The Foraker Group

Job Summary

	Date Posted:   1 days ago		Closing Date:   September 30, 2026
	Location:   Juneau or Anchorage, AK		Worksite: Hybrid
	Salary: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00 Exempt; salary
	Status:   Full time
	How to Apply: Email application materials to nils@akml.org

Job Description

The Alaska Municipal League envisions thriving communities for Alaska led by healthy local governments. AML strengthens Alaska’s local governments through shared services, technical assistance, policy support, training, planning, and collaboration. AML approaches its work through sustainability and partnership, with the goal of serving communities across Alaska.

The GIS Program Manager will develop, coordinate, and deliver AML’s shared Geographic Information Systems service for Alaska local governments. This position will help municipalities, boroughs, regional organizations, and partner entities use GIS to improve planning, infrastructure management, grant readiness, emergency preparedness, asset management, public communication, and local decision-making.

This position will serve as AML’s primary GIS technical resource and will work with AML staff, member governments, Tribal and regional partners, state and federal agencies, consultants, and funders to build practical GIS capacity for communities that may not have their own dedicated GIS staff. The position develops practical tools, data, and training that help communities strengthen local decision-making and project delivery.

The position combines advanced GIS technical work with program coordination, member support, project management, and training. The successful candidate will be able to produce high-quality maps and spatial analysis, maintain and improve spatial datasets, support web-based GIS products, and explain GIS concepts clearly to non-technical users.

Classification and Compensation

AML classification: Band 3 – Program Manager

Salary hiring range: $95,000–$115,000 annually, depending on qualifications.

This position is expected to be full-time and overtime exempt.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

GIS Shared Services Program Development

The GIS Program Manager will:

• Develop and implement AML’s shared GIS service for member governments and partner entities.
• Help define member service tiers, work plans, project scopes, deliverables, and annual GIS support packages.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for member GIS service requests.
• Track member service hours, deliverables, project status, and recurring needs.
• Develop templates, standards, and workflows that allow AML to deliver GIS services efficiently across multiple communities.
• Support AML leadership in evaluating demand, pricing, sustainability, and future staffing needs for GIS shared services.
• Identify opportunities to align GIS work with grants, contracts, sponsorships, and member service revenue.
• GIS Data, Mapping, and Analysis
• The GIS Program Manager will:
• Create, update, and maintain base maps, thematic maps, web maps, dashboards, and StoryMaps.
• Collect, clean, organize, import, export, reformat, and process spatial data from multiple sources.
• Create and maintain project-specific geodatabases.
• Develop maps and spatial analysis for planning, land use, transportation, public facilities, housing, emergency management, hazard mitigation, asset management, and capital improvement planning.
• Perform spatial analysis to identify patterns, risks, service gaps, project priorities, and community needs.
• Support the development and maintenance of spatial datasets, including roads, addresses, parcels, boundaries, facilities, utilities, capital projects, critical infrastructure, and community assets.
• Support field data collection methods and tools, including mobile data collection applications where appropriate.
• Assist communities in developing data inventories, GIS readiness assessments, and practical data maintenance plans.

Member Technical Assistance and Training

The GIS Program Manager will:

• Provide technical assistance to AML members on GIS tools, data organization, mapping needs, and project development.
• Translate technical GIS concepts into plain language for elected officials, municipal staff, community members, and partner organizations.
• Lead or support office hours, trainings, workshops, webinars, and peer learning sessions.
• Help communities understand what GIS data they have, what data they need, and how GIS can support local government operations.
• Develop user guides, templates, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
• Support members in communicating GIS-based information to councils, assemblies, planning commissions, funders, agencies, and the public.
• Planning, Infrastructure, and Grant Support
• The GIS Program Manager will:
• Support AML and member communities with maps and data for grant applications, project narratives, and funding strategies.
• Prepare project location maps, benefit area maps, infrastructure condition maps, hazard exposure maps, and capital improvement maps.
• Support asset inventories for roads, boardwalks, buildings, water and wastewater systems, ports, harbors, equipment, public safety facilities, and other municipal infrastructure.
• Assist in the development of capital improvement plans, transportation plans, comprehensive plans, resilience plans, hazard mitigation plans, and related planning products.
• Support AML’s Planning Portal, asset management, infrastructure, transportation, energy, resilience, and community development initiatives.
• Contribute to reports, presentations, case studies, and public-facing materials that tell the story of community needs and project impacts.

Data Standards, Quality, and Coordination

The GIS Program Manager will:

• Establish and maintain practical GIS data standards for AML-supported projects.
• Support data quality, metadata, version control, file management, and access protocols.
• Work with AML staff and partners to reduce duplication in GIS-related work and data systems.
• Coordinate with state, federal, local, Tribal, and regional data providers to secure and maintain useful datasets.
• Advise AML staff and member communities on GIS software, licensing, data architecture, and workflow needs.
• Support integration of GIS tools into AML’s internal project management and member service systems.

