Lead GIS Specialist

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indexfor the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Primary Role The Lead, GIS Specialist is accountable for addressing complex GIS technology challenges and shaping the strategic direction of GIS across American Water. This role supports the development and upkeep of the technology roadmap that drives key business outcomes. The Lead GIS Specialist manages projects from initial concept through full implementation, ensuring alignment with established technology standards and governance frameworks. They collaborate closely with business units and technology teams to deliver solutions that create value—improving operational efficiency, resolving business issues, and enabling data‑driven decision‑making.Key Accountabilities

• Lead and execute advanced analytical and GIS technology projects, applying sound project management practices to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality and governance standards.
• Design, develop, and implement both custom and out‑of‑the‑box GIS solutions that support short‑ and long‑term business objectives and drive operational efficiency.
• Serve as a technical expert in GIS and related technology areas—including databases, scripting, conflict resolution, server/web services, and application development—providing guidance, troubleshooting support, and recommendations that advance GIS capabilities across American Water.
• Mentor and develop GIS team members, promoting high performance, accountability, and consistent adoption of enterprise GIS strategies, standards, and best practices.
• Identify and drive workflow and process improvements, ensuring efficient, scalable, and value‑added GIS operations.
• Manage stakeholder expectations, support project communications, and contribute to maintaining effective governance for GIS solutions and initiatives.
• Support the development, testing, documentation, and rollout of approved GIS systems and processes to enhance operational performance and data reliability.
• Act as a liaison between GIS and IT, strengthening collaboration and alignment on shared goals, technologies, and system integrations.
• Create and maintain spatial and attribute data in accordance with established GIS procedures, editing standards, and data quality requirements.
• Participate in GIS committees, workgroups, and user communities, helping to define and update standards, best practices, and performance metrics while promoting a unified GIS vision across American Water.
• Prepare and present reports, dashboards, and presentations to senior leadership, and deliver clear communication on GIS initiatives and outcomes.
• Collaborate with business partners—including field operations, engineering, and construction—to drive adoption and effective use of GIS‑enabled solutions and workflows.
• Stay current on emerging GIS & GNSS technologies, attending workshops, training sessions, and vendor demonstrations to continually advance professional expertise.Knowledge/Skills
• Advanced level of knowledge of Esri ArcGIS suite of Products, to include ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Enterprise.
• GNSS Technology, specifically EOS and/or Trimble products.
• Proficient level understanding of water and wastewater network structures.
• Solid foundation of GIS methodologies, database management, programming/scripting (i.e., Python, Arcade), , data analytics, data model formats, and data conversion practices.
• Knowledge of GIS workflows, including desktop mapping, editing, QAQC, and web and database applications.
• Intermediate to advanced level of understanding of QAQC for GIS data, to include industry best practices and knowledge of available Esri QAQC tools.
• Proficient to advanced level understanding of GNSS technology, workflows, and best practices.
• Proficient foundation in computer science. Not specific to any language or framework, but an understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin all software and application development and design.
• Familiarity with working in a versioned network environment.
• Excellent decision-making, analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills. Detail oriented to conduct thorough review and evaluations, render, and implement timely decisions and recommendations.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines.
• Flexibility to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity, and rapid change.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and to deliver results through others while overcoming obstacles to success.
• Possesses a high energy level, sense of urgency, decisiveness, and ability to work well under pressure with grace and humility.
• Possesses a curiosity and a passion towards engaging the imagination of business leaders in grasping and enabling the fundamentals of change.
• Demonstrated ability to work and team with a multitude of different people from various lines of business.
• Creative approach to problem-solving with the ability to focus on details while simultaneously maintaining the “big picture” view.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g., persuasion, negotiation, listening, cooperation, tact, diplomacy, problem solving, internal consulting, etc.).Experience/Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, or related field.
• 8+ years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree or 14+ years’ experience without a bachelor’s degree in GIS/GNSS. Proven experience managing large GIS initiatives. Utility experience preferred.Travel Requirements

Periodic local travel; occasional national travel (e.g., User's conference, etc.) #LI-LKOOtherShort DescriptionCompetencies

• Up to 9.25% employer retirement contribution, including a 4% 401(k) match and an additional 5.25% employer contribution after a one‑year vesting period
• Eligibility for the American Water Annual Performance Program
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage starting the first of the month following your start date
• Benefit previews available at americanwaterbenefits.com (Non‑Union Employee tab)
• Hybrid work model offering autonomy and flexibility in how work gets done
• A collaborative, purpose‑driven culture with colleagues who care deeply about water and the environment
• Up to $10,000 in qualified tuition reimbursement to support ongoing education