• Prepare maps and other visual geography-related products using digital graphics software (Adobe Illustrator or equivalent),manage/maintain geographic databases, and devise innovative solutions for research and analysis.
• Support the Geographer in implementing the Department of State's responsibilities to assure that cartographic representation of foreigninternational boundaries by all Federal agencies conforms to United States foreign policy.
• Support the Geographer by advising Department officials in the formulation of cartographic policy, including boundary depiction, politicalsovereignty, and geographic names, and by disseminating established cartographic policies.
• Engage in the active interchange of cartographic and pertinent geographical information with counterparts in other intelligence and Federalagencies, as well as with domestic and international professional and academic organizations.
• At the GS-09 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above, however the scope and complexity of assignment are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision than at the GS-13 level.

Conditions of employment

• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
• One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education and any selective placement factors described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

Applicants MUST meet the required basic entry qualification requirements described below:

Applying at the GS-9

IN ADDITION to meeting the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, the applicant MUST also meet one of the requirements listed below:

Have at least 1 full year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience using Adobe Illustrator software to create cartographic products.
• Experience with design techniques and informational graphic elements in support of producing maps or graphic products.
• Experience in international political geography, including international boundary issues and sovereignty or disputed territories.

OR Have 2 full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to master's degree or master's OR equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university. This education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position to be filled;

OR Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above) which is equivalent to the work of the position and to the GS-07 level in the Federal service. This education and experience must meet 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Combination of Experience and Education: First determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for this grade level. Then determine your total number of successfully completed post-high school semester hours as a percentage of education required for this grade level. Then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify under this provision. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 full year of undergraduate education.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

Applying at the 11

IN ADDITION to meeting the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, the applicant MUST also meet one of the requirements listed below:

Have at least 1 year of specialized experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience must be related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience using Adobe Illustrator in a professional environment to create cartographic products.
• Experience with design techniques and informational graphic elements to produce maps and graphic products in a professional environment.
• Experience in international political geography, including treatment of international boundaries and sovereignty or disputed territories.

OR Have 3 full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of the position to be filled;

OR Have a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience (as described above) which is equivalent to the work of the position and equivalent to the GS0-9 level in the Federal service. This education and experience must meet 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Combination of Experience and Education: First determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for this grade level. Then determine your total number of successfully completed post-high school semester hours as a percentage of education required for this grade level. Then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify under this provision. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 full year of undergraduate education.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

Applying at the 12

IN ADDITION to meeting the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, the applicant MUST have at least one year of specialized experience that has equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience using Adobe Illustrator in a professional environment to create cartographic products for web based and/or interactive use.
• Experience using design techniques and informational graphic elements to produce maps and graphic products in a professional environment.
• Experience in international political geography, including treatment of international boundaries and sovereignty of disputed territories.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

Applying at the 13

IN ADDITION to meeting the basic entry qualifications requirements listed above, the applicant MUST have at least one year of specialized experience that has equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience is related to the work of the position and equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience routinely and independently using Adobe Illustrator in a professional environment to create cartographic products for web based and interactive use.
• Experience using design techniques and informational graphic elements to produce thematic and choropleth maps and graphic products in a professional environment.
• Experience in international political and economic geography, including treatment of international boundaries, sovereignty of disputed territories, demographics, transportation and the geography of energy.

Note: All applicants WILL BE required to submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be evaluated and rated under the Category Rating and Selection procedures. Based on your responses to the job-specific self-assessment questions, eligible candidates are placed for selection consideration into one of three pre-defined quality categories as described below:

Highly-qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications for the position, candidates must fully demonstrate proficiency in all major aspects of the position.

Well Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.

Qualified Category - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of knowledge, skill and ability of the position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• Knowledge in conventional and current cartographic methods.
• Knowledge of computer hardware, software and database applications for management of geospatial data.
• Knowledge of the principles of political geography, topography and map projections.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. 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). Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week. For assistance with creating a resume, please click here.

Application of Veterans Preference: The Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each pre-defined quality category. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (i.e., CPS and CP) must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" for the position to receive consideration for selection priority. Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any required supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement.

Your application package must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.