Regional Geospatial Information Specialist

Summary

This position is with the Alaska Region, Regional Office located in Anchorage, Juneau or Ketchikan. Final determination of the duty location will be made by the selecting official at the time of the job offer.

This position collaborates with internal subject matter experts and partner entities in planning, supporting, and developing the Region's Geospatial data management tools.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kim Homan at kim.homan@usda.gov.
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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates
  
  06/09/2022 to 06/17/2022
  
• Salary
  
  $74,317 - $115,803 per year
  
• Pay scale & grade
  
  GS 11 - 12
  
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  Locations
  
  1 vacancy in the following locations:
  
  • Anchorage, AK
    
  • Juneau, AK
    
  • Ketchikan, AK
    
• Remote job
  
  No
  
• Telework eligible
  
  Yes-as determined by the agency policy.
  
• Travel Required
  
  Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
  
• Relocation expenses reimbursed
  
  Yes-You may qualify for a relocation or recruitment incentive, or reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
  
• Appointment type
  
  Permanent
  
• Work schedule
  
  Full-time
  
• Service
  
  Competitive
  
• Promotion potential
  
  12
  
• Job family (Series)
  
  0101 Social Science
  
  0401 General Natural Resources Management And Biological Sciences
  
  1301 General Physical Science
  
• Supervisory status
  
  No
  
• Security clearance
  
  Not Required
  
• Drug test
  
  No
  
• Position sensitivity and risk
  
  Moderate Risk (MR)
  
• Trust determination process
  
  Credentialing
  
  Suitability/Fitness
  
• Announcement number
  
  22-R10-11531387-G-JB
  
• Control number
  
  659064900
  

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
  
  
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
  
  
• Individuals with disabilities
  
  
• Land & base management
  
  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
  
  
• Military spouses
  
  
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
  
  
• Special authorities
  
  Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
  
  
• Veterans
  
  

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP and VEOA eligibles, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, 30 percent or More Disabled Veterans, Certain Former Overseas and Foreign Service Employees, Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities, People with Disabilities, Peace Corps and VISTA, Reinstatement, Public Land Corps, Resource Assistant Program, and VRA eligible candidates.

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Duties

• Position is responsible for providing geospatial data management tools to the Alaska Region to support land, natural resources and ecosystem management .
• Applying new and evolving state-of-the-art GIS technology and automation techniques to produce geospatial tools and products for various resource programs, using Python, Structured Query Language (SQL), Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) or Arcade.
• Collaborating with regional and forest program managers to provide geospatial tools to perform analysis across multiple disciplines including but not limited to recreation, silviculture, planning, engineering and fire.
• Working as part of a regional technical team to provide a full suite of GIS tools and services to regional and forest staff including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS SDE, ArcGIS Online, and mobile applications.
• Providing geospatial technical support, advice, consultation, and assistance to various levels of staff (resources specialists, engineers, scientists, planners, subject matter experts, and managers)
• Creating an environment where people from diverse backgrounds feel respected, recognized, and valued.
• Actively fosters and maintains a work environment free of bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination consistent with all Federal civil rights laws and regulations, and Departmental and Forest Service regulations, directives, and guidance.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Selective Placement Factor:
You must be skilled in using Python, Structured Query Language (SQL), Feature Manipulation Engine (FME), or Arcade to automate geospatial processes and produce geospatial tools and products.

This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below.

Basic Requirement:
0101 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

0401 Series:
Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

1301 Series:
Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level defined as one or more of the following: Working with managers and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives; Assisting with developing data dictionaries, data models and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications; Applying applicable principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to natural resource and relevant socio-economic data and products; OR Operating complex computer systems and software packages and used established procedures to produce intricately detailed maps and graphics for a variety of natural resource programs and planning documents.
OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled)
OR
Appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.)

For the GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade leve defined as one or more of the following: Working with managers and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives; developed data dictionaries, data models and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications; Applying advanced principles to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to ecological, natural resource and relevant socio-economic data and products; OR Compiling natural resource, topographic and cartographic data for creation of thematic map products and presentation materials for multi-disciplinary resource management planning, preparation of environmental and social assessments, environmental impact statements and other projects supporting natural resource management decision making.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Veterans that meet VRA eligibility may apply for consideration at the GS-11 level.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Information on special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, and individuals with disabilities may be found on the USAJOBS website.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email
asc_tos@fs.fed.us
.

This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing is not available.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

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  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
  
  

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

• Technical Competence
• Data Management
• Cartography
• Planning and Evaluation
• Oral Communication

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11531387

• Help
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
  
  
• As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
  In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following:
  • Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the required documents for this hiring authority on the Forest Service website.
  • Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
  • Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA, VRA and 30% Disabled Veterans: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
  • If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. The SF-15 should be included but is not required. Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
  • Public Land Corps: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility FS-1820-0027, dated within two years after completion of Public Land Corps service in the Forest Service.
  • Resource Assistants: You must submit a Certificate of Hiring Eligibility, FS-1820-0028, dated within two years after completion of the Forest Service Resource Assistants program and college transcripts.
  • Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state, or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
  • If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to: USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority for more information.
    
    
  
  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  
  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.