GIS Program Manager

Summary The hiring salary range is $90,122.18 - $123,918.02 annually, commensurate with experience. This is a continuous posting that may close without notice. Open until filled with a best consideration date of November 17, 2026. Telework eligibility is determined by county policy and the approval of the hiring department.

Ready to lead the next chapter of GIS in Charles County? The Department of Planning and Growth Management is looking for a talented, collaborative, and forward-thinking GIS Program Manager to help shape the future of our geospatial program. This is an opportunity to do more than manage maps and data. In this position, you’ll lead a small but mighty GIS team, advance greater coordination and standardization of GIS operations, and work across the organization to turn geospatial information into better decisions. You’ll partner with planners, engineers, permitting professionals, technology specialists, and other County staff to build a more connected, consistent, and innovative GIS environment. If you’re a technically accomplished GIS professional who enjoys solving complex problems, developing people, building relationships, and bringing others together around a shared vision, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on how Charles County uses GIS to serve our organization and community. Essential Job Functions

• Supervises GIS staff and project teams. Assigns, prioritizes, directs, and reviews work and adjusts assignments and operations as necessary to meet Department priorities, program requirements, and established deadlines.
• Selects, trains, develops, and evaluates assigned staff. Establishes performance expectations; provides technical and professional guidance; monitors performance; and takes or recommends appropriate corrective action when necessary.
• Manages the day-to-day operation of the Department's GIS program and implements program priorities consistent with the direction, goals, and objectives established by Department leadership.
• Develops and recommends GIS program goals, priorities, standards, procedures, work plans, and technology needs. Evaluates program effectiveness and recommends improvements to GIS operations, data management, technology, and service delivery.
• Provides technical leadership for the development and maintenance of geospatial data, datasets, databases, maps, applications, dashboards, and other GIS products supporting planning, zoning, permitting, engineering, infrastructure, environmental, land use, and related Department functions.
• Oversees and coordinates responses to requests for geographic information, maps, data, analyses, and related GIS products from County departments, governmental agencies, consultants, developers, engineers, and members of the public.
• Creates, maintains, and oversees geospatial datasets and databases. Establishes and administers standards and procedures for data development, maintenance, documentation, quality assurance, quality control, metadata, and information management.
• Coordinates with other County departments regarding GIS activities, data development, standards, system interoperability, and sharing of geospatial information and resources.
• Reviews GIS products, datasets, analyses, applications, and other work products to ensure accuracy, consistency, reliability, and adherence to established technical and data standards.
• Serves as project leader for GIS system development and implementation activities. Identifies project requirements; develops scopes, schedules, resource needs, and implementation strategies; coordinates project teams and consultants; monitors progress and deliverables; and ensures projects meet established objectives, schedules, and budget requirements.
• Identifies opportunities to use GIS, automation, data integration, web-based applications, data visualization, and emerging geospatial technologies to improve Department operations, public access to information, decision-making, efficiency, and customer service. Develops recommendations for implementation.
• Coordinates and directs GIS training and technical assistance for Department and County personnel. Assesses user needs and promotes effective and appropriate use of GIS applications, data, analytical capabilities, and related resources.
• Coordinates GIS-related elements of Department studies, programs, and projects and ensures GIS resources are appropriately incorporated into project planning and implementation. Directs and performs complex spatial analyses to identify trends, relationships, constraints, development patterns, infrastructure conditions, and other factors relevant to Department programs, projects, and policy decisions. Evaluates findings and provides technical recommendations to management and staff.
• Provides subject matter expertise on GIS software, licensing, user access, permissions, upgrades, configuration, and technical issues to appropriate County staff, information technology personnel, software providers, and consultants.
• Participates in Countywide, interagency, and regional coordination efforts involving GIS and geospatial information. Represents the Department at meetings with County departments,
• agencies, consultants, professional organizations, and other external partners as assigned.
• Develops and maintains a comprehensive catalog of GIS datasets, applications, services, and related geospatial resources managed by the Department. Coordinates with other County departments to identify and document additional GIS resources and support the future development of a Countywide GIS data catalog.
• Coordinates and facilitates a cross-departmental GIS task force responsible for assessing Countywide GIS operations and developing recommendations regarding long-term GIS governance, technology architecture, data standards, staffing, service delivery, and potential centralization. Compiles and presents the task force’s recommendations to County leadership for consideration.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Remote Sensing, Planning, or Civil Engineering, or a related field. Six (6) years of progressively responsible geographic information systems experience. Two (2) years of supervisory experience is preferred.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must possess a valid driver's license. GIS Professional Certificate

Special Requirements/Qualifications:

