FACILITIES SERVICES
Job Description
Campus Engineering & Operations
Program Assistant
Job Code: 7255 – Contract Classified
Program Assistant GIS
Department Introduction:
Campus Engineering provides professional engineering support for the design, construction, operation and maintenance
of all University facilities. Campus Operations maintains and operates critical building systems including fire/life safety
systems, elevator systems, building environmental systems and controls, central clock systems, high voltage distribution
systems, and a utility shutdown coordination program. Campus Operations also provides emergency maintenance
response service to the Seattle campus community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Campus Utilities produces steam,
emergency electrical power, chilled water, and compressed air for the campus.
Job Purpose:
The GIS Program Assistant will work with the Campus Engineering manager and Campus Engineering GIS/GPS
Specialist to perform updates and translations to the CEO Critical Systems GIS and the transition of the Gatehouse Map
to a GIS. This includes the build out of linked PDF documents that will be uploaded to a Microsoft SharePoint team site,
and the linked PDF documents will need to be indexed along with data entry of information gathered from Engineers
pertaining to the Critical Areas of the UW Seattle Campus. Included in the linked documents will be images and
descriptions of the critical areas from an operational standpoint. The GIS Program Assistant will perform and record field
verification of the nearly 40 buildings identified as critical area.
The GIS Program Assistant will also assist with the transition of the UW Gatehouse map currently in an Adobe Illustrator
(AI) format to a more streamlined GIS to AI format where efficiency’s will be recovered by the illumination of duplicate
efforts during the updating phase of the map. Assisting with developing a workflow that includes the consumption of
updated UW Seattle Campus background buildings and pathway line work currently in AutoCAD format, the GIS Program
Assistant will assist on discoveries to a more efficient and updated dataset. The goal after 9 months will be an on demand
print cycle which is currently every six months.
The GIS Program Assistant will also be assigned to the CEO Utility Tunnels GIS with the goal of inventorying the
operational assets installed in the eight miles of tunnels on the UW Seattle Campus. Using light detection and ranging
(LIDAR) technology to record assets will be converted to GIS and served up through the CEO AssetMapper geoportal.
This position will be responsible for the quality control and quality assurance step of the LIDAR to GIS workflow.
Duties and Responsibilities:
 Assist with the development and maintenance of a facilities management GIS program and support Campus
Engineering and Operations (CEO) organizational goals of providing engineering support, and continuous,
reliable operations of building systems and the campus utilities infrastructure for the University of Washington
 Assist with the design and management of spatial and non-spatial databases, edit and develop spatial layers and
associated metadata, conduct geo-processing tasks as needed
 Assist with the production of high-quality and attractive two/three dimensional cartographic products, charts,
tables and graphics
 Assist with the construction, maintenance, logical administration of current UW CEO GIS protocols involving
geodatabase design, naming conventions, metadata, supporting documentation, system archives and backups
 Research, evaluate, recommend and assist with the implementation of new GIS and IT tools and datasets for use
in the UW CEO GIS program
 Assist with providing in-house technical support for GIS users and assist IT consultants with evaluating,
maintaining, and upgrading software and hardware for GIS systems as needed
 Perform other duties as assigned
 Regular and predictable attendance is required
Core Competencies:
 Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness
 Manage stressful situations and changing priorities effectively
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Anticipate, recognize and resolve problems
Be responsible and accountable
Use organizational skills and provide attention to details
Maintain a positive, optimistic and success-oriented attitude
Exercise professional demeanor, which includes being tactful and courteous
Exhibit a professional work ethic
Continuously promote a safe work environment
Required Skills, Experience and Knowledge:
 High school graduation or equivalent AND two years of full-time clerical experience OR equivalent
education/experience
 Have knowledge and understand of safe work practices and policies
 Must be able to wear all proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required
 Must be able to follow written and/or verbal instructions and communicate in English regarding the use of
chemicals, supplies, and equipment; comply with safety policies and procedures
Desirable Skills, Experience and Knowledge:
 Bachelor’s degree in Geography or Information Technologies with a concentration in Geographic Information
Systems
 Knowledge of cartographic principles and design with the ability to demonstrate the creation of visually interesting
and compelling map products
 Demonstrate an understanding of current trends in the fields of GIS and relational databases, and the desire and
initiative to stay current with these trends
 Demonstrate an understanding of spatial data management, data editing, geo-processing, geodatabase design
and management, metadata development and quality assurance/quality control
 Demonstrate an understanding of Global Positioning Systems and mobile GIS technologies, applications and
associated software
 Knowledge of spatial analysis and/or remote sensing techniques and applications are a plus
 Excellent organizational skills
 Excellent oral and written communications skills, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a
collaborative environment
Conditions of Employment:
 Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
 Ability to climb up and down ladders and access tunnel areas
 Ability to carry survey instruments and perform field surveys
 Must be able to reach and lift overhead
 Must be able to work in a non-smoking environment
 A satisfactory outcome from a criminal background verification will be required prior to hire
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