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Cartographic Technician

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

GS-08: Salary: $46,572 (Step 01) to $60,543 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/21/2019 to 10/25/2019
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$46,572 to - $60,543 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 08
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
La Crosse, WI
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - An average of 5-10 nights per month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months/years with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
09
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
RES-2020-0001
Control number
549065700

Duties

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As a Cartographic Technician, with the Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

  • Performs processing of raw image files, orthorectification of processed imagery and color balancing of referenced imagery. Performs collection, interpretation, and analysis of data generated by various remote data collection sensors, including manned-aerial flights and unmanned aircraft systems.
  • Prepares of modifies maps using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. Compiles, reviews and produces digital spatial databases, metadata and other digital cartographic products.
  • Participates in accuracy assessment planning for testing vegetation maps, and compiles, edits, and processes the results of the accuracy assessment. Works with field crews to monitor data collection.
  • Participates in the planning and execution of complex studies and investigations concerning biological and physical processes that affect ecosystems.
  • Gathers, organizes and interprets a wide variety of biological ecological, public use data or other information pertinent to scientific studies or investigations. Gathers, analyzes, tabulates, and summarizes ancillary data sets.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year trial period.
  • Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
  • Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

This vacancy is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered.  You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached.  Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • This position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.  Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • You will be required to operate a government-owned or leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: 1) Possession of a valid State driver’s license and 2) Possess a safe driving record. You will be required to provide proof of a valid State License and a copy of your driving record.
  • The candidate selected must obtain a favorable medical exam at federal expense.
  • Work is primarily sedentary. However, field work may require physical exertion of walking on uneven terrain; lifting and carrying equipment and supplies up to 50 lbs; wading in streams in adverse weather or flooding conditions. Work may require the use of special clothing or gear such as masks, coats, boots, or goggles.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/cartographic-technician-gs-1371.

If you are qualifying based on specialized experience, you must meet the requirements listed below:

GS-08: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS7 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position. Specialized experience may include work in the fields of cartography, physical geography, geodesy, astronomy, photogrammetry, oceanography, computer science, land surveying, geophysics, and remote sensing if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Examples of GS-07 level work: Prepares conventional maps, graphs, and illustrations using traditional cartographic methods or automated systems; performs automated and/or manual digitizing to convert data into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases; produces plotted maps using automated systems and software platforms such as ArcGIS and QGIS; views and manipulates lidar data on software platforms such as LP360; enters data obtained from a variety of sources in digital format; edits, verifies, and formats data in digital form; processes cartographic data and graphic products for entry into a digital database by editing and reviewing data for accuracy and consistency.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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.
  • Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.  
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Scientific Knowledge
  • Technology Application
  • Information Management
  • Pressure/Deadlines
  • Collect Scientific Data
  • Compute/Analyze Data

--Basis of rating:  Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.


To preview questions please click here.

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