Geospatial Scientist, Data Collection and Quality

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Geospatial Scientist, Data Collection and Quality based in United States.

This is a senior geospatial data management role supporting mission-critical Homeland Security programs and complex government environments.

You will lead the acquisition, validation, quality assurance, and lifecycle management of high-value geospatial datasets.

The role combines geospatial science, vendor management, technical quality control, data governance, and stakeholder engagement.

You will define data requirements, evaluate providers, oversee acquisition budgets, and ensure datasets meet demanding mission and technical standards.

Working with government stakeholders, mission partners, data providers, and technical teams, you will help make geospatial information reliable and operationally useful.

The position also offers opportunities to improve automation, metadata management, data publishing, and integration across government geospatial platforms.

This is a fully remote opportunity for an experienced geospatial professional who wants to directly influence the quality and availability of data supporting federal missions.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the development and continuous refinement of methodologies for geospatial data collection, acquisition, maintenance, and lifecycle management, ensuring that approaches remain aligned with mission requirements and operational use cases.
• Manage data intake and prioritization based on requirements from government components and mission partners, maintaining rigorous quality control throughout acquisition, validation, acceptance, and delivery.
• Develop, maintain, and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering data acquisition, refresh cycles, quality assurance, data publishing, and related lifecycle activities.
• Oversee data acquisition budgets and procurement or production activities, prioritizing investments in high-value, mission-relevant geospatial products while ensuring timely delivery.
• Define and enforce technical requirements for geospatial datasets, including accuracy, geographic coverage, resolution, formats, licensing, update frequency, interoperability, and system compatibility.
• Maintain comprehensive inventories of data providers and datasets, identify high-quality sources, and use professional networks and government guidance to discover new providers and opportunities.
• Manage relationships with data providers, communicating requirements related to data use, dissemination, security, quality, acceptance criteria, and delivery expectations.
• Negotiate licensing agreements and purchasing arrangements to secure appropriate usage rights and strong value while maintaining compliance with contractual and data-use requirements.
• Provide technical oversight and support to ensure acquired data products meet established acceptance criteria, mission requirements, quality standards, and downstream application needs.
• Facilitate technical demonstrations, presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions for government stakeholders, mission partners, and other audiences using geospatial data and analytical products.
• Support integration of geospatial data products into government systems and coordinate data activities with broader program initiatives and technical teams.
• Lead QA/QC activities, including dataset review, validation, standardized checklist application, and issue resolution to ensure geospatial information is accurate, consistent, and fit for purpose.
• Establish feedback loops with data users and providers to identify content gaps, resolve quality issues, and continuously improve the usefulness and reliability of acquired datasets.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive geospatial metadata, ensuring that information is complete, consistent, discoverable, and usable by downstream applications and stakeholders.
• Automate data processing and review workflows where practical, while maintaining the documentation, tools, and processes required to support repeatable and reproducible quality assessments.
• Oversee data registration, cataloging, publication, hosting, and federation within government geospatial platforms and related infrastructure.
• Ensure geospatial data activities comply with applicable standards, policies, and regulations, including relevant FGDC and ISO standards and federal data-management requirements.
• Monitor performance metrics and user feedback to identify opportunities for improving data acquisition, quality management, provider performance, and operational processes.
• Maintain detailed documentation covering acquisition processes, integration plans, QA/QC plans, and other program activities, and promptly communicate issues that could affect cost, schedule, quality, or performance.

Requirements:

• Bring at least seven years of experience leading geospatial data acquisition, management, quality assurance, or related activities within complex government or commercial environments.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of geospatial science, including cartography, GIS, geospatial data management, and geospatial infrastructure.
• Have proven experience managing relationships with data vendors or providers and negotiating geospatial data licensing, procurement, or acquisition agreements.
• Demonstrate hands-on experience developing and applying QA/QC procedures, validation methodologies, and quality standards to geospatial datasets.
• Bring strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, government stakeholders, mission partners, and external data providers.
• Have experience with scripting, automation, and geospatial data-processing tools, including the ability to identify opportunities to make data workflows more efficient and reproducible.
• Be familiar with geospatial data standards, metadata management, federal data policies, and best practices for managing geospatial information throughout its lifecycle.
• Demonstrate experience managing large-scale data initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, distributed teams, complex delivery schedules, and competing priorities.
• Prior experience supporting Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency geospatial programs is preferred.
• Familiarity with commercial and open-source geospatial tools and platforms, federated data architectures, and RESTful geospatial services is preferred.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of geospatial data lifecycle management and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through complex data acquisition and delivery initiatives.
• A strong professional network within the geospatial data provider community is highly valued.
• Be willing to undergo the applicable government-issued background investigation process due to the nature of the work supported.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Fully remote work within the United States.
• Opportunities to support high-impact geospatial initiatives connected to Homeland Security and federal missions.
• Professional development opportunities designed to support technical growth and career progression.
• A flexible environment emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being.
• Exposure to complex geospatial data acquisition, quality management, government platforms, and mission-critical technology.
• Collaborative work with technical specialists, government stakeholders, mission partners, and external data providers.
• An environment focused on professional growth, shared service, and meaningful mission impact.