Geographer.

Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Must sign a mobility agreement and an Army Fellows Participant Agreement if selected. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. A Personnel Security Investigation is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the collection of imagery and spatial data from local, regional, state, and federal agencies and organizations, military installations, private entities, and Architect-Engineer firms.
• Perform data entry, data creation, and geo-processing, entering map and tabular data into the GIS (Geographic Information System).
• Perform multi-layer map creation and editing, generate map and report products, and review map data for technical adequacy.
• Assist in the creation and maintenance of simple spatial and tabular, geo-referenced, relational databases.
• Assist in implementing database designs, data standards, data dictionaries, automated map libraries, and automated data validation functions.
• Attend professional meetings, seminars, workshops, and training courses to maintain state-of-the-art advances and applications in GIS.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below.
• 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).
• Resume must clearly describe relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, transcripts will be required as part of the application.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement for Geographer:

• Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In Addition To Meeting The Basic Requirement Above, To Qualify For This Position You Must Also Meet The Qualification Requirements Listed Below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in multi-layer map creation, editing and reviewing of map data for technical adequacy; or, assisting in the collection of imagery and spatial data from a variety of sources; or, assisting in the creation and maintenance of simple spatial and tabular, geo-referenced, relational databases. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR Education: One full year of graduate-level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: geography, economics, geology, meteorology, or political science.

OR Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:

• Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
• Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either:
  • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
  • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
• Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Note: Grade point averages will be rounded to one decimal point. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0, and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Foreign Education: If using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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.

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. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.

Additional Information

• This position is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
• If selected, official college or university transcripts must be submitted; however, unofficial transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.
• This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when the selectee is eligible and recommended by management.
• The incumbent works under closer supervision and in a developmental capacity, receiving progressively more responsible assignments as experience and training are gained.
• This position requires a 1-year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.