FACULTY OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
VACANCY NO.: IRC 3407
The University of Botswana (UB), a premier state-owned tertiary institution dedicated to shaping the future through excellence, research, innovation and meaningful societal impact, invites applications from accomplished and suitably qualified professionals for the position of Senior Technician (Geospatial Science) in the Department of Environmental Science.
The Senior Technician (Geospatial Science) plays a vital role in supporting teaching and learning environments by preparing and maintaining laboratory and/or workshop equipment and materials. The position holder ensures that all facilities within the faculty, school or department are in optimal working order, uphold safety and operational standards and provide technical assistance to faculty and students. In addition, they contribute to effective delivery of academic programs through reliable teaching support and seamless coordination of practical sessions.
Duties: The successful candidate will be expected to:
Strategy and Policy Development: Contribute to the development of departmental and school’s strategies, policies, and procedures.
Technical Support for Teaching, Research, and Learning: (i) Provide technical guidance to multidisciplinary teaching, learning, and research activities. (ii) Plan, coordinate, and schedule geospatial practical sessions, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and effective workload management. (iii) Demonstrate geospatial (vector and raster) data processing techniques and proper use of equipment to students. (iv) Ensure the proper functioning of computer workstations and facilitate access to software, data, and required materials for practical sessions. (v) Assist academic staff in assessing laboratory and fieldwork reports. (vi) Respond promptly to user enquiries and undertake geospatial data processing and map production for publication and keep record of services provided. (vii) Contribute to ongoing research activities, support knowledge creation, intellectual property development, and commercialization.
Geospatial Laboratory Operations: (i) Set up, calibrate, operate, and maintain laboratory equipment to ensure optimal performance. (ii) Establish and maintain an inventory of technical equipment, tools, and supplies. (iii) Monitor inventory levels and initiate replenishment as necessary. (iv) Identify faulty or obsolete equipment and recommend repair, replacement, or decommissioning. (v) Ensure laboratories are clean, organized, and safe and maintain records of loaned equipment. (vi) Prepare budget estimates and support procurement tasks for consumables and equipment.
Geospatial Data Management and Training: (i) Develop and implement data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols. (ii) Maintain structured geospatial data repositories, including metadata standards and backup systems. (iii) Support the development and maintenance of enterprise spatial data management systems. (iv) Collaborate with relevant units to enhance geospatial data management and service delivery across the university. (v) Conduct geospatial data collection, processing, analysis, and curation, including digitization of analog data such, physical maps, slides and aerial photographs. (vi) Develop, schedule, and/or deliver training programmes for staff and students.
Safety and Risk Management: (i) Identify and mitigate operational risks. (ii) Ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental protocols.
General Duties: (i) Meet assigned performance targets. (ii) Stay up to date with emerging geospatial technologies and innovations and pursue continuous professional development in geospatial sciences to support the University’s mission. (iii) Perform any other duties as assigned by the Chief Technician or Departmental Chair.
Qualification Requirements: Applicants should have a Bachelor’s Degree in GIS, Remote Sensing or a related field (e.g., Geography, Environmental Science, Information Technology) with a strong GIS and Remote Sensing background. An MSc or higher qualification with a geospatial focus will be an added advantage.
Experience Requirements: The individual must have a minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience, including at least three (3) years at a lower (technician/professional/officer) level, preferably in an academic or research environment. Higher education experience will be an added advantage.
Professional registration: Registered or eligible for registration as a professional by an appropriate and recognised professional body.
Other Requirements: (i) Demonstrate advanced proficiency in geospatial data processing with both desktop and web-based GIS and digital imagery processing suites, including statistical software and programming language platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, ENVI, ERDAS Imagine, Google Earth Engine, R, and Python). (ii) Have proven experience in processing and analyzing satellite imagery from various sources. (iii) Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong record of service. (iv) Demonstrate strong practical, technical, and supervisory skills.
Remuneration: The University offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications.
How to Apply: Applicants are to address the stated qualifications in their application letters and provide other information to assist the University in determining their suitability for the position. They should also quote the Vacancy Number of the post applied for, provide current CVs (including telephone and e-mail), certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts, and three work-related references. Complete documentation should be sent to: The Senior Professional: HR Business Partnering, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana; Telephone: (267) 355-2917; E-mail: fosvacancies@ub.ac.bw.
Applicants should inform their referees to: (i) Quote the Vacancy Number and position applied for, and (ii) submit their references directly to the above address, before the stipulated closing date.
Hand-delivered applications should be submitted to Block 233, Office No. 121 (233/121).
NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
Closing Date: 10 August 2026