Collaboration and Program Support

The GIS Program Manager will:

• Work collaboratively with AML program managers, planners, grant managers, finance staff, communications staff, and leadership.
• Participate in program planning, budget development, grant reporting, and project evaluation as needed.
• Assist with competitive grant proposals and funding strategies where GIS capacity would support member needs or AML priorities.
• Contribute to AML communications, legislative materials, member briefings, and conference presentations.
• Travel periodically to Alaska communities, including rural and remote locations, for field work, engagement, training, and project support.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Geographic Information Systems principles, methods, tools, and best practices.
• Spatial data collection, storage, analysis, visualization, and distribution.
• Cartographic design and production of clear, accurate, and useful map products.
• Geodatabases, spatial data management, metadata, and data quality standards.
• Web mapping, dashboards, mobile data collection, and public-facing GIS tools.
• Field data collection methods and practical data verification.
• Local government functions, including planning, public works, emergency management, capital projects, land use, infrastructure, and public administration.
• Alaska municipal government, rural community conditions, or infrastructure challenges, preferred.
• Grant-funded project development, reporting, and compliance, preferred.
• Asset management, capital improvement planning, hazard mitigation, emergency management, transportation planning, or utility infrastructure, preferred.

Skill in:

• Using GIS software and tools to create maps, analyze data, manage spatial datasets, and develop visual products.
• Communicating technical GIS concepts to non-GIS users.
• Organizing complex datasets from multiple sources.
• Producing accurate, attractive, and decision-ready maps and reports.
• Developing workflows, templates, and repeatable processes.
• Managing multiple projects, deadlines, and member requests.
• Working with local officials, staff, consultants, funders, agencies, and community partners.
• Explaining data limitations, uncertainty, and appropriate use of GIS products.
• Writing clearly for reports, grant applications, public materials, and technical documentation.

Ability to:

• Build a new shared service program while also delivering practical member support.
• Work independently under general direction and exercise sound judgment.
• Prioritize competing requests across multiple communities and programs.
• Understand local government needs and translate them into GIS products and services.
• Support communities with limited staff capacity, limited data, and varying levels of technical readiness.
• Develop trust with municipal staff, elected officials, and partner organizations.
• Travel within Alaska, including to rural and remote communities.
• Maintain accuracy, confidentiality, professionalism, and accountability in all work.
• Minimum Qualifications
• Any combination of education and/or progressively responsible experience that provides the applicant with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Typical qualifications include:
• Bachelor’s degree in geography, GIS, planning, public administration, environmental science, computer science, engineering, natural resources, emergency management, or a related field; and
• Three years of progressively responsible professional experience in GIS, spatial analysis, cartography, planning, infrastructure, asset management, emergency management, or a related field.
• Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates may have one or more of the following:

• Five or more years of professional GIS experience.
• Experience supporting local governments, Tribal governments, boroughs, utilities, regional organizations, or public agencies.
• Experience working in Alaska, rural communities, or remote regions.
• Experience with Esri ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Field Maps, Survey123, Experience Builder, Dashboards, StoryMaps, or comparable GIS platforms.
• Experience with QGIS or open-source GIS tools.
• Experience with spatial databases, geodatabases, data standards, metadata, and data quality control.
• Experience with asset management, capital improvement planning, public works, emergency management, hazard mitigation, addressing, NG911 readiness, transportation planning, or infrastructure inventories.
• Experience developing training materials, templates, dashboards, or public-facing GIS products.
• Experience with Python, SQL, Arcade, automation, or GIS workflow improvement.
• GISP certification, Esri technical certification, AICP, PMP, or other relevant professional credential.

Working Conditions

• This position primarily works in a professional office environment and may be eligible for hybrid work consistent with AML policy and program needs; office locations are in Juneau and Anchorage. Preference is for in-office, non-remote work, and in Alaska. The position requires frequent computer use, reading, writing, data analysis, virtual meetings, and communication with AML members and partners.
• Travel within Alaska may be required, including travel to rural and remote communities. Some evening or weekend work may be required for community meetings, conferences, or travel.
• The position may occasionally lift or carry items up to 20 pounds, including field equipment, outreach materials, or supplies.

About AML

The Alaska Municipal League is a statewide membership organization that strengthens Alaska local governments through advocacy, shared services, technical assistance, training, and collaboration. AML works with municipalities, boroughs, elected officials, municipal staff, Tribal and regional partners, state and federal agencies, and other organizations to improve community conditions across Alaska.

To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. Applicants are encouraged to describe specific GIS projects, public-sector work, Alaska experience, and examples of how they have translated technical information for non-technical audiences.

Optional application supplement: AML may request examples of GIS work products, such as maps, dashboards, StoryMaps, reports, data inventories, or project summaries.