Senior GIS & Remote Sensing Specialist

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Our Project Development team is at the forefront of developing and managing climate mitigation activities. By working closely with project owners and developers as well as their local communities, we manage the complete registration, verification and evaluation of carbon projects to enable the issuance of emission-reduction certificates, in line with official carbon standards. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!

Job summary:

As part of the Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GIS&RS) team within the Climate Projects Unit’s SEA & Oceania region, you will drive to design and implement GIS&RS projects related to land use planning, ecosystem services, terrain mapping and forestry management. This will include the development of techniques and models to support our digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) processes, and other types of general GIS&RS support for a broad range of current and future projects. This will also include mapping of natural ecosystem types and other land cover types; identification and management of High Conservation Value Areas for planned development projects. Additional tasks may involve project development, management and budgeting, and assisting internal/external clients in interpreting data.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Support and lead any mandate in the spatial solutions to support the development of GIS & RS component MRV processes 
• Perform remote sensing manipulations, such as geo-referencing, calibration, image processing and analysis, and feature extraction; and produce land cover/land use maps and Forest monitoring of the project from satellite images 
• Perform site visits to all types of forests in projects in SEA, using handheld GPS equipment for navigation, forest measurements (DBH, crown cover, tree height) for the purposes of forest carbon inventories
• Assist the technical team to train local community members or stakeholders in GPS/mapping/navigation techniques
• Documentation and construction of standard operating procedures of the internal models portfolio
• Analyze and explain Geospatial solutions while setting and maintaining high ethical standards
• Work in a team setting with other staff members to identify effective ways to complete various planning projects and outreach efforts. 
• Provide support and recommendations for the implementation of GIS best practices on MRV processes 
• Participate in developing proposals which include a GIS or spatial data component

Requirements:

Essential -

• University degree in computer or environmental science, Forestry engineering, GIS&RS, geography, engineering, or any other related field
• Specialization or master’s degree or higher in forestry, natural resource management, environmental sciences/management and Geographic Information systems (GIS) and remote sensing
• Several years experience of GIS analysis in the Forestry Sector, particularly Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) analysis. 
• GIS and remote sensing analytical skills using open source software (QGIS) for image processing and analysis 
• Good knowledge of geospatial information systems and analytical tools and the ability to rapidly expanding of knowledge 
• Good knowledge in the processing of supervised and not supervised image classification techniques 
• Knowledge of Forest mapping and monitoring 
• Knowledge of REDD+ mapping using GIS required 
• Highly organized with the ability to work unsupervised 
• Ability to work determine and develop independently their approach to solutions 
• Ability to create written documents (proposals and deliverables) in English, additional languages are a plus
• Good communication skills in English

Desirable -

• Experience with programming and Cloud environments Knowledge of forest carbon and carbon standards like, VERRA, CDM, GS, Plan Vivo among others
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including prioritizing and working efficiently and effectively under deadlines
• Ability to work independently with initiative, and strong capacity to work in an intercultural team 

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. 

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make; South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.