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Geographer

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
Core Science Systems/National Geospatial Program/Cartographic Data Services

Summary

This position is located within the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Core Science Systems, Cartographic Data Services.

Duty Locations:

  • Rolla, Missouri
  • Lakewood, Colorado
  • Reston, Virginia

Salary (GS-11):

  • Lakewood, CO: $83,265 (Step 1) to $108,251 (Step 10)
  • Rolla, MO: $74,678 (Step 1) to $97,087 (Step 10)
  • Reston, VA: $85,447 (Step 1) to $111,087 (Step 10)

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/30/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 30, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$74,678 - $97,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Promotion potential
11
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
USGS-RES-26-13008307-IMP-SY
Control number
876898700

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Duties

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At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Conduct research for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) by responding to inquiries, collecting and analyzing geographic names information from multiple sources, and compiling data for case briefs and special projects.
  • Prepare case briefs for proposed new and changed geographic names for publication in the BGN Docket List and presentation to the Domestic Names Committee.
  • Provide technical support to senior BGN staff by participating in monthly committee meetings and offering expertise on geographic names issues.
  • Serve as a technical liaison with Federal, State, Tribal, local, and private organizations on geographic names policies, standards, and projects.
  • Represent the National Geospatial Program (NGP) at meetings, committees, and working groups to support geographic names research, coordination, and information sharing.
  • Collaborate with the Domestic Names Committee (DNC) Executive Secretary, Senior Researcher, and other stakeholders to develop, implement, and maintain geographic names initiatives and projects.
  • Assist with planning, tracking, and documenting annual work activities, contracts, and project deliverables supporting the geographic names program.
  • Research, evaluate, and recommend geographic names information to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and related national geospatial products.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements

  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Federal employees applying under merit promotion procedures must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Additional requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Conditions of Employment

A background investigation is required. Continued employment is contingent upon successfully completing the required background investigation and receiving a favorable suitability determination.

Throughout the recruitment process, we will communicate with applicants via email. You are responsible for ensuring the email address provided in your application remains current. If your email address changes, notify the point of contact listed in this announcement.

If selected, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. During this period, the agency will evaluate your performance, conduct, and continued suitability for Federal employment to determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest, supports organizational goals, and promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment beyond the probationary period is contingent upon the agency's written certification that you have successfully completed the probationary period.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement

Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for the Geographer Series, GS-0150.

A. Education

Successfully completed a bachelor's or higher degree in geography or a 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

B. Combination of Education and Experience

Successfully completed a combination of education and experience that included coursework equivalent to a major in geography or a related field, with at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as described in A above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education. The combination of education and experience must be comparable in type, scope, and depth to that acquired through successful completion of a four-year course of study as described above.

Minimum Qualification Requirements for the GS-11 Grade Level

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, applicants must meet one of the following:

A. Specialized Experience

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing duties such as:

  • Analyzing and interpreting geographic information, maps, digital geospatial data, and related datasets to solve geographic problems.
  • Researching, evaluating, and selecting information from multiple sources to support the location, documentation, and standardization of geographic names and features for maps, charts, or gazetteers.
  • Analyzing the spatial distribution of geographic phenomena and comparing relationships among natural or human-induced features.
  • Assisting higher-graded researchers on geographic studies, projects, or analyses by collecting, organizing, evaluating, and interpreting geographic information.
  • Performing independent assignments or significant portions of larger projects while applying established geographic principles, methods, and procedures to resolve routine problems.

OR

B. Education

Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in geography or another directly related field of study.

OR

Successfully completed three years of progressively higher-level graduate education (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours, or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D. in geography or another directly related field, provided the education demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

OR

C. Combination of Graduate Education and Specialized Experience

Successfully completed a combination of graduate education beyond the second year of graduate study and specialized experience, as described above, that together meet the qualification requirements for the GS-11 grade level.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this 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/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs

Additional information

Other Information:

  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in the advertised office or other U.S. Geological Survey offices in the local commuting area.
    This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in other U.S. Geological Survey offices.
  • 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.
  • As part of the application process, a series of four short essay questions will be included. Applicants must certify that their own words were used to answer the questions.
  • Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.
Agency Benefits:

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Resume Length:
Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Basis of Rating:

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the result of the 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.

Resume Review Assessment Required: If you meet the eligibility and basic qualification requirements for this position subject-matter-experts 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.

As part of the online application process, you will be assessed on your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Problem Solving
  • Teamwork
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Reasoning
Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and awards during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

--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/13008307

Geological Survey

The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities and special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. To learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus, visit: https://www.doi.gov

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Nation's premier science agency, delivering objective, timely, and relevant scientific information to support informed decision-making. Join the National Geospatial Program's Cartographic Data Services team as a Geographer and contribute to the development, analysis, and management of geospatial data and mapping products that support science, natural resource management, emergency response, and the public. In this role, you will apply geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, and geospatial technologies to advance the USGS mission and provide trusted geographic information used across the Nation. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your geospatial expertise while making a meaningful impact through public service, we encourage you to apply. To learn more about the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: https://www.usgs.gov

Agency contact information

Sokhan York
Phone
801-524-3703
Email
sokhan_york@ios.doi.gov
Address
CARTO DATA SRVCS
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US

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https://www.usgs.gov/about/about-us

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