Job Posting Title
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager
Agency
309 DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Supervisory Organization
OEM
Job Posting End Date
Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.
Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)
Full/Part-Time
Full time
Job Type
Regular
Compensation
Annual salary for this position is up to $85,000.00, depending on qualifications and experience.
Job Description
Join the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM)
Make a difference every day in Oklahoma’s safety and resilience.
About OEM
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is a dynamic state agency dedicated to preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating emergencies and disasters across the State of Oklahoma. OEM plays a key role in statewide public safety by coordinating emergency planning, community preparedness, response operations, disaster recovery, and long-term hazard mitigation with local, tribal, state, and federal partners. The agency also maintains the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) , providing centralized coordination during critical events and serving more than 300 local emergency managers across the state.
Why Work at OEM?
At OEM, you’ll be part of a mission-driven team that strengthens communities before, during, and after disasters. Whether it’s coordinating response efforts during severe weather, assisting communities with hazard mitigation planning, or providing critical support during emergencies, OEM employees serve with purpose and impact.
Benefits & Perks
As a full-time state employee with OEM, you receive:
- Competitive state retirement benefits with employer matching
- 11 paid holidays each year
- A generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents
- Opportunities for professional growth and cross-agency collaboration
- Priority interview consideration for U.S. veterans with appropriate certification
- Veterans with certification letters from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services’ Office of Veteran Placement are entitled to an interview for any position for which they meet minimum qualifications.
Who We’re Looking For
We seek motivated, adaptable professionals who:
- Are committed to public service and community preparedness
- Can work effectively in team environments and high-pressure situations
- Are resourceful in problem-solving and coordinating across diverse partners
About the Position
We are seeking a Geographic Information Systems Manager providing support to our Resilience Division area. This position is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma .
This position is a regular, full-time position governed by the Oklahoma Civil Service system and subject to the Civil Service and Human Capital Modernization Act. Employment in this role is covered by applicable Civil Service Rules, policies, and procedures.
This position is subject to a required 12-month trial period , during which performance, conduct, and overall suitability for continued employment will be evaluated in accordance with Civil Service Rules.
Position Summary
Under the direction of the Resilience Division Director, this position is responsible for planning, managing, organizing, and supervising the agency’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program, as well as developing and sustaining enterprise geospatial capabilities that support statewide resilience, disaster operations, and data-driven decision making. The GIS Manager ensures that geospatial technologies, data, and resources are effectively deployed to support agency operations, including emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. This role provides leadership over GIS staff and functions, integrates GIS capabilities across the agency, and serves as the subject matter expert on spatial technologies while supporting statewide data sharing and coordination efforts.
Core Work Responsibilities
GIS Program Management & Strategic Integration
Direct and coordinate agency-wide GIS functions and integrate geospatial technology into organizational operations.
Plan, coordinate, and oversee GIS projects and program activities
Integrate GIS capabilities across divisions to support operational needs
Advise leadership on GIS program direction, priorities, and resource needs
Ensure GIS readiness to support emergency operations, including SEOC activations
Develop and maintain long-term GIS program goals, priorities, and implementation roadmaps aligned with agency resilience objectives
Measurement:
Project Management & Operational Oversight
Manage multiple GIS projects and ensure timely execution of deliverables.
Direct GIS project timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation
Monitor progress toward deadlines and provide regular status updates to leadership
Perform or oversee administrative and fiscal functions related to GIS initiatives
Ensure continuity of GIS operations during high-demand periods
Collaborate with the Mitigation and Recovery sections to provide geospatial modeling and Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) mapping support for federal grant applications, including Public Assistance (PA), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) initiatives
Supervise the integration of GIS data into agency logistics and resource-tracking platforms, including WebEOC and IPAWS, to support real-time situational awareness during SEOC activations
Measurement:
On-time project delivery
Adherence to scope and resource expectations
Quality and usability of GIS outputs
Effectiveness of GIS support for grant development and emergency operations
Supervision & Workforce Development
Provide direct supervision to GIS staff and ensure effective team performance.
Supervise GIS specialists, technical personnel, and/or support staff assigned to GIS operations
Establish workload priorities and operational expectations to ensure timely delivery of GIS and technical support services
Assign work, evaluate performance, and provide coaching and professional development
Develop and implement training programs to enhance staff capability
Build a high-performing team capable of supporting statewide GIS operations
Responsible for the professional development and performance management of a multi-disciplinary team, including an IT/Logistics Specialist and a GIS Professional
Align individual workflows with agency-wide resilience projects and ensure technical cross-training between IT infrastructure support and geospatial analysis functions for OEM personnel
Measurement:
Employee performance outcomes
Completion of training and development plans
Team productivity and responsiveness
Effectiveness of workforce cross-training and operational readiness
GIS Standards, Policy & Data Governance
Develop and maintain GIS standards, policies, and procedures to ensure program effectiveness.
Create, adopt, and modify GIS standards and procedures
Recommend policies and process improvements to increase program effectiveness
Ensure consistency, accuracy, and usability of spatial data
Support compliance with statewide data-sharing expectations
Oversee the architecture and maintenance of the agency’s Enterprise GIS environment, ensuring seamless integration between IT hardware/logistics support and geospatial software deployment
Establish governance practices for spatial data management, security, access, and lifecycle maintenance
Measurement:
Adoption and adherence to GIS standards
Reduction in data inconsistencies or errors
Improved efficiency of GIS processes
Reliability and effectiveness of Enterprise GIS integration and deployment
Stakeholder Support & Technical Consultation
Provide expert guidance on GIS technologies to internal and external stakeholders.
