GIS assistant

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders.

Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas. With over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees.

ADPC Strategy 2020 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change and regional cooperation.

details please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/ 

Background

The overall goal of the Geospatial Information Department of ADPC is to increase uses of geospatial technology, data, and information by countries in Asia for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholder

Accordingly, a qualified and experienced GIS Assistant will be required to contribute to ADPC and the project in advancing the geospatial science and applying it for user-oriented tools.

Statement of Intent

The GIS assistant will directly report to Program Manager – Risk Assessment as guided by the Director of Geospatial Information Department (GEO). She/he will be responsible to provide GIS technical inputs related to projects implemented by the GEO Department.

The GIS assistant will be based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Note: It is not the intent of this Terms of Reference to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The GIS Assistant will:

• Provide technical assistance related to the geospatial applications for risk assessment projects within GEO Department
• Provide an assistance in conducting research/project development that have been carrying out by GEO Department
• Assist in developing training materials/manual and its delivery, as required Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in geography, urban planning, or related subject to GIS/Remote Sensing
• Research knowledge in the field of GIS/RS related subject such UHIs mapping, development of exposure database for risk assessment and other relevant subject.
• Strong analytical skills
• Knowledge of GIS application software such as ArcGIS, QGIS other relevant GIS software applications
• Good computer skills to operate word-processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.
• Willingness to work in multicultural environment with multi-disciplinary research/projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of geospatial application in disaster risk assessment
• Excellent  English  proficiency  oral  and  written  communication,  including  a demonstrated track record in GIS related technical report writing and ability to communicate technical matters effectively to general audience

Personal Qualities and Competencies

• Self-motivated, proactive, and takes initiative.
• Self-directed, dynamic, pays attention to details, independent with excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work and time independently.
• Ability to coordinate, motivate, and lead diverse teams to accomplish complex goals. Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi- cultural environment.
• Strong desire to learn, undertake new challenges, must be a creative problem-solver, must have self- confidence, willingness to work hard.
• Willingness and availability to travel periodically.

Reporting Relationship

The GIS Assistant will report to the Program Manager – Risk Assessment as guided by Director of GEO Department, and work closely with other members of GEO Department and ADPC, as appropriate.

Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for 2 years (with possible extension) depending on performance evaluation and budget availability.

Selection Method

The staff will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment process.