Geospatial Research Assistant Jobs in Atlanta, GA

Position Overview

The Planner/GIS Analyst supports transportation, community planning, and urban design projects through GIS analysis, mapping, data visualization, research, and technical documentation. The role transforms complex data into clear, compelling planning products that support decision-making and communicate findings to clients, stakeholders, and the public.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years of professional experience, strong GIS and analytical skills, excellent written and verbal communication abilities, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams that include planners, engineers, landscape architects, economists, architects, and environmental professionals. This position offers opportunities to expand technical expertise while growing into increased project management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

GIS and Spatial Analysis

• Develop, manage, and analyze GIS datasets for transportation, land use, environmental, and community planning projects.
• Create professional maps, dashboards, story maps, exhibits, and web-based applications using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and related ESRI tools.
• Conduct spatial analyses related to accessibility, connectivity, demographics, safety, equity, land suitability, and infrastructure.
• Integrate data from public agencies, Census sources, local governments, and field collection.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and well-documented geodatabases.

Planning and Technical Support

• Support comprehensive plans, transportation studies, corridor studies, small area plans, transit plans, active transportation initiatives, zoning updates, development regulations, and other community planning projects.
• Conduct demographic, socioeconomic, land use, transportation, environmental, and market analyses.
• Prepare technical memoranda, reports, recommendations, presentations, and public-facing materials.
• Research planning policies, best practices, and funding opportunities.

Community Engagement and Project Support

• Support public meetings, workshops, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and other engagement activities.
• Prepare maps, graphics, displays, and presentation materials.
• Present technical information clearly through maps, graphics, reports, and presentations for clients, stakeholders, and the public.
• Document community input and incorporate findings into planning recommendations.
• Assist with project coordination, schedules, task tracking, fieldwork, deliverables, and proposals.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams that include planners, engineers, landscape architects, architects, economists, environmental scientists, and other technical professionals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Geography, GIS, Transportation Planning, Environmental Planning, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ESRI geospatial tools, with demonstrated experience in spatial analysis and map production.
• Demonstrated experience conducting spatial analysis and producing professional maps and graphics.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or ArcGIS Dashboards.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience supporting transportation, transit, multimodal, active transportation, or community planning projects.
• Strong analytical, organizational, writing, and communication skills.
• Progress toward AICP or GISP certification preferred.

Core Competencies

• GIS and geospatial analysis
• Data visualization and graphic communication
• Technical research and analysis
• Collaboration and project coordination
• Creativity and problem-solving
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Written, Verbal & Presentation Communication
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Work Environment

• Ability to manage multiple assignments in a deadline-driven consulting environment.
• Willingness to travel periodically for fieldwork, client meetings, and public engagement.
• Hybrid or in-office work environment based on organizational needs.

Position Impact

The Planner/GIS Analyst strengthens transportation and community planning projects by transforming complex data into actionable insights, compelling visualizations, and implementable recommendations. Through technical analysis, GIS expertise, effective communication, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, this role supports informed decision-making while building expertise in transportation planning, community planning, and geospatial analysis.