This vacancy is for a Geographer position in the Geography Division located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Geographer, 0150-9/11/12, FPL GS-12, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
This vacancy is for a Geographer position in the Geography Division located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station.
This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Geographer, 0150-9/11/12, FPL GS-12, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
This vacancy is advertised under 3 different announcements. Please read the 'Who May Apply' section carefully to determine your eligibility. If you are not eligible under this announcement, please see 24-GEO-12521660-DE-EB and 24-GEO-12521662-ST-EB.
Minimum Education Requirement: Degree: 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.
OR
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
AND
Specialized Experience: For the GS-09, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: using geography and geographic tools or concepts to perform geographic and/or geospatial analysis and geographic operations related to geocoding and/or spatial updates; assisting with geographic information systems and address list development; preparing and writing documents, specifications, guidelines, and letters; using office software to generate reports and presentations; using automated technology (such as Microsoft Excel) to manipulate and analyze data and prepare reports; and using automated tools to track projects and run queries in databases.
OR
Education: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree
OR
Combination of education and experience
Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: using geography and geographic tools and concepts to perform geographic and/or geospatial analysis and geographic operations related to geocoding and/or spatial updates and coordinates; working with geographic information systems and address list development; preparing and writing technical documents, specifications, guidelines, and letters; participating in discussions, meetings, and presentations for various audiences; using office software such as Excel or other spreadsheet software to manipulate and analyze data and generate reports and presentations; and using automated tools to track projects and design and run queries in databases.
OR
Education: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
OR
Combination of education and experience
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: using geography and geographic tools and concepts to perform geographic and/or geospatial analysis and geographic operations related to geocoding and/or spatial updates and coordinates; developing and writing technical documents, specifications, guidelines, and letters; conducting discussions, meetings, and presentations for various audiences; conducting training and/or presenting complex technical information to non-technical audiences; managing technical projects in support of geographic operations involving multiple stakeholders; managing project documentation such as project plans and requirements using office software such as Excel or other spreadsheet software to manipulate and analyze data and generate reports and presentations; leading teams, setting priorities and project schedules; working with teams and individuals to identify and resolve problems that affect the accomplishment of geographic program goals and objectives; and using automated tools to conduct projects and design and maintain queries in databases.
Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze." Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates:
CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.
The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:
For more information on category rating, please go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating .
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.
Do NOT include the following types of information in your application:
A complete application consists of the following:
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, refer to the U.S. Department of Education's web site at Academic and Professional Mobility | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
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.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 09/24/2024.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://www.usajobs.gov.
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at https://usajobs.gov and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions. The four points of notification are:
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
