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Visual Information Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located with the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI.

This employee will work in the Communications and Science Delivery Unit of this research station and will perform a wide variety of visual information projects in support of the station's programs.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Lon M. Yeary at: lon.m.yeary@usda.gov.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
09/21/2021 to 10/04/2021
Salary
$64,649 to - $64,649 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Madison, WI
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel to attend professional meetings and or training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-RES-11234697-DP-IC
Control number
614761400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job is open to the public: U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

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  • Plans and completes visual information projects, primarily in the form of printed publications and visual presentation aimed at communicating a wide variety of information about scientific concepts.
  • Demonstrates an extensive range of subject matter expertise, artistic skill, and design ability in the execution and formatting of visual material such as graphics/illustrations, photographs, transparencies, text, and three-dimensional forms.
  • Applies the characteristics and requirements of communicating through the various media, the objectives to be achieved, and the constraints imposed by time, cost, and labor limitations.
  • Provides advice on the technical advantages and disadvantages of various formats, styles, media and methods of reproduction, and types of presentations, suggesting those that will best meet the client's informational objectives.
  • Researches source material, such as reports, plans, and publications, in order to determine the best presentation of material.
  • Translates information into original visual information products without benefit of established formats or clear unambiguous visual models or samples.
  • Applies the tools and methods of computer graphics technology to maximize the quality, efficiency, speed, and cost effectiveness of visual information creation, automation, and transfer to viable end products.
  • Maintains a comprehensive database of visual information, including in-house generated computer graphics, and subject matter information. The database is used as a library of materials that can be accessed through computer interfaces.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service 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.
  • Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

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.


Basic Requirement:

Undergraduate or Graduate education with a major in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis.

OR

Specialized experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means.

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-1084-11: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. To qualify at this grade level, your resume must reflect at least 2 out of 3 of the following:

  • Using standatd desktop publishing (InDesign) and graphic design (Photo Shop, Illustrator, etc.) software and techniques to design and produce page layouts of technical and non-technical communication products such as pamphlets, brochures, and newsletters, from web and print publications.
  • Producing visual materials which include publications with illustrations, maps, charts, diagrams, graphs, and covers;
  • Advising customers on cost, visual effectiveness, and appropriate media for projects;
OR

A Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the following fields: commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position.

OR

One year of specialized experience described above, but I do possess three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in one of the following fields: commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position.

OR

I possess a LL.M, related to the position.

OR

An 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.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work and with major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position.

Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade (salary) if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

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

See above for education that may be qualifying fo rthe specific grade level.

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 eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible - Coverage is dependent upon unit location.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing is not available

Daycare facilities are 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.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11234697

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