GIS Data Specialist for Water Bodies Digitization and Cadastre Management

Employment type: full-time

Location: Kyiv, Ministry of Economy

About the organisation

Camino is a newly established non-governmental organisation founded as a local partner of Water Mission International, which has been operating in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

Our mission is to strengthen community resilience by improving access to WASH services, energy solutions and protection services, promoting dignity, safety and self-sufficiency.

In partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, we implement projects to modernise water supply and sanitation (WSS) systems, support the restoration of critical infrastructure, and promote the sector’s adaptation to EU standards.

JobSummary:

The GIS Data Specialist will lead digitization efforts to create vector files of water bodies across Ukraine, working with diverse data sources including electronic inventory data and paper-based pond passports. This role involves coordinating with basin departments and regional water resource offices to vectorize polygonal and linear water objects, performing topological consistency checks, and preparing water body datasets for integration into the E-cadastre system. The specialist will ensure data quality, standardization, and compliance with national geospatial data standards while supporting the State Water Agency’s working group on water body vectorization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Water Body Digitization and Vectorization:

• Lead comprehensive digitization of water bodies across Ukraine, converting data from diverse formats (electronic inventory records and paper pond passports) into standardized vector files.

• Create accurate vector representations of polygonal water bodies (lakes, ponds, reservoirs) and linear water objects (rivers, streams, canals) using GIS software.

• Digitize water bodies below current geoportal display criteria (length <10 km, surface area <0.5 km²) that are important for local management and planning.

• Ensure spatial accuracy and geometric precision of digitized features using appropriate coordinate reference systems and projection methods.

• Establish efficient workflows and productivity standards for large-scale digitization operations across multiple regions.

Data Quality Assurance and Topological Consistency:

• Perform comprehensive topological consistency checks ensuring data integrity, connectivity, and spatial relationship accuracy.

• Validate geometric properties including closure of polygons, elimination of gaps and overlaps, and proper network connectivity for linear features.

• Implement quality control procedures verifying attribute data completeness, accuracy, and consistency with source documentation.

• Identify and resolve data conflicts, errors, and inconsistencies between different data sources and historical records.

• Document quality assurance processes and maintain detailed records of corrections and modifications made to source data.

Coordination with Regional Offices and Working Groups:

• Coordinate digitization activities with basin departments and regional water resource offices ensuring consistent methodology and standards.

• Provide technical support and guidance to State Water Agency working group on vectorization of water objects.

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among regional staff on GIS data capture techniques and quality standards.

• Establish communication protocols for data submission, review, and integration from multiple regional sources.

• Organize regular coordination meetings to track progress, address challenges, and ensure timely completion of digitization targets.

AttributeData Management and Metadata Creation:

• Extract and structure attribute information from pond passports, inventory records, and other source documents into standardized database schemas.

• Populate attribute tables with comprehensive water body characteristics including name, type, category (national/local importance), dimensions, and management information.

• Create metadata records compliant with national and EU standards describing data sources, creation methods, accuracy, and currency.

• Maintain data dictionaries and coding schemes ensuring consistent terminology and classification across the cadastre system.

• Link spatial features with relevant regulatory information including use restrictions, protection zones, and management authority.

DataIntegration and E-Cadastre Preparation:

• Prepare digitized datasets for integration into E-cadastre system ensuring compatibility with database structure and web services.

• Perform data transformation and format conversion as needed for system integration (shapefile, geodatabase, GeoJSON, etc.).

• Coordinate with GIS developers on data loading procedures, testing, and validation in the E-cadastre environment.

• Support batch processing and update procedures for maintaining data currency as new information becomes available.

• Reconcile differences between existing geoportal data and newly digitized information ensuring consistency across systems.

Documentation and Capacity Building:

• Develop standard operating procedures for water body digitization, quality control, and data maintenance.

• Create training materials and user guides for regional staff on data capture techniques and GIS software usage.

• Conduct training sessions for basin departments and regional offices on digitization standards and procedures.

• Document data sources, processing steps, and quality control measures for audit trails and institutional knowledge preservation.

• Prepare progress reports on digitization activities including statistics on completed features, quality metrics, and timeline adherence.

Technical Requirements and Software Management:

• Utilize licensed GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and specialized digitization tools efficiently and in compliance with licensing requirements.

• Assess hardware and software requirements for digitization operations including computers, digitizing tablets, and scanning equipment.

• Provide input on technical specifications for software procurement and IT infrastructure supporting GIS operations.

• Stay current with GIS technology developments and recommend improvements to digitization workflows and tools.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Cartography, Environmental Science, Geodesy, or related technical field.

• Minimum 3−5 years of hands-on experience in GIS data capture, digitization, and spatial data management.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced proficiency in GIS software for data capture and editing (ArcGIS, QGIS) including digitization tools and topology validation.

• Strong understanding of topological relationships, spatial data quality principles, and geometric accuracy requirements.

• Experience digitizing geographic features from diverse sources including paper maps, aerial imagery, and electronic records.

• Knowledge of coordinate reference systems, map projections, and spatial data transformation procedures.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement quality control procedures for large-scale spatial data projects.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in spatial data capture and attribute data entry.

• Excellent organizational skills managing multiple datasets and coordinating with distributed teams.

• Good written and verbal communication skills in Ukrainian and English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience with hydrographic or water resource data digitization and management.

• Familiarity with Ukrainian water body classification systems, hydrographic zoning, and water management structures.

• Experience working with cadastral or registry systems and understanding of cadastre data requirements.

• Knowledge of national and EU geospatial data standards including INSPIRE Directive requirements.

• Experience with spatial database systems (PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Oracle Spatial) and SQL queries.

• Background in training delivery and capacity building for GIS users.

• Professional GIS certification (GISP or equivalent) demonstrating technical competency.

Working Conditions:

This position will be based in Kyiv at the State Water Agency of Ukraine.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to work in office environment with extended periods at computer workstation performing detailed digitization work.

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be required to perform other duties as assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

All candidates will be required to pass a reference check.

We will only contact candidates who have passed the preliminary selection process. Thank you for your understanding and interest in our work.