Temporary (Hybrid) Community Data Liaison

About the Opportunity

The SHAPE project is a pilot designed to identify the practical challenges and test scalable solutions for updating local address data in advance of the U.S. Census Bureau's Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) operations for the 2030 Census and associated surveys such as the American Community Survey.

The project will leverage Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Address-Based Sampling (ABS), and field verification to enhance accuracy. Publicly available datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau, USPS, FEMA, and local government sources will inform the initial housing unit list, which will then be updated with findings from the field.

What You'll Do:

• Systematically drive and document all roads within McDowell County using GPS-enabled vehicles.
• Utilize GIS technology to record precise routes and collect geospatial data.
• Verify address points, structures, and access points using USPS list during the fieldwork.
• Log road conditions, key infrastructure elements, and other relevant observations as needed to update based on natural disaster recovery conditions.

Pay Grade: 17
Length of Assignment: 2 weeks / not to exceed 75 hours

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience
  Previous in-field data collection experience on state, federal or municipal lands is preferred, but not required
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Competency in written and oral communication.
• Ability to drive on various types of roads to remote locations
• Ability to keep neat and concise notes and surveys.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Maintain a professional demeanor and appearance at all times.
• Skilled in effective communication.
• Skilled in strategic planning and logistics.
• Skilled in critical thinking, including using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Skilled in monitoring/assessing the performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take correction.

Requirements

Valid driver's license - mileage for surveying travel will be reimbursed at the current WVU rate.