Physical Scientist (National Map Liaison) in SOUTH AFRICA

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Duties

Summary Continued:

The duty station of this position may be any USGS location within the states of Washington, Oregon, or Idaho that is agreed upon by the selecting official and the selectee. If the agreed upon location results in the relocation of the selectee, the travel, transportation, and relocation expenses are not authorized. Salary is dependent upon the agreed upon duty location of the position. Locality pay tables can be found here.

NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in other U.S. Geological Survey offices.

Duties:

The National Geospatial Program (NGP) develops and maintains the geospatial baseline of the Nation's topography, natural landscape, and built environment - all in the public domain. National Map Liaisons play a critical role in the development and maintenance of The National Map, including USGS topographic maps, data, and the services and applications to access them.

As a National Map Liaison (Physical Scientist) within the NGP User Engagement Office, some of your specific duties will include:

• Build and sustain stakeholder networks to outreach and promote NGP National Map programs, goals, and products to governmental organizations, non-profits, industry, academia, and the public.
• Develop partnerships to cooperate on development and acquisition of data, and initiate, develop, and manage agreements in alignment with NGP priorities.
• Educate users on NGP products and services, advise and provide technical consultation, and serve as a feedback conduit between NGP and users.
• Act as a point of contact and represent USGS and NGP at meetings, workshops, and conferences to promote NGP products and services.
• Work with partners on development of joint applications which leverage NGP National Map products and services, utilizing a knowledge of geographic information systems.
  
  

Physical Demands: Work is generally sedentary, requiring normal physical exertion in walking, standing, and carrying light items.

Work Environment: Work is in an office environment involving normal everyday risks or discomforts typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, residences, and commercial vehicles. Duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
  
  

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• A presentation or writing sample may be required as part of the interview process.
• This vacancy is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.
• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
  
  

Qualifications

For GS-1301:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Physical Scientist, all grade levels.

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
• OR
• A combination of education and experience--education equivalent to one of the majors shown in "A" above (24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science, engineering, or mathematics) that included at least 24 semester hours or the equivalent in physical science and/or related engineering science as described above, plus appropriate experience and/or additional education for a total of 4 years. The education or combined education and experience must be comparable in type, scope and thoroughness to that acquired through successful completion of a 4-year course of study as described in "A" above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)
  
  

For GS-12:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-12 level: One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples Of Such Experience May Include:

• Demonstrated experience with geospatial science and mapping (e.g., print and online cartographic products; statewide or nationwide geospatial baseline datasets; geographic information systems; geospatial technology).
• Demonstrated experience representing organizations at any level (e.g., building stakeholder networks; developing funding partnerships; coordinating agreements; participating on boards and working groups).
• Applied experience developing and performing written, verbal, and visual communications on technical topics.
  
  

For GS-13:

In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-13 level:

One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Examples Of Such Experience May Include:

• Expert knowledge of and experience with geospatial science and topographic mapping (e.g., print and online cartographic products; statewide or nationwide elevation, hydrography, and/or geographic names baseline datasets; geographic information systems; emergent geospatial technology trends).
• Demonstrated experience liaising on behalf of and officially representing organizations in executive / management-level relationships at the state or national-level (e.g., building stakeholder networks; developing funding partnerships; coordinating agreements; participating on boards and working groups).
• Applied experience developing and performing written, verbal, and visual communications on technical topics to at a variety of venues (e.g., meetings, technical sessions, workshops, conferences, website) via diverse media types (e.g., presentations, fact sheets, geonarratives, news items, social media)
  
  

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .
  
  

Additional information

Other Information:

• Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
• Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
• Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
• USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
• The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
• 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 www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
• The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
• THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
  
  

Agency Benefits:

• USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
• For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
• Working for the U.S. Geological Survey offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; health, life, dental, vision, and long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
  
  

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• Help Help 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.

• Basis of Rating: The Government-Wide direct hire authority for the Physical Scientist (1301) is being used to fill this position. All applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and minimum qualification requirements will be referred for consideration.
  
  

A presentation or writing sample may be required as part of the interview process.