Geospatial Scientist, Data Collection and Quality

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being All In for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Geospatial Scientist, Data Collection and Quality to join our team.  

This is a hybrid position located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

Ardent is seeking a Geospatial Data Collection and Quality Manager that will serve as the primary point of contact for acquiring new geospatial data critical to Homeland Security missions. This role requires advanced expertise in geospatial data management, acquisition, quality control, and stakeholder engagement to ensure delivery of high-value, licensed, and mission-relevant data products. This position supports data acquisition, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), documentation of processes, and effective communication with data providers and internal teams to maintain a high standard of geospatial data integrity and usability.

• Lead the development and refinement of methodologies for geospatial data collection, acquisition, and maintenance ensuring alignment with mission needs.
• Manage data intake, prioritize data needs based on use cases from DHS components and Mission Partners, and ensure quality control throughout acquisition and delivery processes.
• Maintain and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to data acquisition, refresh, quality assurance, and data publishing.
• Oversee budget management for data acquisition to secure high-priority and high-value data products.
• Define and enforce requirements for geospatial data including accuracy, coverage, resolution, formats, licensing, update frequency, and system compatibility.
• Maintain comprehensive lists of data providers and datasets; identify and engage high-quality geospatial data providers.
• Utilize professional networks and government guidance to identify potential new data sources and providers.
• Manage procurement or production activities to ensure timely delivery of high-quality, licensed geospatial data.
• Maintain ongoing communication with data providers regarding data use, dissemination, security, quality, and acceptance criteria.
• Negotiate licensing agreements and purchasing options to achieve best value while ensuring compliance with usage permissions.
• Provide technical support and oversight to ensure data products meet acceptance criteria and mission requirements.
• Facilitate technical demonstrations and presentations of geospatial data and analyses for stakeholders and Mission Partners.
• Support integration of data products into government systems and ensure seamless coordination with other program activities.
• Lead QA/QC efforts, including data review, validation, and application of standardized checklists to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Manage feedback loops with data users and providers to identify and implement content improvements and resolve data quality issues.
• Develop and maintain geospatial metadata, ensuring completeness, consistency, and usability for downstream applications.
• Automate data processing workflows where feasible, maintaining documentation and tools for reproducible data review.
• Oversee data registration, cataloging, publication, hosting, and federation within government geospatial platforms.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations (e.g., FGDC, ISO) and apply best practices in geospatial data lifecycle management.
• Monitor and analyze performance metrics and user feedback to continuously improve data acquisition and management processes.
• Maintain documentation of all processes, data integration plans, and QA/QC plans to support program transparency and continuous improvement.
• Inform government stakeholders promptly of any issues impacting cost, schedule, or performance.

Requirements: 

• Proven experience leading geospatial data acquisition and quality management activities in complex government or commercial projects.
• Expertise in geospatial sciences including cartography, GIS, data management, and geospatial infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendor/provider relationships and negotiate data licensing and acquisition contracts.
• Experience developing and applying QA/QC procedures and standards to geospatial datasets.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills to engage with technical teams and mission partners.
• Experience with scripting, automation, and geospatial data processing tools.
• Familiarity with geospatial data standards, metadata management, and federal data policies.
• Proven track record managing large-scale data projects with multiple stakeholders and distributed teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience supporting DHS or other federal agency geospatial programs.
• Familiarity with commercial and open-source geospatial tools and platforms.
• Experience with federated data architectures and integration of RESTful geospatial services.
• Advanced knowledge of geospatial data lifecycle management and best practices.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate complex data delivery schedules.
• Strong network within the geospatial data provider community.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis protected by state, local, or federal law.