skills to develop innovative solutions to address complex mapping needs.
• Collaborative Approach: Ability to approach GIS work in a way that promotes collaboration with multiple partners, values equity and privacy, and helps rebuild community trust.
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to be team-oriented, relational, empathetic, and open to other perspectives.
• Inclusive Workplace: Ability to work effectively and respectfully in a culturally and gender-diverse workplace.

Please address and demonstrate, in your cover letter and resume, how your education, training, and/or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications. Include specific examples describing the work you performed, your individual role, the tools or methodologies you used, and the results. Statements that you have the required experience, without supporting examples, do not provide enough information for reviewers to assess your qualifications.

1. Experience utilizing a variety of GIS software and other applications, including ESRI’s ArcGIS software (desktop and online), to independently and creatively carry out assigned responsibilities.
2. Experience performing complex spatial analyses and creating data queries using a variety of data querying tools.
3. Experience editing and maintaining GIS data, utilizing high-precision geometry editing, topology rules and validation, bulk data integration and cleanup, and geodatabase structure and constraints (e.g. domains, relationship classes, attribute rules).
4. Experience creating and designing web GIS applications, utilizing the ArcGIS Online platform, ArcGIS Enterprise (Portal), and Web Experience Builder.
5. Experience applying cartographic principles and map design to create accessible and legible mapping products.
6. Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse internal and external partners, providing partners with usable information to inform decision making and explaining how data and analysis decisions were made.

• A GIS Certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or an associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), GeoInformatics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field.
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the use and operations of GIS systems and applications, with at least one (1) year specifically involving advanced spatial analysis and project coordination.

• Experience working with building plans, permitting software, and GIS applications integrated with permitting data.
• Experience automating GIS workflows with Python or ModelBuilder.
• Experience applying Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1+ accessibility standards to online maps and applications.

How to Apply:

• Submit your resume and cover letter by the closing date. In your cover letter, include specific examples demonstrating how you meet the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications you possess.
• (Optional) Submit Veterans’ Preference documents, if applicable. 
   If this is your first time applying with the City of Portland, or if you haven’t requested veteran preference before (and would like to now), please attach your DD214-Member 4 and/or VA Benefit Letter to your application. Once we verify your eligibility, we’ll record your veteran preference in our system, so it automatically applies to your future applications.
• Click here for application tips for resume, supplemental question response and/or cover letter.

What to Expect:

1. Application Review - Week of November 9, 2026: We'll review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
2. Notice/Feedback - Week of November 16, 2026: You will receive an email when the minimum qualification review is complete. If you disagree with the evaluation results, you may request a review within 14 days of the email notice, per City Administrative Rule 3.01.
3. Selection Process - Early December: The hiring bureau will review qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
4. Conditional Job Offer:Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check, depending on the position.

Learn More About:

• How to Apply Videos and Workshops
• City of Portland Core Values
• HRAR-3.01 - Recruitment Processes
• Veteran Preference Information
• Total Compensation and Benefits
• Language Pay Differential Eligibility

 We’re committed to providing a fair, inclusive, and accessible hiring process. If you need assistance with your application or would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, pregnancy, or religious belief, please contact the recruiter listed below.

Questions? We're here to help!
 If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:

TroyLynn Craft, Senior Recruiter
[email protected]
Bureau of Human Resources