What are the responsibilities and job description for the GIS (Geographic Information System) Specialist position at City of Mesa?
Description/Duties
There is currently a vacancy in the Water Resources and Development Services Departments; however, this recruitment will also be used to establish a Citywide list to fill possible future vacancies in other departments.
First review of all applications will be on Monday, November 16, 2026, and weekly thereafter as needed.
A GIS (Geographic Information System) Specialist is responsible for developing, creating, and maintaining GIS databases, coverage, layers, and linkages to various databases. A GIS Specialist may be assigned to a department or unit, and coordinates GIS data or information that may have specific department/unit or Citywide implications. Duties may include entering data into the GIS, providing GIS support to an assigned area, creating reports, reviewing GIS data for completeness, accuracy and neatness, applying GIS principles to support requests for spatial analysis of multiple and/or complex datasets, creating map layouts and views of the highest difficulty, conducting geoprocessing operations, digitizing information, georeferencing, documenting procedures, analyzing GIS field data, and interpreting plans, plats, maps and legal descriptions. The GIS Specialist performs programming and analytical project responsibilities to include: planning, developing, analyzing, and performing quality control functions of geographic related systems in support of the City’s GIS; and may provide guidance, instruction, and technical support to other City employees on GIS applications and practices. By assignment, this class may supervise or mentor GIS Technician classes. This class performs related duties as required.
This class is distinguished from the GIS Technician classes by the responsibility of developing and performing complex spatial analyses of multiple database sets and/or database queries, translating integrated spatial and business data into clear reports, dashboards, visualizations, and other decision-support products. This class may perform full supervisory duties (by assignment) of GIS Technician classes. This class is supervised by a GIS Supervisor, IT Engineer II, Management Assistant II, or administrative supervisor, depending on assignment. By assignment, this class may be required to be available on a 24-hour basis to cover emergency situations. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in GIS, Geography, Planning, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or closely related field. Good (1 - 3 years) experience working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data. A minimum of one-year experience in any of the following: current GIS and related technologies such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcUrban, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, web mapping applications, personal and enterprise geodatabases, CAD platforms, collaboration tools, ESRI technologies (ArcGIS Desktop and extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcObjects), Intergraph, MicroStation, SharePoint, or AutoCAD. Experience in using current Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date (by assignment). Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of Public Safety assignments involving information systems, successful completion of an extensive background investigation may be required (by assignment).
Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of the assignment, individuals in this classification shall be subject to pre-employment or pre-placement alcohol, drug and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures (Police Department Assignment).
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Experience in using Microsoft Office, Microsoft SQL is highly desirable. Experience in Visual Studio, C#, MapObjects, ArcFM, ArcSDE, ModelBuilder, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, 3D Analyst, Python, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), VertiGIS Studio, or Data Interoperability is desirable. Experience with SQL, ArcGIS Dashboards, Experience Builder, Survey123, Field Maps, data visualization or business-intelligence tools, enterprise permitting or asset-management systems, and workflow automation is desirable (Development Services Assignment).
Link To Job Description
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4591.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Which vacancy would you like to be considered for? Please check all that apply.
Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in GIS, Geography, Planning, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or closely related field? ** To receive education credit, you must fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) on your application. Information provided only on a resume will not be considered. **
How many years of experience do you have working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data?
Please describe your experience working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data; including all employer(s). ** To receive credit, you MUST fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete applications or responses such as "see resume" will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. **
05
Please select which area(s) you have at least one (1) year of experience in. Please detail this specific experience on your application.
Please describe your experience in the following areas: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcUrban, web mapping applications, personal and enterprise geodatabases, CAD platforms, collaboration tools, ESRI technologies (ArcGIS Desktop and extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcObjects), Intergraph, MicroStation, SharePoint, or AutoCAD; including all employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
07
Do you have work experience using current Microsoft Windows operating systems? Please detail your experience on your application.
Do you have a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License, or can you obtain one by hire or promotion date?
Please select all of the areas in which you have experience. Please also detail this experience on your application.
There is currently a vacancy in the Water Resources and Development Services Departments; however, this recruitment will also be used to establish a Citywide list to fill possible future vacancies in other departments.
First review of all applications will be on Monday, November 16, 2026, and weekly thereafter as needed.
