Recreation Data Technician

Job Summary

ABOUT THE ROLE
To assist the Mono County Sustainable Outdoors & Recreation division in data collection efforts to capture data that will be of use in Recreation program operation and planning for the Recreation division and other County departments.
This position is intended to be a temporary (seasonal), part-time position ranging from 20 – 24 hours a week, working both within a Visitor Center setting and in the field at various trailheads or recreation sites. Open to flexible scheduling; vehicle provided. This position is non-benefitted.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Mono County is looking for someone who is passionate about recreation in the Eastern Sierra and understands the value of a good dataset! Mono County Recreation and other County departments are in the midst of program planning efforts which is difficult in our current data-starved state. Be part of a team that helps collect and process data sets of various topics such as visitor recreation preferences, trailhead count surveys, and inventorying recreation / transportation assets and amenities.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in data collection and enthusiastic about connecting with partners and members of the public. The candidate must be flexible, willing to travel county-wide, and able to work independently.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED:
None; this is not a supervisory position.

About the County

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONISBILITIES(The following is used as a partial description and is not restrictive as to duties required.)

• Use of technology such as cell phone or iPad to collect data on various platforms such as Survey123, Google Forms, Sharepoint Forms, excel, etc.
• Post at high-volume recreation areas and engage with visitors to collect data necessary for program planning.
• Participate in the development of surveys for data collection.
• Travel County-wide to identify and collect GPS, photo, and attribute data of a variety of recreation and transportation related assets, such as signs, culverts, bathrooms, etc.
• Process data into functional and useful formats for program planning, ex. synthesizing survey results into reports.
• Occasionally work with trail counter devices and data (we provide training!).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits Highlights

DESIREABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Outdoor recreation within the Eastern Sierra and what may be encompassed by it:
  • Recreation opportunities (camping, fishing, fall colors, Off-Highway Vehicle use, hiking).
  • Recreation site locations (day use areas, campgrounds, trailheads).
  • Visitor services (how to give information to visitors).
  • Education of good stewardship.
• Data collection and surveying methods such as questionnaires or GPS point collection on cell phone or iPad.
• Excel, Google Forms, Sharepoint Forms, or spatial data collection platforms such as ESRI’s Survey123, FieldMaps, or Google Earth, Avenza, CalTopo.
• Data processing techniques and software such as Excel; sorting and visualizing data.

• Work with the director to coordinate and carry out daily operations and to be self-motivated on assigned tasks and projects.
• Personably engage with members of the public to attract respondents for data collection; ability to provide information for visitor services (ex. Where to visit, what is there to do).
• Make suggestions for improvements to data collection methods and questions based on response rate and experience in the field.
• Research, gather, organize and evaluate statistics, data and information; organize filing & archiving of documents. Possess excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understand and troubleshoot technical devices such as cell phone apps, iPads, etc. to maintain efficient and functional data collection throughout the day.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software, and proficiency in other division applicable programs a plus: Mapping software, data collection software, social media.

• A High school diploma or most higher education degrees.
• Experience working in a position that involved data collection or visitor services.
• Relevant experience in managing inter-agency agreements, GIS/cartography, graphic design, grant administration, and project management is desired

Additional Information

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in both office and outdoor environments; driving to different locations throughout the County; continuous contact with other staff and the public. Work is performed in varying temperatures and conditions, exposure to dust, chemicals, and outdoor hazards.