Geographer

Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Geographer. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Grand Junction, Colorado This position is concurrently open to all U.S. Citizens under Announcement Number BOR-UCB-24-12516068-DE-OPM. Responsibilities Utilize GIS and related technology to improve business operations and natural resources management activities within an agency. Maintain geospatial databases, coordinating with other internal stakeholders to ensure continued operation, robustness, and effectiveness of the database. Meet with GIS users to assist in developing, determining GIS database structure and layout, and level of GIS record details and provide and coordinate GIS technical support and training for other GIS users within an organization. Use established procedures/methods to analyze photo-interpreted data, maps, geo-related analog and digital products into digital systems which allow for easy access and retrieval of information in both tabular/graphic forms to support project needs. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). You must maintain a valid State Drivers License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Drivers License at all times will result in removal from the position. Some overnight vehicle travel may also be required. Who May Apply: 30% or More Disabled Veterans Appointment of Certain Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Current and Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer) Current and Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement/Reassignment/Transfer) Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) Interchange Agreement and Special Authorities Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) National Service (Peace Corps and VISTA) Pathways Program – Conversion Eligible Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority (PLC) Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA) Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet BOTH the Basic and Minimum Qualification requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application. Basic Requirement, Geography GS-0150 series: Have a bachelors 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 Have a combination of education and experience consisting of courses equivalent to a major in geography, or a related field that included at least 24 semester hours in geography or related fields, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying: For the GS-07 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least two (2) of the three (3) following tasks: 1) working on projects that involve the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software to analyze spatial data; 2) conducting field research, which involved collecting geographical data through surveys, interviews, or environmental assessments; or 3) utilizing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to obtain data in the field for use by professionals. OR Have successfully completed one (1) year of graduate-level education from an accredited college or university in a field directly related to the work of the position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education OR Have completed all the requirements for a bachelors degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for this position, from an accredited college or university, and meet one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement based on the following: (1) class standing (upper third standing in graduating class based on completed courses); (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 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) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Note: Please attach as copy of your transcripts. OR Have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. (You must submit your transcripts as proof of any claimed education and your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience.) For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least two (2) of the three (3) following tasks: 1) recommending solutions to problems that require the integration of multiple disciplines; 2) utilizing of ArcGIS On-Line (AGOL) to perform geographic, geospatial analysis, or geographic operations related to spatial data; or 3) interpretating local regulations for Geographic Information System (GIS) utilization and support. OR Have a masters or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university with major study that is directly related to the position. (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education). OR Have some specialized experience as described above, but less than one (1) year; and I have more than one (1) year but less than two (2) years of graduate education. I have computed the percentage of the requirements that I meet, and the total is at least 100%. (To combine education and experience, first divide your total months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one (1) year (18 semester hours) by 18. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify). (Note: Only graduate education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) is creditable toward meeting the experience requirement when combining experience and education. You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education). For the GS-11 Level: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least two (2) of the three (3) following tasks: 1) developing or implementing quality assurance procedures for digital data collection; 2)using geography and geographic tools and concepts to collect, analyze, and display spatial data; or 3) planning or implementing applications involving Geographic Information System (GIS) ensuring maximum compatibility of existing databases. OR Have successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., in a field that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct the work of this position, such as Geography. OR Have a combination of education and experience described above. (To calculate, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 36 semester hours, and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify). TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-05 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-07 level. One year at the GS-07 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. One year at the GS-09 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered. You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 10/11/2024. Volunteer Experience: 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 include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as “varies”. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate schools definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. Additional Information You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the positions supervisor. Physical Demands: The work is performed in both office and field settings. Office work is mostly sedentary but may require long periods of mental concentration while using computer. Field activities involve and lifting equipment less than 50 pounds per component, considerable walking and carrying GIS devices while walking on uneven ground, steep slopes, embankments, streambanks and reservoir shorelines with loose rock or unstable footing, bending, stooping, and climbing in and around large dams and associated facilities, climbing ladders and stairs or operating automobiles, offroad vehicles and various watercraft to reach remote locations associated with assigned projects may be required. The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity. Working Conditions: Work performed in the office involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. Office work is mostly sedentary performed at a workstation with a desk office with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation but may require long periods of mental concentration while using computer. Field work involves moderate risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions and use of protective clothing or gear that may include hardhat, boots, gloves, life jackets, etc. Field work is subject to remote outdoor locations, Inclement weather, hot, cold, or wet and slippery surfaces and discomforts due to the possibility of riding or operating automobiles, offroad vehicles and various watercraft to and from remote locations associated with assigned projects Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This is a non-bargaining unit position. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).