A GIS (Geographic Information System) Specialist is responsible for developing, creating, and maintaining GIS databases, coverage, layers, and linkages to various databases. A GIS Specialist may be assigned to a department or unit, and coordinates GIS data or information that may have specific department/unit or Citywide implications. Duties may include entering data into the GIS, providing GIS support to an assigned area, creating reports, reviewing GIS data for completeness, accuracy and neatness, applying GIS principles to support requests for spatial analysis of multiple and/or complex datasets, creating map layouts and views of the highest difficulty, conducting geoprocessing operations, digitizing information, georeferencing, documenting procedures, analyzing GIS field data, and interpreting plans, plats, maps and legal descriptions. The GIS Specialist performs programming and analytical project responsibilities to include: planning, developing, analyzing, and performing quality control functions of geographic related systems in support of the City’s GIS; and may provide guidance, instruction, and technical support to other City employees on GIS applications and practices. By assignment, this class may supervise or mentor GIS Technician classes. This class performs related duties as required.
This class is distinguished from the GIS Technician classes by the responsibility of developing and performing complex spatial analyses of multiple database sets and/or database queries, translating integrated spatial and business data into clear reports, dashboards, visualizations, and other decision-support products. This class may perform full supervisory duties (by assignment) of GIS Technician classes. This class is supervised by a GIS Supervisor, IT Engineer II, Management Assistant II, or administrative supervisor, depending on assignment. By assignment, this class may be required to be available on a 24-hour basis to cover emergency situations. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in GIS, Geography, Planning, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or closely related field. Good (1 - 3 years) experience working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data. A minimum of one-year experience in any of the following: current GIS and related technologies such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcUrban, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, web mapping applications, personal and enterprise geodatabases, CAD platforms, collaboration tools, ESRI technologies (ArcGIS Desktop and extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcObjects), Intergraph, MicroStation, SharePoint, or AutoCAD. Experience in using current Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date (by assignment). Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of Public Safety assignments involving information systems, successful completion of an extensive background investigation may be required (by assignment).
Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of the assignment, individuals in this classification shall be subject to pre-employment or pre-placement alcohol, drug and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures (Police Department Assignment).
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Experience in using Microsoft Office, Microsoft SQL is highly desirable. Experience in Visual Studio, C#, MapObjects, ArcFM, ArcSDE, ModelBuilder, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, 3D Analyst, Python, Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), VertiGIS Studio, or Data Interoperability is desirable. Experience with SQL, ArcGIS Dashboards, Experience Builder, Survey123, Field Maps, data visualization or business-intelligence tools, enterprise permitting or asset-management systems, and workflow automation is desirable (Development Services Assignment).
Link To Job Description
http://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4591.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Which vacancy would you like to be considered for? Please check all that apply.
- The current vacancy in the Water Resources Department
- The current vacancy in the Development Services Department
- Future Citywide vacancies
Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in GIS, Geography, Planning, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Statistics, or closely related field? ** To receive education credit, you must fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) on your application. Information provided only on a resume will not be considered. **
- Yes
- No
How many years of experience do you have working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data?
- None
- Some but less than 1 year
- 1 year or more but less than 3 years
- 3 years or more but less than 5 years
- 5 years or more but less than 7 years
- 7 years or more
Please describe your experience working with GIS or a closely related field, such as experience with spatial analysis, database queries, reporting, data visualization, or integration of spatial and nonspatial data; including all employer(s). ** To receive credit, you MUST fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete applications or responses such as "see resume" will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. **
05
Please select which area(s) you have at least one (1) year of experience in. Please detail this specific experience on your application.
- ArcGIS Pro
- ArcGIS Enterprise
- ArcGIS Online
- ArcUrban
- Web mapping applications
- Personal and enterprise geodatabases
- CAD platforms
- Collaboration tools
- ESRI technologies (ArcGIS Desktop and extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcObjects)
- Intergraph
- MicroStation
- SharePoint
- AutoCAD
- None of the above
Please describe your experience in the following areas: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcUrban, web mapping applications, personal and enterprise geodatabases, CAD platforms, collaboration tools, ESRI technologies (ArcGIS Desktop and extensions, ArcGIS Server, ArcObjects), Intergraph, MicroStation, SharePoint, or AutoCAD; including all employer(s). Please also detail this experience on your application. If none, type N/A.
07
Do you have work experience using current Microsoft Windows operating systems? Please detail your experience on your application.
- Yes
- No
Do you have a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License, or can you obtain one by hire or promotion date?
- Yes
- No
Please select all of the areas in which you have experience. Please also detail this experience on your application.
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft SQL
- Visual Studio
- C#
- MapObjects
- ArcFM
- ArcSDE
- ModelBuilder
- Spatial Analyst
- Network Analyst
- 3D Analyst
- Python
- Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
- VertiGIS Studio
- Data Interoperability
- SQL
- ArcGIS Dashboards
- Experience Builder
- Survey123
- Field Maps
- Data visualization or business-intelligence tools
- Enterprise permitting or asset-management systems
- Workflow automation
- None of the above
- Required Question