This position is supported by Prosper Portland's Reimagine Oregon grant program.

CHEM Allyance believes everyone deserves access to the land and to the tools that help us understand it. We're building a community-based program where people with no technical background learn to read and use geographic data about the places they live. This role calls for real patience with beginners and a genuine interest in teaching.

About the Role

We're looking for a GIS consultant to support a community program that includes work with youth. This job involves a hybrid combination of online and in-person work. Locations of on-site work are in NE and SW Portland, OR. Participants range from adult community members to younger participants. Most have zero GIS experience. You'll help make mapping tools approachable for people who have never used them before.

What You'll Do

• Help set up beginner-friendly mapping tools for simple field data collection
• Lead or co-lead up to four hands-on sessions introducing basic geographic concepts to first-time users
• Provide light backend support for an ongoing community mapping and storytelling project
• Be available for occasional troubleshooting between sessions

Who We're Looking For

• Demonstrated experience teaching, facilitating, training, coaching, or translating technical concepts for beginners or other non-specialist audiences
• Relevant experience may include GIS, mapping, spatial data, data literacy, digital tools, environmental technology, or other adjacent technical fields; prior GIS-specific teaching experience is welcomed but not required
• Ability to communicate patiently, clearly, and accessibly with first-time users and participants with varied technical experience
• Working familiarity with GIS or digital mapping tools sufficient to support introductory field-data collection and basic mapping activities; ArcGIS Online or comparable platform experience is welcome
• Comfort supporting activities in community-based settings through a combination of online and in-person work in Portland

Nice to Have

• Your own laptop or field device. We'll pay a technology support fee to use your own equipment.
• CHEM Allyance provides access to a current nonprofit ArcGIS Online license, so you won't need your own subscription.
• Coursework or credentials in GIS or geospatial technology
• Experience with community-based or workforce development programs

Youth-Safety Requirement

Because this role includes work with youth in Portland Public Schools-connected settings, the selected consultant must successfully complete and maintain the Portland Public Schools volunteer background-check process and any applicable youth-safety clearance requirements before beginning youth-facing services.

Compensation and Schedule

This is a limited-duration engagement expected to conclude no later than October 31, 2026, when the current grant-funded program period ends. This is a short-term independent-contractor engagement, up to 28 total hours, not to exceed that cap without prior written authorization. The consultant will be paid $40 per hour for approved services, plus an approved technology-support fee for use of personal equipment, if applicable. Anticipated start date is Wednesday, September 23, 2026, following the September 18 application deadline. Final scope, schedule, payment terms, and deliverables will be set out in a written consulting agreement.

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination

CHEM Allyance provides equal opportunity to all applicants for contract and employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any kind. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; LGBTQIA+ community members; people with disabilities; and others with lived experience of the communities we serve.

CHEM Allyance will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants with disabilities, consistent with applicable law. Applicants who need an accommodation to participate in the application or selection process may request one at operations@chemallyance.org.