Imagery Program Director

Make a difference and join the DCA Team!  DCA gives employees more to do than merely make a living.  We are serious about helping Georgia’s families live more abundantly with a greater sense of hope and achievement.  If public service, a great environment, and the desire to enrich the lives of others motivate you to do your best work, you should consider joining the DCA Team.   

OUR MISSION

To help build strong, vibrant communities.

OUR VISION

For Georgians of today and tomorrow to have the opportunity to live and work in thriving communities.

OUR CULTURE

We are a diverse team of highly competent and committed professionals who strive to help people and communities thrive through technical expertise, innovative thinking, and a passion for making a difference.  Team members are at their best when collaborating and supporting each other as they perform challenging and dynamic work

General Description

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is a state organization dedicated to partnering with communities to help create a climate of success for Georgia’s families and businesses. DCA offers a fast-paced, challenging, and dynamic environment that requires attention to detail, pride in quality of work, and the ability to work as a versatile team player. 

Position Summary

Are you passionate about applying geospatial technologies to solve real-world problems? Would you like to be a leader on a team that helps shape strategies on the effective adoption and use of these technologies at state, regional, and local government scales across the great State of Georgia? If so, we invite you to add your creative mind and problem-solving skills to our team and become an integral member of the Georgia Geospatial Information Office (Office).

The Office is seeking a dynamic Imagery Program Director to lead the development, support, and enhancement of Georgia’s new statewide Imagery Program—a cornerstone of the state’s geospatial ecosystem and foundational basemap. As a leader, the Program Director will be responsible for crafting and executing strategic initiatives that elevate the Imagery Program and support its extensive user base across the state. Reporting directly to the Geospatial Information Officer and collaborating with a growing team, the Program Director will play a pivotal role in advancing the use of geospatial sciences and technologies throughout Georgia’s public sector, as well as among private sector partners who serve public interests.

This role is inherently collaborative, requiring the Program Director to build and nurture relationships across a broad spectrum of stakeholders in both government and the private sector. The successful creation and sustainability of the Imagery Program will depend on close collaboration with Georgia’s nearly 700 local governments, 12 Regional Commissions, and numerous state agencies. A critical aspect of this position involves leading comprehensive initiatives to support and train Georgia’s public sector in integrating orthorectified imagery into their daily operations, ultimately enhancing service delivery to citizens. The Program Director will work closely with the GIO’s private sector imagery partners to develop and deliver these essential trainings and support.

A key responsibility of this role is to assist public servants in leveraging advanced geospatial technologies, including image analysis, feature extraction, and spatial analytics, to tackle Georgia’s pressing challenges. The Program Director will be instrumental in helping to ensure the application of these technologies to improve critical areas such as infrastructure management, urban design, public safety, and resource management. For example, the Program Director will help government entities better utilize the program’s resources to plan for and address the impacts of climate change, implementing strategies that enhance resilience and sustainability across the state. This role will also focus on informing public policy, ensuring the program’s resources effectively contribute to the well-being of Georgia’s citizens.

In addition to managing the Imagery Program, the Program Director will work alongside other Office staff to educate and empower state leaders, ensuring they understand the value and necessity of orthoimagery for Georgia’s governments. This role will also involve representing Georgia at both the state and national levels on orthoimagery-based advocacy bodies and developing and disseminating printed materials and online content to enhance the accessibility and understanding of orthoimagery information within the community.

If you are passionate about leveraging imagery to save lives, improve decision-making, and drive innovation, we invite you to join our Office and make a meaningful impact on the future of Georgia.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in information technology, geography, urban or regional planning, public administration, public policy, business, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
  • 6+ years of related experience, including project management, conducting complex research, and applying IT-based solutions to business needs.
  • 6+ years of strong training expertise and stakeholder engagement experience.
  • 6+ years of experience with technical writing.
  • 6+ years of applied expertise in driving large-scale (e.g., statewide) initiatives.
  • 3+ Experience performing business and statistical analysis.

Skills & Abilities

  • Proven ability to multi-task, set and meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, even under pressure.
  • Strong computer skills, including the full Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Expertise in documentation development, including best practices, FAQs, web content, etc.
  • Outstanding writing skills, including the ability to communicate complex scenarios concisely and clearly, consumable by all levels of stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to think creatively, solve complex problems, and synthesize disparate inputs into compelling solutions.
  • Proven ability to effectively communicate and interact with a wide array of stakeholders, clients, and the general public.
  • Experience assembling information and producing written reports, presentations, etc. efficiently.

Interpersonal & Teamwork

  • Proven to excel in a team-oriented environment with outstanding interpersonal and facilitation skills.
  • Self-driven with a proven ability to work remotely full-time and with minimal guidance as well as within a team.
  • Passion for design, data visualization, and eagerness to learn and collaborate with co-workers.
  • Demonstrated non-technical understanding of, or a strong interest in learning, the broad and evolving use-cases of geospatial information science and technology.
  • Additional Qualifications
  • Familiarity with private sector Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Imagery market leaders.
  • Proven passion for working under limited supervision to drive toward a set of goals.
  • Proven ability to use independent judgment and discretion in managing situations, organizing competing priorities, and resolving problems.

Preferred Qualifications

Education & Industry Knowledge

  • Master’s degree in business, marketing, communications, geography, GIS, urban or regional planning, public administration, public policy, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
  • Basic understanding of the geospatial industry and familiarity with orthoimagery.
  • General knowledge of Esri’s GIS products, particularly ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro.
  • Familiarity with Georgia regional and local government and the state’s existing communities of geospatial practice (e.g., local governments).

