Physical Scientist (Gis)

Summary
This position is part of the Appraisal and Valuation Services Office (AVSO), Office of the Secretary of Interior. The incumbent will be serving as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician for the AVSO Technical Services Division.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Family of overseas employees
  Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Land & base management
  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.
• Military spouses
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Special authorities
  Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.
• Veterans

Clarification from the agency
Special Authorities: other miscellaneous authorities
Duties

• Assists staff in the development and use of spatial data and advanced geospatial technological applications; serves as technical advisor on Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Applies standard geospatial and cartographic principles to new situations and resolves novel or obscure problems.
• Advises, counsels and assists Appraisal and Valuation Services Office staff regarding GIS project planning including timelines, data analysis capabilities, budgeting, contracting, and other information management considerations.
• Compiles natural resource, topographic, and cartographic data for creation of thematic map products and presentation materials for multi-disciplinary resource management planning.
• Assists in the development of data dictionaries, data models, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and geospatial applications.
• Oversees data life cycle management.
• Serves as technical point of contact and maintains liaison with the AVSO staff, Federal, State, and local governments; learning institutions; the private sector; professional organizations; and other individuals concerned with GIS, GPS, remote sensing and mapping.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit of pay is required.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications).

Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher degree in one of the following majors: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR
Combination of education and experience education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements listed above, you must meet one of the following:
At the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Gathering geographic information systems (GIS) data in order to develop maps and overlays to assist in the analysis of the land characteristics and the digitization of properties for appraisal development; interpreting satellite imagery and identifies spatial data overlaps, gaps and data consistency in GIS; and explaining technical and analytical information on data and system development concerns in writing; OR
B. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related in one of the following fields: Physical Science, Engineering, or Mathematics; OR
C. A Combination of education and experience as listed above.
At the GS-12 level, you must meet the following qualification:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to: Gathering geographic information systems (GIS) data in order to develop maps and overlays to assist in the analysis of the land characteristics and the digitization of properties for appraisal development; using Python language to develop custom GIS tools, utilities and processes plus Microsoft SQL to manage database structure; interpreting satellite imagery and identifying spatial data overlaps, gaps and data consistency in GIS; analyzing color infrared imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) elevation data and analyzing SQL data replication and versions of conflicts; explaining technical and analytical information on data and system development concerns in writing and preparing comprehensive and defensible reports; solving GIS problems presented by users; and applying standard geospatial and cartographic principles to new situations and resolves novel or obscure problems.
Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).
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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
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Education
If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
Additional Salary Information:
Albuquerque, NM: $69,777 - $108,724
Ashland, WI: $69,107 - $107,680
Atlanta, GA: $72,974 - $113,706
Aberdeen, SD: $69,107 - $107,680
Bloomington, MN: $74,973 - $116,821
Denver (Lakewood), CO: $76,551 - $119,280
Phoenix, AZ: $72,037 - $112,246
Portland, OR: $74,137 - $115,518
Sacramento, CA: $76,106 - $118,586
Billings, MT: $69,107 - $107,680
Rapid City, SD: $69,107 - $107,680
Oklahoma City, OK: $69,107 - $107,680
*Remote location (Location Negotiable): The base salary range in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for the remote work location.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/
Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities
OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities
Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
*If an applicant applies to and is selected from the Location Negotiable locality preference, they would be subject to remote work guidelines.
Stipulations of Employment:
Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.
Work Schedule:
This position allows for a flexible work schedule.
Miscellaneous:
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 http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement #AVSO-24-DE-12216023AM using Delegated Examining (DE) procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet DE requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.

• 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.
  Review our 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.
Once the application process is complete, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the Assessment Questionnaire and any additional assessment required for this position. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
You will be evaluated for this job based on:

• The experience listed in your resume and how well you meet the experience listed in the qualification section of announcement and the competencies listed.
• On-line job Assessment Questionnaire
  
  • Competency based scaled self-report responses
• Technical Assessment Questionnaire - Questionnaire that measures applicants' technical expertise
  
  • Questionnaire designed to measure components of knowledge that the applicant will be required to display on the job and are administered as part of the application process.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Analytical Thinking - Physical Science
• Geographic Information Systems Design and Analysis
• Oral Communication
• Problem Solving
• Technical Competency
• Written Communication

Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process.
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