GIS ANALYST - Part-Time 

NOAA Fisheries Engagement

Remote / Work from Home

@Orchard LLC has an immediate need for a part-time GIS Analyst to support the expansion of an existing contract we have, supporting NOAA and local fisheries. This is a fixed-price contract for an estimated 650 hours spread across the next year (starting late September 2025), with the possibility of a second option year. If you are looking for a flexible, part-time remote opportunity to bring your GIS capabilities to serve a valuable mission, this is your opportunity.

About the role

The Fish-BANC project, developed in partnership with NOAA and local fisheries stakeholders in Guam and American Samoa, advances spatial management for coral reef fisheries in both U.S. territories. In the pilot year (FY2024), @Orchard sourced, collated, cleaned, and reconciled diverse fisheries-dependent, fisheries-independent, and Marine Managed Area (MMA) datasets; architected the GIS environment (in ArcGIS Online, AGOL); and developed pilot ArcGIS-based models (static interpolated raster files) for Guam and American Samoa. These pilot models demonstrated how two priority Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) contribute to achieving biological targets for three target reef fish species.

Building on this foundation, NOAA has tasked @Orchard with expanding the effort to incorporate up to 20 priority reef fish species and all spatially managed areas in both Guam and American Samoa. The GIS component will be central to further developing, scaling, maintaining, and transferring the models to NOAA for long-term use and delivery to the public. 

Objective:

Support the expansion of the FishBANC project, ensuring accurate data integration, statistically valid spatial modeling, and the delivery of NOAA-compliant GIS products that enable fisheries managers to assess MPA effectiveness for up to 20 priority fish species they manage.

As the GIS Analyst, you will provide the following services:

• Data Integration & Management.
  • Compile, clean, and reconcile fisheries-dependent, fisheries-independent, and MMA habitat datasets from NOAA, local fisheries management agencies in Guam and American Samoa, and academic partners.
  • Maintain GIS databases in ArcGIS Online (AGOL) with version control and full metadata that can be ingested into NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) InPort. 
• Spatial Modeling & Analysis
  • Expand pilot models from 3 to up to 20 reef fish species and from 2 to all MPAs in each jurisdiction.
  • Conduct statistical and geospatial analyses to evaluate species-environment relationships and MPA performance; calculate SPR values through a series of technical steps that include Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK).
  • Produce management-ready GIS products (ArcGIS layers, interactive maps, and other decision-support tools, as requested). 
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Support
  • Participate in weekly internal project meetings and regular coordination calls with jurisdictional partners in Guam and American Samoa.
  • Accommodate time zone differences (Guam, American Samoa, Wales, U.S. West Coast).
  • Provide workflow documentation and support knowledge transfer for NOAA adoption. 
• Deliverables
  • NOAA-compliant GIS database with corresponding metadata.
  • ArcGIS images in multiple formats (e.g., jpg, png) for team members’ presentations to fisheries managers.
  • Preliminary and final ArcGIS spatial models for Guam (Year 1) and for American Samoa (Year 2): these will expand upon the pilot models developed in FY2024, to include up to 20 priority coral reef fish species and all MPAs in each jurisdiction, and will fill data gaps and potentially integrate relevant oceanographic parameters (option).
  • A user guide for the final model for Guam (Year 1) and American Samoa (Year 2), articulating how to apply the model in fisheries management and MPA planning decisions, and the types of questions the model can address.
  • Provide ArcGIS maps, spatial layers, rasters, and corresponding metadata for the final project report for Guam (Year 1) and American Samoa (Year 2), including all caveats, assumptions, statistics, uncertainty, and analytic processes, and including all code and a summary table.
  • Draft additional content about the models as requested by the final report lead.
  • Transfer all ArcGIS products (incl. models, data, and supporting tools) into the NOAA ArcGIS online platform
  • Deliver a final technical package including GIS files, data, metadata, documented workflows, and user guidance for NOAA’s ArcGIS Online (AGOL) environment.
  • Provide the final model outputs and their corresponding metadata to NCEI and NOAA’s Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS), via Send2NCEI (S2N), and subsequent provision of the S2N-generated XML metadata file to NMFS InPort.
  • Deliver a monthly progress report summarizing work completed and challenges. 

Your background will include:

• A Bachelor's degree in Marine Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated prior experience working with environmental GIS and data visualization tools in support of marine, fisheries, or conservation-focused projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency in ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, spatial statistics, and metadata development/management.
• Proven ability to work remotely with minimal supervision while delivering product on time to a high standard.
• Have the ability and willingness to engage with partners across multiple time zones as needed.
• Be willing to complete NOAA-assigned training in IT Security, Sexual assault/Sexual Harassment Prevention, and Records Management within 5 days of starting on the assignment.

This is a fixed price project where you will be responsible for managing your time against varying deliverables. You will invoice @Orchard in 12 monthly increments, invoiced after the completion of each month of support. The estimated total compensation for this project is $35,000 for an estimated 650 hours 9actual hours may vary).

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.