Cartographer Specialist

Since opening in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna has served as a hub for operations across 12 countries in South-East Europe, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. AUMCO delivers technical expertise, operational support, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Flagship initiatives include Blueing the Black Sea—a GEF and World Bank partnership to reduce pollution and promote sustainable development—and Türkiye’s post-earthquake recovery programme, enhancing protective services for women and children. In Albania, projects revitalise cultural heritage and advance digital justice, while in Kosovo, new university infrastructure supports higher education. In Georgia, AUMCO facilitates the Eastern Partnership European School and strengthens rule of law and digital health access. Across Central Asia, activities range from health system strengthening in Uzbekistan to hazardous waste management in Tajikistan. AUMCO also supports UNOPS’ global Water, Environment, and Climate portfolio, reinforcing its role as a regional and thematic centre of excellence.

Established in 2020, the UNOPS Office in Albania supports national efforts to improve economic and social conditions in the wake of the November 2019 earthquake. Through its flagship initiatives, UNOPS is contributing to the rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites and the digital transformation of the justice sector. By combining project management, infrastructure development, and technical expertise, UNOPS aims to strengthen Albania’s resilience, enhance public services, and promote sustainable development. The Albania office also plays a role in fostering connectivity and advancing healthcare standards across the country.

The European Union-funded EU for Property Rights (EU4PR) project, implemented by UNOPS, supports the State Cadastre Agency and the Agency for Agriculture and Rural Development in strengthening land administration and property rights systems in Albania. Key project activities include the digitisation of cadastral records and maps, first-time property registration, data enhancement, and support to the development of an EU-compatible Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which contribute to improved transparency, efficiency, and alignment with EU accession requirements. The project further supports the modernisation of institutional processes and systems through digital transformation, interoperability, and institutional capacity strengthening, contributing to sustainable land governance and alignment with EU standards and practices. Within this context, the Cartographer Specialist will serve as a key technical expert supporting the modernization of Albania's land administration systems.The role will include researching, proposing, and implementing improved spatial data workflows and technical solutions for the State Cadastre Agency.

The Cartographer Specialist will provide expert technical guidance and support in the modernization and operational improvement of Albania's land administration systems. The role provides technical and strategic support for digital cadastre operations, including spatial updates, quality control, compliance with NSDI/INSPIRE standards, and resolution of historical geodetic discrepancies. It also involves coordinating surveyors and administrative teams, managing project deliverables and reporting, and supporting process improvements, planning and budgeting within the EU4PropertyRights project. The Expert will work in close coordination with other experts and national counterparts throughout the assignment. In addition to the delivery of the specific tasks under this ToR, the Expert is expected to contribute with relevant technical knowledge, practical experience, and lessons learned from the implementation of similar projects and international best practices, with the aim of supporting high-quality and sustainable project outcomes.

1. Strategy and Implementation

• Specifically, the functional responsibilities of the Cartographer Specialist will include:
• Digital System Operations: The expert will support the assessment and operation of the national digital cadastre database to process, register, and update spatial property records
• Advanced Spatial Drafting: The expert will interpret cartographic outputs, including certified map sheet fragments, property parcel boundary files, and detailed relevation plans based on formal cadastral standards.
• Priority Cadastral Process Management and Technical Support: The expert will review, analyse and provide technical support for the spatial components of priority cadastral services, including Sporadic First Registration, Property Division (Subdivision), Amalgamation (Merger), and Property Border Correction. This will include assessing the required cadastral documentation, spatial data, maps and survey inputs, supporting the processing and updating of the parcel geometries, and supporting the identification for opportunities to streamline and digitise these workflows. 
• Technical Quality Control: The expert will review and advise on the current practice of cross-verifying spatial boundary submissions against existing property registries, reference books (Libri i Ngastrave), and historical paper-based (kartela) records to identify and resolve overlaps or technical discrepancies before final registration.
• Surveyor Coordination & Facilitation: The expert will serve as the technical interface and liaison for stakeholders, including licensed private surveyors involved in topographic and geodetic measurements, to ensure complete compliance with SCA technical regulations and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).
• Workflow Monitoring: The expert will assist with internal tracking of application timelines and compile daily technical statistics on completed property transactions, issued certificates, and map copies to assess and advise on improving organisational transparency.
• Provide technical oversight and monitoring of the Cadastral Data Improvement Contractor
• Provide feedback to the Contractor’s methodologies for data improvement to ensure alignment with national standards (KRGJSH-2010, Gauss-Krüger).
• Ensure that all technical processes for data improvement (field surveying, topological verification, and legal-technical integration), are executed in accordance with the standards defined in the project’s Terms of Reference, national cadastral laws, and ISO quality frameworks.
• Review and provide feedback to the Internal QC Reports produced by the Improvement Contractor for technical rigor.
• Conduct random "spot checks" of field measurement and map preparation 
• Contribute reviewing "Lessons-Learned & Process Optimization Framework Paper," ensuring the findings reflect real-world technical implementation challenges.

2. Technical Guidance and Support

• Technical Expertise in Digital Cadastre: Advanced knowledge of architecture, data-flow requirements, and digital workflows connected Albania public platforms.
• Spatial Quality Assurance: Outstanding eye for detail in validating geospatial datasets, with the ability to reconcile legal title narratives with physical land boundaries and orthophoto details.
• Interoperability & NSDI Compliance: familiarity with the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), national geoportals, and European spatial data standards such as INSPIRE Directive principles.
• Problem-Solving & Analytical Thinking: Ability to systematically diagnose, map, and resolve complex overlapping property claims arising from legacy coordinate system integration.

3. Project Management and Reporting

• Manage assigned tasks and deliverables within the EU4PropertyRights project, ensuring timely completion and adherence to project objectives.
• Prepare detailed reports, analyses, and presentations on the progress and impact of AI initiatives within the project.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to identify opportunities for further enhanced land administration processes.
• Contribute to the development of project plans, budgets, and resource allocation strategies.

4. Communication and Coordination

• Effective Liaison Communication: Excellent communication skills to act as a bridge between the technical surveyors in the field and the administrative/legal back-office validation teams in local cadastre directorates.
• Coordinate systems: Knowledge of the spatial discrepancies and execute transformations between the historical coordinate reference system and the modern national geodetic reference system, including resolving the coordinate shift implemented to avoid digital-historical data conflicts.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in Geodesy, Geodetic Engineering, Cartography, Topography or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• Certification in Geodetic Engineering, Surveying, or a related geospatial field is an asset

Required

• Proven experience in working with Geospatial Data Harmonization
• Proven experience in Collaborative Technical Work
• Proven experience in developing and implementing 
• Proficiency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems.
• Solid understanding of Albanian land administration legislation, regarding technical and legal document specifications, and national geospatial guidelines.

Desired

• Experience working as a Cartographer, or GIS Specialist within or closely supporting the State Cadastre Agency (SCA) or similar public land registry environment.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience handling legacy spatial datasets, performing coordinate transformations, and resolving historical boundary inconsistencies.
• Experience coordinating technical projects directly with the Digital Cadastre Centre (DCC), and  or the State Authority for Geospatial Information (ASIG).
• Experience working on international development projects. 
• Knowledge of EU requirements and directives in land administration

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