Job Title: GIS Officer

Job Grade Level: II
Reports to: Project Coordinator – Anticipatory Action and Flood Preparedness
Location: District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Contract Duration: 05 Years (extendable)

1. Background

CESVI Foundation–ETS, with the support of the World Food Program (WFP) and funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), is implementing a project titled “Integrated Climate Risk Management for Strengthened Resilience to Climate Change in Shangla District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Shangla is among the most flood-prone districts in the province, with high exposure to flash floods and landslides due to its topography and fragile hydrological systems. The project aims to institutionalize anticipatory action (AA) protocols, strengthen impact-based forecasting (IBF), and build community and institutional preparedness against flood risks.

The GIS Officer will play a critical technical role in managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data to support risk assessments, trigger development, early warning design, and decision-making at district and provincial levels.

2. Role Purpose

The GIS Officer will be responsible for leading the spatial data management, analysis, and visualization required for the development of forecast-based triggers and risk-informed AA protocols.
S/he will support technical consultations, contribute to the Trigger Development Workshop, and develop GIS-based tools and maps that integrate hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data. The role requires close coordination with hydrologists, meteorologists, DRM experts, and government line departments to ensure that all geospatial outputs are scientifically valid, operationally relevant, and contextually feasible.

3. Key Responsibilities

A. Technical Data Management and Analysis

• Collect, clean, and organize hydrometeorological, topographical, and socio-economic spatial data from PMD, PDMA KP, WAPDA, and district departments.
• Conduct spatial analysis using historical flood data, MHVRA findings, and satellite imagery to identify flood-prone zones, hazard trends, and exposure levels.
• Support technical consultations with forecasting and DRM experts to identify flood patterns, forecast lead times, and sectoral impacts.
• Assist in developing preliminary risk thresholds and trigger indicators based on models such as rainfall intensity, river discharge, and soil moisture indices.
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of a Flood Impact Database (FID) integrating hazard, vulnerability, and exposure data.
• Maintain a centralized GIS geodatabase of all project-related spatial datasets with proper metadata documentation.

B. Forecast-Based Trigger Development and Early Warning Support

• Provide GIS-based technical inputs during the Trigger Development Workshop with hydrologists, meteorologists, DRM planners, and GIS experts.
• Generate flood hazard maps, risk layers, and scenario-based models for trigger validation and early warning dissemination.
• Support the calibration and validation of trigger indicators and crisis timelines through spatial modeling and data overlays.
• Produce dynamic and static maps to guide operational decision-making during anticipatory action activation.

C. Coordination and Capacity Building

• Coordinate with PDMA KP, DDMUs, DDMCs, and technical line departments for spatial data sharing, validation, and integration into provincial DRM systems.
• Facilitate training sessions for district officials and partners on GIS applications in risk analysis, early warning interpretation, and AA planning.
• Collaborate with the Project Coordinator, MEAL, and Climate/DRR Specialists to ensure consistency of spatial data with project indicators and reporting frameworks.

D. Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management

• Produce GIS-based maps, dashboards, infographics, and analytical reports for project visibility, progress tracking, and donor reporting.
• Support simulation exercises and mock drills by providing spatial inputs on hazard zones, evacuation routes, and safe sites.
• Contribute to the documentation of technical methodologies, lessons learned, and case studies related to spatial data management and anticipatory action.
• Ensure timely submission of GIS datasets and visual materials for monthly, quarterly, and final project reports.

4. Required Qualifications and Competencies

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Environmental Sciences, Disaster Risk Management, or a related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in GIS and remote sensing within the fields of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Anticipatory Action (AA), Climate Change, or Hydrology.
• Proven experience in spatial analysis, risk mapping, and data visualization for DRR or early warning systems.
• Experience in managing hydrometeorological datasets (rainfall, discharge, soil moisture) and developing flood hazard maps.
• Prior experience with humanitarian or development organizations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (preferably Shangla or similar contexts) is highly desirable.

Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency in ArcGIS, QGIS, ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, or similar GIS software.
• Skilled in spatial modeling, map composition, GPS data collection, and geodatabase management.
• Knowledge of data visualization tools (Power BI, ArcGIS Online, Tableau) and integration with IBF and MEAL systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to data accuracy.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and facilitation abilities.
• Fluency in English and Urdu; proficiency in Pashto is an advantage.

5. Duty Station and Travel

• Based in District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with frequent travel to Union Councils and field sites for data collection, verification, and coordination.
• Periodic travel to Peshawar and Islamabad for coordination, consultation, and capacity-building sessions.