Overview
GIS Specialist Jobs in National Capital District, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea at Frieda River Limited
Title: GIS Specialist
Company: Frieda River Limited
Location: National Capital District, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
- Join a high performing and growing mining company with a global presence
- We offer a great culture with exciting growth and development opportunities
- Apply today to work in a transformative project
Our Company
PanAust Limited is an Australian-headquartered copper and gold mining company with operations in Laos, and pre-development assets in Papua New Guinea and Chile.
In Papua New Guinea, PanAust holds a 100 per cent interest in the Frieda River Limited Copper-Gold project, which is a transformative pre-development integrated mining, renewable energy and infrastructure project. The complete Frieda River Project represents a nation building opportunity for Papua New Guinea and a transformative sustainable development opportunity for the Sepik region. The Project will help build stronger and more viable communities by establishing necessary public infrastructure, generating skilled employment, and creating business opportunities for local people.
In Laos, PanAust owns a 90 per cent interest in Phu Bia Mining Limited with the Government of Laos owning the remaining 10 per cent. Phu Bia Mining owns and operates PanAust’s two award winning operations – Phu Kham Copper-Gold and Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver, both located in Xaisomboun Province, 120km north of Vientiane.
In Chile, PanAust holds a 66 per cent interest in the Inca de Oro Copper-Gold Project through a Chilean incorporated joint venture company, Inca de Oro S. A.
The Role
We are currently recruiting for an experienced GIS Specialist to join our team, based in the Port Moresby officer. Reporting to the Principal Environmental Manager, the role will be responsible for managing and governing site-wide geospatial systems and data to support land access, stakeholder engagement (including FPIC), and operational activities. Ensures accurate mapping of land ownership, customary boundaries, and land use, with all data captured and visualised through GIS to enable transparent, informed decision-making.
Functional Responsibilities include:
GIS Strategy & System Development
- Establish and maintain a site-wide GIS framework, including WebGIS platforms for multi-user access
- Develop and manage integrated spatial databases covering:
- Customary land boundaries
- Clan and genealogy mapping
- Land use and access corridors
- Environmental and infrastructure layers
- Ensure GIS systems align with emerging national land registry frameworks and digital land systems
Customary Land & Clan Mapping
- Lead spatial support for:
- Clan identification and verification processes
- Customary land boundary mapping using GPS/GIS
- land mediators and social scientists with spatial interpretation of maps, customary boundaries and lineage based landclaims
- Support development of secure, transparent land data systems, including:
- Clan registries
- Boundary verification datasets
- Lease and consent mapping
Land Access & Social Performance Integration
- Integrate GIS into:
- Land Access Risk Assessments (WRAC integration)
- Stakeholder mapping and engagement planning
- Maintain spatial records for audits, grievance tracking and compliance reporting
- Provide spatial insights to support:
- FPIC processes
- Community negotiations and compensation frameworks linking land loss/access to household and tribal level
- Sensitive area identification
Operational & Project Support
- Provide GIS support for:
- Drilling programs and logistics (barge, heli access routes)
- Infrastructure planning (roads, camps, laydown areas)
- Environmental monitoring and compliance
- Deliver high-quality maps and spatial analytics for:
- Daily operations
- Weekly planning
- Executive reporting
Data Governance & Quality Assurance
- Apply the FRL GIS Standard Operating Procedure across all workflows:
- Data intake, curation, QA/QC, publishing, and archiving
- Maintain:
- Complete metadata (ISO 19115 compliant)
- Dataset lineage and change tracking
- Manage spatial data lifecycle:
- Working data → curated datasets → authoritative AGOL layers → archived backups
- Ensure:
- Proper naming conventions and thematic categorisation
- Secure storage and controlled access
- Support AGOL administration activities including:
- Publishing feature layers, web maps, and applications
- Configuring editing, sync, and user access setting
- Ensure all GIS outputs are:
- Legally defensible
- Consistent with regulatory and internal requirements
Technology & Innovation
- Implement and manage:
- WebGIS platforms (e.g., ArcGIS Online / Enterprise)
- Mobile data collection tools (e.g., Survey123, Field Maps)
- Introduce:
- Drone/GIS integration for mapping
- Real-time spatial dashboards
- Drive digitisation of land records and mapping systems, addressing known national gaps
Capacity Building & Knowledge Transfer
- Train site teams in GIS tools and spatial awareness
- Support onboarding of:
- Local GIS personnel
- Community-based mapping participants
- Develop GIS SOPs, user guides, and onboarding packs
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates who:
- Bachelor’s degree in GIS, Geospatial Science, Geography, Surveying, Environmental Science or related field
- 5–8 years’ experience in GIS or spatial data management, preferably in resources, infrastructure, or land access projects
- Strong experience with ArcGIS (Online/Enterprise), spatial databases, GPS/GNSS mapping, and mobile data collection tools
- Experience with land tenure systems, FPIC processes, and stakeholder engagement (highly desirable)
- Professional GIS certification (e.g. Esri) preferred
- Drone operation certification (advantageous)
- Strong skills in data governance, mapping, spatial analysis, and GIS system management
- Experience supporting operational planning and decision-making
- Ability to work in remote, multicultural, and field-based environments
Why Join Us?
- Our Values: Our core values of Care, Leadership, Integrity and Performance and represent the foundations of our great culture.
- Meaningful Work: The work we do is valuable and connects all of our employees through a shared vision and our values.
- Sustainability: We actively focus on our environmental footprint and build upon community development initiatives in communities where we operate.
PanAust is focussed on building a workforce that embraces diversity and inclusion, aiming to create an environment that brings us all together through connection, security and community and harnessing what makes us unique. As an Equal Opportunity employer, we encourage and welcome applications from all genders, abilities, generations and cultural backgrounds.
Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates may be contacted regarding their application status. Applications close Sunday, 24 May 2026.
We are not working with agencies to recruit this role.
If you’d like to learn more about us, please visit www.friedariver.com
