Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager

About the role

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager provides support to the Resilience Division within the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM). This role is based in Oklahoma City and is a regular, full-time position governed by the Oklahoma Civil Service system.

Responsibilities

• GIS Program Management & Strategic Integration
• Direct and coordinate agency-wide GIS functions and integrate geospatial technology into organizational operations.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee GIS projects and program activities.
• Integrate GIS capabilities across divisions to support operational needs.
• Advise leadership on GIS program direction, priorities, and resource needs.
• Ensure GIS readiness to support emergency operations, including SEOC activations.
• Develop and maintain long-term GIS program goals, priorities, and implementation roadmaps aligned with agency resilience objectives.
• Project Management & Operational Oversight
• Manage multiple GIS projects and ensure timely execution of deliverables.
• Direct GIS project timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation.
• Monitor progress toward deadlines and provide regular status updates to leadership.
• Perform or oversee administrative and fiscal functions related to GIS initiatives.
• Ensure continuity of GIS operations during high-demand periods.
• Collaborate with the Mitigation and Recovery sections to provide geospatial modeling and Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) mapping support for federal grant applications, including Public Assistance (PA), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) initiatives.
• Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert on GIS and spatial technology.
• Provide consultation and technical assistance to agency staff, partners, and the public.
• Translate complex geospatial information into actionable insights.
• Represent the agency on committees, work groups, and interagency initiatives.
• Supervision & Workforce Development
• Provide direct supervision to GIS staff and ensure effective team performance.
• Supervise GIS specialists, technical personnel, and/or support staff assigned to GIS operations.
• Establish workload priorities and operational expectations to ensure timely delivery of GIS and technical support services.
• Assign work, evaluate performance, and provide coaching and professional development.
• Develop and implement training programs to enhance staff capability.
• Build a high-performing team capable of supporting statewide GIS operations.
• Align individual workflows with agency-wide resilience projects and ensure technical cross-training between IT infrastructure support and geospatial analysis functions for OEM personnel.
• Data Sharing, Innovation & Resource Development
• Contribute spatial data to statewide clearinghouses and data-sharing initiatives.
• Evaluate and recommend new data sources and technologies.
• Identify and pursue funding sources and GIS development opportunities.
• Continuously improve GIS capabilities to enhance agency services and operations.
• Integrate multi-source operational intelligence into BI tools (Tableau/Dataminer) to visualize geospatial trends and refine executive-level resilience reporting.
• Emergency Response Role
• Provide critical geospatial support to emergency management operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and actionable spatial intelligence during incidents and activations.
• Support State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) activations by developing and delivering real-time GIS products, including maps, dashboards, and spatial analyses.
• Collaborate with internal divisions and external partners (local, state, tribal, and federal) to collect, validate, and disseminate geospatial data during incidents.
• Establish and maintain GIS operational readiness, including pre-developed datasets, templates, and response workflows.
• Prioritize and manage competing GIS requests during high-tempo operations to support decision-making at the executive and incident command levels.
• Ensure continuity of GIS services during emergencies, including extended hours and rapid deployment of resources as needed.

Requirements

• Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science or a closely related field and three years of professional level experience in GIS work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of technical experience in GIS work for each year of the required education; or a master’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science and two years of professional level experience in GIS work.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Geographic Information Systems and their application in state government.
• Current trends and emerging technologies in GIS.
• GIS software platforms and capabilities (e.g., Esri ArcGIS).
• Project management principles and practices.
• Leadership principles and practices.
• Skills:
• Managing enterprise GIS environments and geospatial workflows.
• Supervising and developing technical personnel.
• Project planning and coordination.
• Communicating technical information to diverse audiences.
• Analyzing spatial and operational data to support decision-making.
• Ability To:
• Direct, train, and evaluate personnel.
• Manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Analyze complex technical and operational challenges.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Develop and implement training programs.
• Provide critical geospatial support to emergency management operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and actionable spatial intelligence during incidents and activations.
• Support State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) activations by developing and delivering real-time GIS products, including maps, dashboards, and spatial analyses.
• Collaborate with internal divisions and external partners (local, state, tribal, and federal) to collect, validate, and disseminate geospatial data during incidents.
• Ensure continuity of GIS services during emergencies, including extended hours and rapid deployment of resources as needed.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science or a closely related field and three years of professional level experience in GIS work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of technical experience in GIS work for each year of the required education; or a master’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science and two years of professional level experience in GIS work.

Skills

• Geographic Information Systems and their application in state government.
• Current trends and emerging technologies in GIS.
• GIS software platforms and capabilities (e.g., Esri ArcGIS).
• Project management principles and practices.
• Leadership principles and practices.
• Managing enterprise GIS environments and geospatial workflows.
• Supervising and developing technical personnel.
• Project planning and coordination.
• Communicating technical information to diverse audiences.
• Analyzing spatial and operational data to support decision-making.

Benefits

As a full-time state employee with OEM, you receive:

• Competitive state retirement benefits with employer matching
• Eleven paid holidays each year
• A generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents
• Opportunities for professional growth and cross-agency collaboration
• Priority interview consideration for U.S. veterans with appropriate certification
• Veterans with certification letters from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services’ Office of Veteran Placement are entitled to an interview for any position for which they meet minimum qualifications.

Pay

Annual salary range for this position is $77,798.00 - $93,357.00, depending on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

This position is a regular, full-time position governed by the Oklahoma Civil Service system and subject to the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act. Employment in this role is covered by applicable Civil Service Rules, policies, and procedures. This position is subject to a required 12-month trial period, during which performance, conduct, and overall suitability for continued employment will be evaluated in accordance with Civil Service Rules.