Why Imperative
Imperative is building one of the world’s most ambitious and scientifically rigorous portfolios of nature-based carbon removal projects. Operating across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, we develop large-scale reforestation, mangrove restoration and other ecosystem-restoration project assets under a build–own–operate model, ensuring scientific integrity, operational excellence, and long-term accountability.
We aim to set the global benchmark for quality, transparency, and durability in the markets for nature-based removal credits. Our projects integrate sound forestry and applied field ecology, supported by major-projects execution capabilities, advanced remote sensing, and state-of-the-art carbon measurement and modelling to deliver true, infrastructure-grade removal outcomes.
As our portfolio scales across multiple geographies and project types, we are growing the Carbon & Impact team to match. This role will sit at the core of project delivery, translating science, data, and standards into credible, investment-grade carbon assets.
Our Values
- Integrity: We act honourably and are guided by a strong moral compass. If things go wrong, we put our hand up, admit it, and adapt.
- Momentum: Speed matters. We have a bias to action. We think quickly, plan tirelessly, mitigate risks, and above all, take action.
- Purpose: We are driven by our desire to make the world better with every interaction, process, and project.
- Accountability: We do what we say and deliver. We seek to be the best at what we do.
- Collaboration: We celebrate diversity of thought, values, and backgrounds, harnessing the strength of our people and partners to achieve more together through teamwork and creativity.
- Tenacity: We are highly ambitious, driven, and hardworking. We persist until we deliver impact.
Position Purpose
- The GIS Officer plays a central role in Project Bharat Neer Vana — Imperative’s mangrove restoration carbon project in coastal Odisha. The role is responsible for building and maintaining the spatial dataset that underpins the project’s land pipeline, restoration planning, and carbon verification. This includes capturing accurate restoration’s plot boundaries, assembling and quality-checking cluster maps, and keeping the plot register reliable.
- Beyond this land enrolment data management, the GIS Officer produces the cartographic outputs that guide restoration design on the ground — translating field assessments into clear spatial plans — and conducts GIS-based site analysis to evaluate the restoration potential of proposed areas, including hydrological connectivity, land cover history, and site suitability.
- The GIS Officer is expected to regularly ground-truth maps and restoration designs in the field, verifying that spatial outputs accurately reflect site conditions. The GIS Officer will also provide targeted support to the Mangrove Restoration Manager during ecological surveys, contributing GIS and data capture expertise as required by field operations.
- The GIS Officer is also expected to be a proactive voice on technology adoption: identifying opportunities to integrate cutting-edge remote sensing, multispectral drone imagery, and LiDAR-derived terrain data into the project’s monitoring and verification workflows, with the goal of building a digital MRV stack that sets a top-decile standard for accuracy, transparency, and technical rigor — consistent with Imperative’s commitment to innovation and data integrity.
- The role reports directly to the Mangrove Restoration Manager based in Odisha and the Imperative HeadCo Technical Team. It is suited to a motivated early-career professional with foundational GIS skills with expertise in coastal environmental restoration.
Key Responsibilities
1. Plot Data Capture and Documentation
- Collect, compile, and verify the details of individual plots entering the project’s land pipeline at each stage of the land enrolment process, including plot boundaries, land use history, historical mangrove cover, ownership status, and physical characteristics.
- Conduct desktop analysis of candidate parcels at the sourcing stage to assess preliminary restoration suitability, including land use history, hydrological connectivity, and historical mangrove extent.
- Conduct field visits as required to verify or collect GPS coordinates, plot boundaries, and site-specific attributes, including ground-truthing visits alongside the Mangrove Restoration Manager.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all plot-level data in structured formats. This dataset will have to be coordinated with an external GIS expert.
2. Cluster Mapping and Restoration Design
- Place individual plots accurately onto cluster-level GIS maps under the direction of the GIS Expert.
- Produce and maintain restoration design maps, including canal and channel routing for hydrological restoration, planting plan layouts, and updated topographic maps for use by the Mangrove Restoration Manager.
- Act as a proactive technical partner to the Mangrove Restoration Manager in the spatial analysis of topographic, hydrological, and ecological datasets, supporting the development of site-specific restoration plans.
- Assist in the production, updating, and quality checking of cluster maps to reflect current restoration planning boundaries.
- Apply consistent symbology, labelling, and cartographic standards as defined by the GIS Expert and Imperative HeadCo’s Technical Team.
- Support the preparation of map outputs for use in technical reports, stakeholder presentations, and regulatory submissions.
3. Plot Register and Data Management
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date GIS database and Excel-based plot register for each cluster, capturing all relevant attributes including plot identification number, area, location, land enrolment status, restoration status, and key field observations.
- Ensure the plot register is kept current with back-ups, accurately cross-referenced with GIS map layers, and accessible to the Technical Team.
- Flag data gaps, inconsistencies, or anomalies to the GIS Expert promptly.
- Proactively propose improvements to spatial data workflows and contribute to the integration of GIS tools into the project’s broader Management Information System (MIS).
4. Coordination and Reporting
- Provide spatial analysis and mapping support to the carbon survey and social survey teams as required, including plot layouts, sampling grids, and monitoring area delineation.
- Liaise with field officers and community liaison staff to gather ground-truth data for GIS inputs.
- Provide regular progress updates to the GIS Expert and Mangrove Restoration Manager on mapping tasks, data completeness, and any field challenges encountered.
- Support the preparation of technical deliverables and progress reports as directed.
5. R&D and Technology
- Lead a continuous reflection on the adoption of best-in-class spatial data sources and remote sensing tools, and proactively propose opportunities to integrate multispectral drone imagery and/or LiDAR into the project’s monitoring and MRV workflows.
6. Health, Safety and Environment
- Adhere to Imperative’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards during all field activities, including those conducted in coastal and mangrove environments.
Essential Skills and Attributes
- Working knowledge of GIS software, particularly QGIS and/or ArcGIS, including digitising, layer management, and basic spatial analysis.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to design and maintain structured data registers with formulas, filters, and data validation.
- Basic understanding of GPS data collection tools and field survey methods.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy and consistency.
- Ability to work independently in the field and as part of a small technical team.
- Willingness to undertake regular travel to field sites across Odisha.
Desirable Skills
- Familiarity with remote sensing tools and satellite imagery interpretation (e.g., Google Earth Engine, QGIS raster tools).
- Exposure to land records systems or cadastral mapping in Odisha or West Bengal.
- Basic understanding of mangrove ecosystems, coastal land use, or environmental restoration concepts.
- Experience using mobile data collection applications such as KoBoToolbox, ODK, or similar.
Required Experience
- Three years’ experience in a GIS, mapping, or spatial data technician role, including internships or academic project work.
- Demonstrated experience producing GIS maps and maintaining spatial datasets.
- Experience maintaining structured data registers or databases in Excel or similar tools.
- Prior experience working in Odisha or similar field environments is an advantage.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
- Formal training or certification in GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, or equivalent) is an advantage.
Position Details
- Location : Odisha, India, with regular travel to restoration cluster sites across the state.
- Reporting Line
- The GIS Officer reports directly to Mangrove Restoration Expert, Odisha. Key spatial deliverables — including cluster maps, plot registers, and land suitability layers — are subject to be coordinated by an External GIS expert, and, where relevant, Imperative’s HeadCo Carbon & Impact team as well as Imperative’s HeadCo Execution team prior to finalization.
- Language Requirements
- Proficiency in Odia is essential for field implementation and community engagement in Odisha. Proficiency in Bengali is an advantage for engagement in West Bengal.
- Working proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required for technical reporting and team communications.
