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Interdisciplinary Cartographer/Geographer/Computer Scientist

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Salary: Lakewood, CO: $109,107 (Step 01) to $141,836 (Step 10) or Rolla, MO: $98,496 to $128,043

Location Negotiable: The duty station of this position may remain that of the selectee or may be any USGS location that is agreed upon by the selecting official and the selectee. If the agreed upon location results in the relocation of the selectee, relocation expenses are not authorized. Salary dependent upon the agreed upon duty location of the position. Locality pay tables can be found here.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/20/2023 to 03/31/2023
Salary
$98,496 to - $149,651 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Lakewood, CO
Rolla, MO
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel 1 night per month for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
USGS-RES-23-11845096-DE-SER
Control number
713059000

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Duties

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Summary Continued:
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Open to current or former Federal employees: USGS-RES-23-11845097-ST-SER

Duties:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves as a national catalyst for the organization and distribution of biological, hydrological, geological, and geographical information and addresses the specific needs of the Department of the Interior and its land and resource managers. The USGS is the Nation's largest water, earth, biological science and civilian mapping agency, working in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country with numerous international communities to provide reliable, impartial, scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers and partners.

The National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) is the primary operational component within the National Geospatial Program (NGP), the largest program within the U.S. Geological Survey in terms of appropriated funding, with an annual appropriated budget of approximately $70 million. The NGTOC provides world-class geospatial technical expertise and customer service for the USGS and the Nation through fulfilling its responsibilities within the NGP. It is responsible for the acquisition, assessment, and integration of geospatial data in support of The National Map, oversight of Geospatial Data Products and Services Contracts, quality assurance and quality control of products and data produced via contract or by other entities outside of the NGTOC, providing government furnished materials to support contract production, development of national standards and data models to support The National Map, and providing technical assistance to USGS Geospatial Liaisons and state, local and private sector partners.

The Senior Vector Data Structures Specialist position is a senior researcher in the NGTOC Innovation Office. The Innovation Office performs geospatial applied research and investigations to bring leading edge processes, techniques, and technology into use in achieving the goals of the National Geospatial Program (NGP). The Innovation Office also assesses and documents enterprise-level geospatial system requirements and develops systems which meet these requirements.

The incumbent serves as the primary subject matter expert on vector data structures and data models for the Applied Research & Technology Branch. The Vector Data Structures Specialist's primary activities include promoting data integration between USGS vector data layers; developing policy recommendations for USGS senior management regarding vector data models, data structures, and derived products and services; and consulting with other scientists in external agencies on issues of geospatial data structures and data models. The Vector Data Structures Specialist works to enhance and improve the consistency of data resolution and accuracy across vector data themes. The Vector Data Structures Specialist also works on planning and formulating long-range plans and programs in leading regional and national science Hydrography efforts to define and promote opportunities for additional traditional and web-based mapping applications.
The Vector Data Structures Specialist reports directly to the Applied Research & Technology Branch Chief. The Vector Data Structures Specialist will lead research activities to include organizing and leading task teams. The Vector Data Structures Specialist will work in close coordination with the Topographic Applied Research Section Chief and the NGTOC Senior Technical Lead for Hydrography.

Some of your specific duties will include:
  • Investigate geospatial technology, techniques, data, data structures, and software.
  • Prepares analyses of the costs (time and funds) associated with new product development.
  • Plans, oversees, coordinates, and provides technical guidance regarding development activities related to new USGS geospatial data structures, data products, and software.
  • Designs, develops, and implements new geospatial data structures, data models, test plans for geospatial products and services, web services for geospatial datasets and derived products, and Application Programming Interfaces.
  • Serve as a project lead and expert for geospatial activities that develop new techniques, solutions, or programs to solve problems and/or introduce new products or services in support of the National Geospatial Program mission.
  • Independently plans, organizes, and leads teams to conduct geospatial applied research that leads to advancements of existing geospatial data products and services; or new capabilities in support of the NGP mission.
Duties continued under Requirements

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Duties Continued:
  • Fosters cooperation and communication by developing and using effective interpersonal skills; and developing approaches to promote the effective utilization of personnel, information, and program resources resulting in enhanced operational efficiency that furthers the NGP mission.
  • Maintains and manages changes to existing data models
  • Writes comprehensive reports that include authoritative findings and recommendations and serve as bureau precedents; prepares and presents project presentations to Center, Bureau, DOI, and external personnel; and writes related issue papers, standards, and other documents all to advance and enhance the National Geospatial Program's mission by professionally communicating and collaborating with superiors, peers, and others within and outside NGP in the interest of accomplishing NGP objectives.
  • Serves as an agency representative, promotes NGP work on advanced geospatial technology, methods, and trends and advances USGS visibility and contribution to the geospatial industry and community.
  • Plans, authors, organizes, and leads training for NGTOC staff to ensure successful implementation of new procedures and techniques. Plans and holds workshops for external users to encourage the adoption of NGP products and service.
Key Requirements:
  1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?
  • If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
  • Because 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.

Qualifications

Requirements Continued:

  • 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 Geographer 0150:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Geographer, all grade levels.

  1. Degree in geography; or related physical or social science such as geology, meteorology, economics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, cartography, computer science, urban studies, or planning that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields.
  2. A combination of education and experience-- courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semesters hours in geography or related fields, as shown in "A" above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.
For Cartographer 1370:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Cartographer, all grade levels. A. Degree: cartography; or a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography and/or directly related science, and related mathematics. Such course work includes, but is not limited to, cartography, astronomy, geodesy, photogrammetry, physical and geological oceanography, computer science, land surveying, geophysics, physical geography, and remote sensing. The 30 semester hours must have included at least 6, but no more than 15, semester hours of college level, non-business mathematics or statistics (i.e. college-level algebra, trigonometry, calculus, or scientific mathematics or statistics requiring equivalent college-level courses as prerequisites).

**OR

B. Combination of education and experience-courses equivalent to a major in cartography, or a minor that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography, and/or directly related science, and related mathematics, as shown in "A" above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above.

For Computer Scientist 1550:

BASIC
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet the following to satisfy the basic education requirement for Computer Scientist, all grade levels. Bachelor's or higher degree in computer science OR a bachelor's or higher degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have included any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus.

For GS-13:

To qualify you must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility performing the following:
  • Experience with the geospatial data structures and data models including design, implementation, and maintenance.
  • Experience modifying geospatial data structures and data models to optimize their utility for geospatial services and applications.
  • Direct experience with web services and enterprise implementations.
  • Experience transitioning geospatial research to operational implementation.
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

Other Information:

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • 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 Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits:

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
  • Written Communication
  • Procurement
  • Leadership and Supervision
  • Program/Project Management

--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. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment required for this position. 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.

Additional Assessment Required: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position a subject-matter-expert will perform a structured review of your resume to evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position.

--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 the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11845096

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