Geospatial Systems Specialist

Summary
Multiple positions being filled through out the Northern Region, Region 1.
These positions are located on a Forest Service unit, located at the Supervisor's Office or on a Ranger District. The position provides technical resource information support with the integrated database systems, including the Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) and Infra databases.
For additional information about individual duty locations, please see the Education section below.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties

• Duties listed are at the full performance level.
• Works with managers and resource specialists to determine type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze ecosystem management alternatives.
• Participates in developing data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
• Manipulates both tabular and spatial information in corporate databases to support Forest Service business requirements.
• Converts geospatial information and remote sensing imagery into Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.
• Manipulates and analyzes geospatial data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units or a large geographical region.
• Performs multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities.
• Compiles topographic and cartographic data for creation of thematic map products and presentation materials for multi-use resource management planning, preparation of environmental assessments/ impact statements.
• Follows established guidelines to facilitate geospatial model design and analysis procedures related to natural resource and relevant socio-economic data and products.
• Uses GIS technology and established GIS procedures to produce maps and graphics for various Forest resource programs, planning documents, and a variety of other requirements.
• Provides advice and recommendations on sources, standards, integrity, compatibility, and cost efficiency of natural resource and socio-economic information.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Basic Requirement:
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS 7 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include performing ONE (1) or more of the following:

• Provided technical assistance to Geospatial Information System (GIS) users in accessing, troubleshooting, and/or using geospatial software, data and applications;
• Applied geospatial technology and analyzed data to support resource management decisions for natural resource programs; and/or
• Assisted with organizing and maintaining resource information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple natural resource disciplines;

-OR-
One full year of graduate level education;
-OR-
An appropriate combination of graduate level education and specialized experience;
-OR-
Superior Academic Achievement. (go to this site to determine if you are eligible: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.
For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include performing TWO (2) or more of the following:

• Under the guidance of a higher level specialist, participated in developing data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications;
• Participated with higher level specialists in the manipulation and analysis of geospatial data linking a variety of resources such as socio-economics, land, air, water, timber, recreation, wildlife, fisheries and/or special management areas;
• Created increasingly more complex thematic map products and presentation materials using established automated map and chart making processes; and/or
• Applied basic geographic and cartographic principles to the resolution of more complicated issues in geospatial database construction and map compilation.

-OR-
A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related;
-OR-
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level)
Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary, or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.
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
See above for education that may be qualifying.
Contact Information
-Kootenai National Forest, Libby Ranger District: Supervisor, Jacob Somerset, jacob.somerset@usda.gov. Duty Location: Libby, MT
--Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Ranger District: Supervisor, Steven Snell, steven.snell@usda.gov. Duty location: Trout Creek, MT
-Kootenai National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District: Supervisor, Robert Tardif, robert.tardif@usda.gov. Duty Location: Troy, MT
-Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Supervisors Office (3 positions): Supervisor, Scott Godfrey, scott.godfrey@usda.gov. Duty Location: Orofino, Kamiah, Grangeville, Elk City, Kooskia, White Bird, Potlatch or Grangeville, ID.
-Flathead National Forest, Hungry Horse Ranger District: Supervisor, Gary Blazejewski, gary.blazejewski@usda.gov. Duty Location: Hungry Horse, MT
-Lolo National Forest: Supervisor, Thomas Lilly, thomas.lilly@usda.gov. Duty Location: Missoula, MT
-Dakota Prairie Grasslands: Supervisor, Phil Sjursen, phil.sjursen@usda.gov. Duty Location: Bismarck, ND
Additional information
The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.
This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/
Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.
Government Housing may be available.
We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
PLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is limited to the first 125 applications received and will close at 11:59 pm ET on the closing date identified above or the day we receive the 125th application, whichever occurs first.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12215141

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to ...