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CARTOGRAPHER

Department of Homeland Security
Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters, Strategic Planning & Analysis Directorate (SPAD), Systems Division in Washington, D.C.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/18/2025 to 07/02/2025
Salary
$120,579 to - $156,755 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
USBP-IMP-12748200-JRB
Control number
838895200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position; Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) DHS employees.

Duties

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This position allows you to use your knowledge and expertise as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst for GIS operations. You will act as a Senior GIS Analyst and serve as the primary technical advisor to USBP management GIS coordinator in all matters pertaining to GIS.

This position starts at a salary of $120,579.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $156,755.00 (GS-13, Step 10).

As a Cartographer, you will serve as an expert responsible for providing support to U.S. Border Patrol management in the development, management, coordination, and implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS). Typical work assignments include:

  • Working within an integrated strategic technical workforce team environment to meet customer needs and requirements for products and/or services.
  • Planning, organizing, and leading with forward thinking approaches in the preparation of requirements and specifications for new systems and evaluating overall plans and proposals for systems developed by others.
  • Querying and analyzing multiple GIS themes and relational datasets, developing databases, data analyses, and useful documents, maps, and reports.
  • Reviewing mapping and analytical products to ensure that adherence to all relevant standards and regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Bargaining Unit:This position is not covered under the bargaining unit.

Qualifications

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement.

Basic Requirement:
You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.

  1. 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-
  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in 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, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

You qualify for this position if you meet the Basic Requirement listed above AND possess the experience or substitution of education, if applicable, as described below.

Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Cartographic mapping, surveying, geodesic, and related sciences, and relevant mathematics and statistics to plan, design, construct, evaluate, and modify mapping and charting systems.
  • Performing geospatial data management functions for national-level datasets to include data identification, compilation, modification, analysis, maintenance, distribution, archiving and metadata attribution.
  • Identifying, reviewing and evaluating large volumes of sensitive and complex tactical geospatial and intelligence data pertaining to CBP initiatives.
  • Maintaining awareness of latest technologies for applicable geospatial projects to be able to present and/or demonstrate USBP's mapping and geospatial expertise to field components.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Evaluation of Experience: Applicants whose experience in cartography was in the Federal service may have gained this experience by working in an occupational series other than GS-1370. Occupations in which experience may have been gained include Geography, GS-150; Civil Engineering, GS-810; General Physical Science, GS-1301; Geodesy, GS-1372; and Land Surveying, GS-1373.

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.

You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 07/02/2025.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers

Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.

Additional information

Security Clearance: You will be required to obtain a Top Secret or higher level clearance for this position.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12748200

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an assessment questionnaire.

This self-assessment will be used to assess the following competencies or KSAs:

  • Knowledge of geography, digital cartography and geospatial technologies in order to successfully integrate and apply the full range of GIS applications and meet program objectives.
  • Knowledge of GIS-related hardware and computing requirements and techniques, and the ability to develop, maintain, and operate complex GIS computer systems.
  • Skill to analyze complex arrays of GIS themes, relational datasets and geospatial models to create new understandings of resources and geographical relationships (applied research).
  • Ability to communicate effectively with people having a wide range of understanding of GIS technologies and applications in order to further develop the GIS program, participate in border security and other cooperative efforts.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12748200

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.

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