Serve as the agency’s subject matter expert on GIS and spatial technology
Provide consultation and technical assistance to agency staff, partners, and the public
Translate complex geospatial information into actionable insights
Represent the agency on committees, work groups, and interagency initiatives
Measurement:
Data Sharing, Innovation & Resource Development
Support statewide GIS collaboration and identify opportunities to enhance program capabilities.
Contribute spatial data to statewide clearinghouses and data-sharing initiatives
Identify and pursue funding sources and GIS development opportunities
Evaluate and recommend new data sources and technologies
Continuously improve GIS capabilities to enhance agency services and operations
Integrate multi-source operational intelligence into BI tools (Tableau/Dataminer) to visualize geospatial trends and refine executive-level resilience reporting
Measurement:
Successful data contributions and partnerships
Identification and implementation of new tools or funding sources
Measurable improvements in GIS capabilities
Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience Requirements
Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science or a closely related field and three years of professional level experience in GIS systems work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of technical experience in GIS work for each year of the required education; or a master’s degree in geographic information systems (GIS), geography, geology, cartography, archaeology, anthropology, natural resources, computer science, engineering, environmental science and two years of professional level experience in GIS work.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
Geographic Information Systems and their application in state government
Current trends and emerging technologies in GIS
GIS software platforms and capabilities (e.g., Esri ArcGIS)
Project management principles and practices
Leadership principles and practices
Skills in:
Managing enterprise GIS environments and geospatial workflows
Supervising and developing technical personnel
Project planning and coordination
Communicating technical information to diverse audiences
Analyzing spatial and operational data to support decision-making
Ability to:
Direct, train, and evaluate personnel
Manage multiple projects and competing priorities
Analyze complex technical and operational challenges
Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
Establish and maintain effective working relationships
Develop and implement training programs
Emergency Response Role
Provide critical geospatial support to emergency management operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and actionable spatial intelligence during incidents and activations.
Support State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) activations by developing and delivering real-time GIS products, including maps, dashboards, and spatial analyses
Coordinate with internal divisions and external partners (local, state, tribal, and federal) to collect, validate, and disseminate geospatial data during incidents
Establish and maintain GIS operational readiness, including pre-developed datasets, templates, and response workflows
Prioritize and manage competing GIS requests during high-tempo operations to support decision-making at the executive and incident command levels
Ensure continuity of GIS services during emergencies, including extended hours and rapid deployment of resources as needed
Measurement:
Timeliness and accuracy of GIS products during activations
Effectiveness of GIS support in incident response
Feedback from SEOC leadership and operational stakeholders
Systems and Tools
GIS Platforms
Esri ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Enterprise
ArcGIS Online
Esri operational applications, including Field Maps, Survey123, Experience Builder, and Dashboards
Emergency Management Platforms
Data, Automation & Reporting
Relational database management systems (RDBMS), including SQL Server and PostgreSQL
Python scripting and workflow automation tools, including ArcPy and API integrations
Dashboards, reporting platforms, and business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, and Dataminer
Cloud & Hosting Environments
Collaboration & Operations
Microsoft 365
Outlook
SharePoint
Teams
Power Automate
Requirements and Work Conditions
Travel: Approximately 10%, based on operational needs
Working Conditions:
Standard office environment with frequent computer-based work
Required participation in SEOC activations, which may include extended hours, evening/weekend work, and high-stress conditions
Availability for on-call support during emergencies and disaster events
Occasional travel for field coordination, training, or interagency collaboration
Certifications: Must complete and maintain required emergency management training and certifications applicable to agency operations.
Special Requirements
Ability to obtain and maintain any required state or federal emergency management training and certifications (e.g., NIMS/ICS)
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment requiring rapid decision-making and prioritization
Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and operational demands with minimal supervision
Ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences, including executive leadership
Must be able to maintain effective working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, partner agencies, and the public
Preferences
Preference may be given to candidates who possess:
Experience administering or supporting enterprise-level Esri ArcGIS environments, including ArcGIS Enterprise/Portal and ArcGIS Online (AGOL)
Experience deploying operational GIS applications such as Field Maps, Survey123, and Dashboards to support situational awareness and field operations
Experience supervising technical staff or coordinating hybrid GIS/technology support functions in an emergency management, public safety, resilience, or project development environment
Experience with relational database management systems (RDBMS), including SQL Server or PostgreSQL
Experience automating GIS workflows using Python scripting tools such as ArcPy or API-based integrations
Experience supporting FEMA mitigation, recovery, or resilience initiatives, including GIS analysis, hazard modeling, or Benefit-Cost Analysis support
Experience with FEMA’s HAZUS loss estimation software, cloud-hosted geospatial environments, or business intelligence and reporting platforms such as Dataminer, Tableau, or Power BI
Experience working within or supporting state government, emergency management, public safety, or other high-reliability organizations
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Other Relevant Information
OEM follows a monthly payroll schedule in accordance with the State of Oklahoma payroll system. Employees of OEM are paid once per month.
Reasonable Accommodation
OEM is committed to ensuring that the application and hiring process is accessible to all qualified individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any phase of the application process due to a disability or other protected need, please contact OEM’s Human Resources at [email protected] before the application deadline. Reasonable accommodations may include adjustments to application materials, interview settings, or other components of the process to ensure equitable access. This agency complies with applicable federal and state laws regarding reasonable accommodation. The decision to provide or modify an accommodation will be evaluated on an individualized basis.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We are committed to fair employment practices without regard to any protected characteristic. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with applicable equal employment opportunity laws.
Equal Opportunity Employment
The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.
Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub .
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