Restoring and growing Canada's forests

Position: Senior Coordinator, GIS & Data Management
Supervisor: GIS / Database Analyst
Location: Flexible within Canada (Remote/Hybrid)
Organization: Forests Canada

Job type & duration: Full-time 1-year Contract with possible extension
Start Date: November 2026

Organizational Background

From the annual collection of millions of viable tree seeds providing a reliable and consistent future supply, to supporting local jobs and economies through tree planting, forest stewardship and community engagement, Forests Canada works with a trusted network of partners to ensure the long-term health and resiliency of Canada’s forested landscapes.

Over the past 75 years, our efforts to improve forest health, support fundamental ecosystem services, and foster a community connection with nature, has grown together with our capacity to conserve, restore and grow Canada’s forested landscapes from coast to coast to coast.

Job Description

Reporting to GIS / Database Analyst, the Senior Coordinator, GIS & Data Management will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of restoration projects across Canada. This position combines restoration program coordination with GIS, spatial analysis, and database management to help guide evidence-based restoration efforts. The successful candidate will work with restoration practitioners, researchers, landowners, Indigenous partners, government agencies, and conservation organizations to manage project data, produce maps and analysis, and support restoration program delivery.

Responsibilities

• Program Coordination and Administration
  • Coordinate the day-to-day database operations of Forests Canada’s national tree planting program ensuring data integrity, accessibility and timely updates.
  • Conduct ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting and improvements to Forests Canada’s tree planting databases, web applications, GIS systems, and data collection tools.
  • Support database operations by developing and refining systems to streamline project tracking, monitoring, and evaluation activities across multiple concurrent restoration projects.
  • Assist with restoration site reviews, data and account management for partner organizations, coordination of monitoring programs, and support for field assessments and data verification.
  • Liaise with regional coordinators, planting partners, and contractors to ensure consistent data collection protocols and reporting timelines are followed.
  • Assist in the development and refinement of standard operating procedures for program data workflows.
• Data Management & GIS Analysis
  • Develop, maintain, and update interactive maps, dashboards, and web applications to support restoration planning, site selection, and decision-making.
  • Conduct spatial analyses to inform restoration strategy and prioritization.
  • Analyze restoration and monitoring data using statistical and geospatial tools to identify trends and inform adaptive management.
  • Prepare clear, accurate reports, dashboards, and presentations summarizing program data and outcomes for funders, government partners, Indigenous partners, and internal teams.
  • Maintain data quality across multiple data sources, ensuring consistency between field-collected data, GIS layers, and database records.
  • Support the integration of remote sensing and third-party datasets into program monitoring frameworks where applicable.
• Technical Support
  • Organize, develop materials for, and lead database and GIS training sessions for internal staff, external partners, and stakeholders, tailoring content to varying levels of technical proficiency.
  • Provide ongoing technical support (troubleshooting, user account management, workflow guidance) to partners and internal teams using the program's databases and applications.
  • Develop, document, and maintain data management standards, metadata protocols, and QA/QC procedures to ensure long-term data consistency and reliability.
  • Create and maintain user guides, technical documentation, and training materials for databases, GIS tools, and web applications.
  • Identify opportunities to improve or automate recurring data processes.
• Other
  • Undertake other duties as required to support the broader goals of the restoration program and Forests Canada’s mission.
  • Attend and represent Forests Canada at conferences, workshops, and partner presentations, sharing program updates and technical expertise as needed.
  • Ability to travel to varies sites across Canada, including remote locations and varying weather conditions, as required.

Requirements of Position:

• 3+ years of experience in GIS, environmental data management, restoration, conservation, or related field.
• Degree or diploma in GIS, Geography, Forestry, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS and spatial data analysis.
• Experience with SQL databases and programming languages (Python, R), including experience automating data workflows, writing scripts for data cleaning, analysis and visualization.
• Experience managing, organizing, and maintaining large complex databases and datasets. Including data validation and version control practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable insights.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, or government agencies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications.
• Valid G driver's license.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a remote or hybrid team environment.

Assets

• Background or applied experience in restoration ecology, forestry, habitat restoration, or post-fire recovery.
• Knowledge of remote sensing techniques and platforms and experience applying them to ecological monitoring.
• Familiarity with publicly available environmental and geospatial datasets.
• Experience with ecosystem service valuation and habitat connectivity modeling.
• Experience with Linux environments and basic system administration tasks.
• Experience with Git/GitHub, documentation, and collaborative software development.

Work hours: Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: $50,000 - $65,000 and will be based on years of relevant experience and qualifications.
Closing date: October 19, 2026, or until candidate is found.

To Apply:

Please send cover letter and resume to careers@forestscanada.ca and include “Senior Coordinator, GIS & Data Management” as the subject line.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

We thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Forests Canada welcomes all applicants. We believe that diversity and inclusion are key to innovation through the sharing of ideas, experiences, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.