Work is subject to interruptions and inflexible deadlines.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques of geographic information systems, remote sensing, map interpretation, and database management.
• Extensive knowledge of ESRI GIS software and platforms, including tools and applications used for data design, data collection, data conversion, data maintenance, spatial analysis, mapping, web-based applications, and visual storytelling.
• Knowledge of GIS system architecture, geodatabases, relational databases, database platforms, and technologies used to store, administer, integrate, access, and distribute spatial and non-spatial information.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, employee development, training, performance management, and personnel administration.
• Knowledge of project and program management principles and practices, including the development of project requirements, scopes, schedules, budgets, resource allocations, deliverables, and performance measures.
• Knowledge of planning, zoning, land use, permitting, civil engineering, infrastructure, environmental planning, and related local government functions sufficient to understand operational requirements and develop appropriate GIS solutions.
• Knowledge of data governance, quality assurance and quality control, metadata, data security, access management, and information-sharing practices applicable to GIS systems and geospatial information.
• Knowledge of desktop, web-based, and enterprise operating environments and applications used in conjunction with GIS technologies.
• Ability to supervise, direct, evaluate, train, and develop professional and technical staff and effectively organize and prioritize the work of a GIS program.
• Ability to translate Department and County goals, priorities, and operational needs into GIS projects, work assignments, technical requirements, and solutions.
• Ability to determine specific tasks and assignments to be performed and independently handle or assign to staff new, complex, or unusual problems and deviations encountered in the work.
• Ability to lead complex GIS and technology projects from identification of requirements through development, implementation, deployment, documentation, and training.
• Ability to coordinate GIS activities and data standards among multiple organizational units while recognizing the operational responsibilities and requirements of individual County departments.
• Ability to manage multiple complex and high-priority assignments while maintaining schedules, budgets, quality standards, and project objectives.
• Ability to develop and manage program and project budgets and monitor expenditures, contracts, licenses, consultant services, and other resources.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively, orally, visually, and in writing, to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to prepare and deliver effective reports, maps, data visualizations, presentations, correspondence, procedures, and technical documentation.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, managers, elected and appointed officials, other County departments, governmental agencies, consultants, contractors, professional organizations, and members of the public.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, initiative, creativity, and attention to detail.

Additional Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is sedentary with frequent periods of light physical activity, and is performed in office and field surroundings. Typical positions require workers to walk or stand for long periods; walk over uneven terrain; lift and carry up to 20 pounds; climb stairs, bend, reach, hold, grasp and turn objects; and use fingers to operate computer or typewriter keyboards. The work requires the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Principal duties of this job are performed in a general office environment.

Department/Division: Planning and Growth Management/Planning Pay Grade: 118 FLSA Status: Exempt Telework Eligible: Yes Reports to: Assistant Chief of Planning Supervises: GIS Analyst(s)

Benefits

Charles County Government

BENEFITS SUMMARY

www.GovernmentJobs.com/Careers/CharlesCountyMD

Health Insurance Charles County Government PAYS 70% of cost: Blue Choice Advantage and HMO Open Access plans, including prescription and vision coverage. CareFirst and Delta for dental coverage.

Flexible Spending Account Provides medical and dependent care options.

Supplemental Income Products Accident Policy, Critical Illness Policy, and Hospital Indemnity Policy.

Long Term Disability Insurance No charge to employee. The benefit pays 60% of salary at date of disability, up to $5,000/month.

Life Insurance No charge to employees (valued at 1.5x the annual salary, not to exceed $250,000). Supplemental insurance and dependent life insurance are available for an additional cost. Term and whole life policies available.

Pension Plan (Defined Benefit Retirement Plan) 401(a) Plan - Must work minimum 37.5 hrs/week. Participation is mandatory.

Deferred Compensation Plan 457(b) Governmental Plan - Available to all employees, regardless of hours worked.

Employee Leave

• Charles County Government full-time employees earn annual, sick, and paid time off (PTO).
• The County currently recognizes 20 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.
• Away from work programs like paid parental leave and FMLA are available to employees.

Transfer of Sick Leave New hires may be eligible to receive credit for up to 400 hours of sick leave from their previous employer when they begin employment.

Work Schedules

• Most work weeks are 37.5 hrs, and some positions may offer the opportunity for flexible work schedules or allow telework.

Additional Fringe Benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement for full-time employees upon completion of probation period
• Discounted, Onsite Childcare at a County Government facility.
• House Keys 4 Employee Program offers assistance to full-time employees who are first-time homebuyers.
• Free, Employee Wellness Programs
• Legal Resources (prepaid benefit)
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (free, short-term counseling)

Benefits eligibility is for employees who work 30 hours or more per week unless otherwise noted. Effective: March 1, 2026