Northwest Youth Corps (NYC), US Forest Service, Visit Tillamook Coast, and Tillamook County Wellness have partnered to implement a unique program focused on developing an inventory of all trails and other recreation resources in Tillamook County. We seek a candidate who possesses strong skills and interest in geographic information systems, natural resource management, and community engagement with commitment to equity and inclusion in all aspects of work. The Tillamook County GIS specialist internship serves with US Forest Service (Siuslaw National Forest – Hebo Ranger District) and Northwest Youth Corps to coordinate gathering and inputting data across multiple land ownership areas to create a geodatabase of all trails and other recreational assets throughout Tillamook County. The duty location for the position is Hebo, Oregon.

Internship Summary

The collaboration of partners described above is piloting a project to bridge public and private efforts to proactively create an all-inclusive, one-stop location mapping tool for Tillamook County. As a liaison of the project, the intern will work primarily to gather geographic information across multiple land agencies and subsequently create a geodatabase using ArcGIS including multiple GIS layers.

Under the guidance of partner expertise, the intern will develop a means of assessing priorities, drafting plans and helping to distribute information to land agencies and Tillamook County residents. The position is based out of the Siuslaw National Forest Hebo Ranger Station in Hebo, Oregon. This internship may require evening and weekend work hours attending community meetings and outdoor-related events. The selected candidate will need to possess strong leadership, initiative and independent working skills. The selected candidate must have a strong background in general GIS and ArcGIS software.

Areas of Responsibility

The priorities of the intern are:

∙Find and compile all data that is currently available digitally on the trails geodatabase list found below (A). This data will include trail head locations, linear trail data, developed recreation sites, water trails, and other recreational assets.

∙Determine where data is incomplete or inaccurate

∙Locate and record missing data in the field with GPS. This will include creating a metadata file to be shared with the agency that owns or manages the trail

∙Collect raw data of trail conditions including photos, season of use, level of difficulty

∙Create a report on the state of the Tillamook County trail network

∙Coordinate communications between the collaborative to keep stakeholders up-to-date on accomplishments

∙Precisely and accurately track all accomplishments and other helpful metrics to develop program accomplishments

∙Follow safety protocols set by Northwest Youth Corps and US Forest Service

(A)Trail geodatabase layers will include attribute data such as parking fees and land ownership associated for each location. The specific map layers within the geodatabase will include:

∙Waterways trails and access points

∙Bike paths

∙Hiking trails

∙OHV trails

∙ADA accessible trails

∙Equestrian trails

∙Heritage trails

(B)Potential other geodatabases that can be explored as time allows are below:

∙Campgrounds

∙Visitor information centers

∙Nature/interpretation centers

∙Parks/playgrounds

∙Historic landmarks

Terms of Employment

This is a full time, 6-month position starting January 2, 2020. Workload varies seasonally and will require long days and/or evening and weekend responsibilities periodically. The opportunity may exist to extend the term of service if funding allows.

Qualifications

∙Must be age 21 or older

∙High level knowledge and experience of Geographic Information Systems and affiliated software programs

∙Experience facilitating communication between multiple partners

∙Valid driver’s license and a history of responsible driving

∙Degree or significant educational background in GIS (including GIS certificates), natural resources, outdoor recreation management, natural resource management or a related field

∙Demonstrated experience working in diverse communities

∙Commitment to equity and inclusion in all aspects of work

∙Appreciation for working in the great outdoors and with the community at large

Desired Skills

∙Strong ArcGIS background, computer and analytical skills;

∙Strong knowledge of how to use GPS

∙Strong communication skills

Compensation

∙$10,800 total living allowance, dispersed on a monthly basis

Location

The intern will be supervised and located for the most part at the Hebo Ranger Station in Hebo, OR and the greater Tillamook County area. With a multitude of outdoor recreational activities nearby, Hebo is located 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, 50 miles to the Willamette Valley, and 80 miles from the Cascade Mountains.

To Apply

Please visit https://www.nwyouthcorps.org/m/OurPrograms/ConservationInterns and click on “Apply Now” under the position listing. When applying, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Contacts

Andrew Tagge

Internship Coordinator

Northwest Youth Corps

andrewt@nwyouthcorps.org