Research Specialist (GIS Specialist)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses.

The Center for Urban Policy Research ( CUPR) works to make human settlements more equitable, sustainable, resilient, and healthy through research, public engagement, education and other forms of capacity-building. CUPR is an umbrella center that combines the former Bloustein stand-alone Center for Urban Policy Research with the former Rutgers Center for Green Building ( RCGB), Environmental Analysis and Communication Group ( EAC), Center for Energy Environmental and Economic Policy ( CEEEP), and Bloustein Center for Local Government Research. This merger creates strong capabilities for addressing today's challenges in a collaborative and multidisciplinary fashion. These challenges include climate change adaptation and mitigation, coastal hazards, environmental justice, a healthier built environment, sustainable energy transition, and technological transformations affecting daily life and local governance.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Research Specialist ( GIS Specialist) for the Center for Urban Policy Research ( CUPR). Reporting to the Associate Director of the Center for Urban Policy Research ( CUPR), the Research Specialist ( GIS Specialist) position is responsible for supporting the data management, analysis, and visualization efforts within the Center's Data Informatics Group ( DIG) and for the NJ Climate Change Resource Center, which is also under the directorship of the Associate Director. This position is responsible for supporting the development of data analysis efforts for the NJADAPT Program, which focuses on developing new datasets, analysis efforts, and visualizations to support the various web applications utilizing interactive web-mapping, analytical tools, and data-driven snapshots/dashboards around the impacts of climate change on New Jersey. In addition, the Research Specialist ( GIS Specialist) position will take a role in a grant-funded project from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, leading the development of datasets and analytical workflows among a team of full-time and graduate student employees to support the statewide hazard mitigation planning efforts. As a member of the Data Informatics Group at CUPR, the Research Specialist ( GIS Specialist) will provide support to a multitude of projects across various disciplines, working with research faculty and supporting the development of analytical methodologies and visualizations to meet the diverse needs of the unit's stakeholders.

Overall, the position will be responsible for the entire life cycle of data within the two programs and will have three primary focuses: data management, data analysis, and data visualization. Data management responsibilities will focus on adhering to a data management protocol to maintain and expand the large sets of spatial and tabular data that are utilized by the NJADAPT and OEM programs; ensuring that data remains up-to-date, has complete and appropriate metadata and documentation, procedures for integrating new datasets, and publication of datasets for use in applications and public access. Data analysis responsibilities will focus on the analytical efforts, both spatial and statistical, needed to develop new and potentially innovative datasets that provide insight into the potential impacts of climate change on various demographic, environmental, industry-specific, or critical infrastructure assets in New Jersey; develop documentation for these datasets and their methodologies; and perform research into new analysis techniques and domains to propose new avenues of data analysis for these program. Data visualization responsibilities will focus on developing appropriate data visualizations for both spatial and database-driven datasets that will be incorporated into various public informatics applications developed for these programs, ensuring that these visualizations support the communication of data to stakeholders to support understanding and decision-making. This position will work among a team of faculty and staff within these two programs and will be expected to participate in various project meetings, providing their knowledge and expertise to support project efforts, and present data and applications to various stakeholders.

Among the key duties of the position are the following:

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

Consistent with the current application of Rutgers Policy 60.3.22 or the applicable provisions of relevant collective negotiations agreements, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Flexible work arrangements are not permanent, subject to change or discontinuation, and contingent on the employee receiving approval in the FlexWork@RU Application System.