Experience & Certifications

  • 3+ years of experience working in government.
  • 3+ Experience developing and managing vendor contracts.
  • 2+ years of experience leading enterprise (e.g., statewide) GIS-based efforts/projects.
  • Experience with grants management.
  • PMP Certification.
  • Skills & Abilities
  • Skilled in preparing and delivering public presentations, as well as strong oral and written communication abilities.
  • Understanding of website and social media analytics, with a strong interest in using analytics to improve performance.
  • Interest and aptitude in learning new technologies and using various social media platforms.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Be an Expert

  • Serve as the subject matter expert on Georgia’s Imagery Program.
  • Promote and educate government leaders and GIS professionals on remote sensing and orthoimagery.
  • Collaborate with team members to design hosting infrastructure and develop both COTS and custom tools for the Program.
  • Organize and manage documentation and requirements related to orthoimagery.
  • Continuously assess private sector offerings to enhance the Program.
  • Research funding opportunities and develop partnerships for statewide imagery acquisition
  • Represent the state on national working groups, such as the National States Geographic Information Council.
  • Monitor Program performance, track cost-effectiveness, and manage reporting.
  • Oversee content development for the website, social media, and marketing materials.
  • Draft and edit press releases, news articles, blog posts, fact sheets, and visually stimulating infographics for marketing, outreach, and educational purposes.
  • Develop and manage marketing materials.
  • Engage and support imagery users while staying abreast of imagery trends.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations and outreach efforts.
  • Ensure all data follows FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

Solve Problems

  • Develop and sustain a holistic Imagery Program to ensure long-term viability.
  • Lead selection of third-party solutions and conduct strategic planning.
  • Conduct strategic and sustainability planning for the Program.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and secure long-term funding sources.
  • Identify and address needs and opportunities to expand operations.
  • Oversee the Imagery Hub and ensure the Office website is a primary resource for geospatial information.
  • Oversee contract management and budgeting for related projects and initiatives.
  • Coordinate and manage statewide training programs.

Build Relationships

  • Design workflows and processes to manage users from Georgia’s nearly 800 local governments, Regional Commissions, and state agencies.
  • Develop and maintain content on the Hub website, including discussion pages and related topics.
  • Support the states Geospatial Advisory Council (GAC), serving as the Imagery Subject Matter Expert (SME).
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with stakeholders to promote awareness of the Program and its resources.
  • Facilitate stakeholder relations management and identify opportunities for economies of scale.
  • Expand public-private partnerships and leverage technology to maximize the use of state resources.
  • Foster collaboration to enhance government accountability, precision, and efficiency, improving service delivery.
  • Organize and facilitate meetings and communications between various imagery-related communities of practice in the state, including logistical arrangements.

Tell Georgia’s Story

  • Represent Georgia in local, state, and national imagery activities.
  • Document and publish Program activities to increase transparency.
  • Assist the GIO in representing the Office in geospatial communities of practice.
  • Build StoryMaps and Dashboards to communicate Program progress and promote transparency.
  • Ensure user-friendly access to information through government interfaces.

About the Geospatial Information Office

The Geospatial Information Office (GIO) is dedicated to ensuring statewide access to accurate and current geospatial data—digital information tied to specific locations—which underpins nearly every aspect of government operations. In Georgia, local, regional, and state agencies rely on geospatial data to manage properties, roads, public works, natural resources, and much more. When utilized effectively, this data informs critical planning, public policies, and decision-making processes that enhance safety and drive economic prosperity across the state.

The GIO enhances coordination across jurisdictions, streamlining data development and reducing acquisition costs through economies of scale. By standardizing data and promoting interoperability, we enable cities, counties, and regions to collaborate seamlessly with state and federal agencies. This integrated approach strengthens responses to emergencies like natural disasters and supports initiatives such as economic development and infrastructure planning.

Through these efforts, the GIO plays a vital role in advancing Georgia’s goals of maximizing taxpayer value and leveraging technology to optimize state resources. Our passion for improving quality of life through geography is at the core of our mission. Geospatial science empowers governments at all levels to save money, protect lives, and preserve our environment by fostering a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Join us in shaping a safer, more prosperous future for Georgia through the power of geospatial data.

WORKING CONDITIONS (TRAVEL, HOURS, ENVIRONMENT)

This position is currently designated as a remote position. This position is full time (40 hours per week) and may require occasional overtime. Travel will be required.  

PHYSICAL/SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

Sedentary Work – Ability to exert 10 – 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

NOTE: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to the large volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided.  Selected applicants will be contacted for next steps in the interview process.  Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.  This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

DCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need an accommodation for an interview, please contact the Human Resources Office at (404) 679-4845

Hiring is contingent upon satisfactory results of employment verification, background, criminal records investigation and motor vehicle reports.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the business and requirement of the job change.  This job posting may close at any time upon gaining a sufficient applicant pool from which to select a qualified candidate.

All duties and responsibilities listed are considered to be essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Marginal functions of the position (those that are incidental to the performance of the job duties) have not been included.   However, the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position.

Associate degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and five (5) years in a managerial or supervisory role; or seven (7) years in a managerial or supervisory role; or one (1) year of experience at the lower level Mgr 3, Information Technology (ITM022) or position equivalent.

APPLY HERE!