Overview

Duties

Summary

This position will serve as the Remote Sensing and Geospatial Specialist to provide technical, strategic, and administrative expertise in designing and implementing, monitoring, assessment, and evaluation strategies for migratory bird habitat and harvest management in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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Responsibilities

–Provide strategic guidance in developing the Division of Migratory Bird Management’s remote sensing program to improve safety and the quality of data delivered in support of regulatory and conservation decisions.
–Manage and implement complete work-flow processes for planning primarily, but not exclusively, airborne remote sensing missions, collecting data using sensors and methods to meet project objectives, and processing, analyzing, and managing resultant image and navigation and orientation data.
–Coordinate with experts in fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning with emphasis on deep learning convolutional neural networks, to develop methods to automate the processing of aerial imagery from migratory bird population and habitat surveys.
–Design and implement processes and standards for conversion and management of large archives of airborne and satellite imagery and derived gee-spatial products.
–Prepare technical reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts that document methods, results, and management recommendations related to the application of remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence and other disciplines to migratory bird monitoring and management.
–Represent the Division of Migratory Bird Management and deliver oral presentations at technical, scientific, administrative, and other professional meetings.

Travel Required

50% or less – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Time-in-Grade requirements apply to status candidates
  • LMWFA or Public Land Corps eligibles may apply

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by 01/06/2021 will be considered.

This is an interdisciplinary position. You may apply for any or all of the following disciplines:

  • Natural Resource Specialist, GS-0401.
  • General Physical Scientist, GS-1301
  • Geographer, GS-0150
  • Cartographer, GS-1370

Basic Requirements for each position: You must meet A or B to qualify for the position.

For Natural Resource Specialist:
A. Degree: 4-year degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR­
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

For General Physical Scientist:
A. Degree: 4-year degree in 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
B. 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.

For Geographer:
A. Degree: 4-year 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
B. 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, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

For Cartographer:
A. Degree: 4-year degree in cartography; or a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography and/or directly related science, and related mathematics. Such course work includes, but is not limited to, cartography, astronomy, geodesy, photogrammetry, physical and geological oceanography, computer science, land surveying, geophysics, physical geography, and remote sensing. The 30 semester hours must have included at least 6, but no more than 15, semester hours of college level, non-business mathematics or statistics (i.e., college level algebra, trigonometry, calculus, or scientific mathematics or statistics requiring equivalent college-level courses as prerequisites). OR
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major in cartography, or a major that included or was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours in cartography, and/or directly related science, and related mathematics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience Requirements: In addition to meeting one of the basic entry requirements listed above, you must have the appropriate specialized experience as described below.

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
One year of full-time professional specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to a GS-11 grade level in the Federal Service demonstrating experience in the following areas: Serving as a technical expert in the areas of remote sensing, image processing, geographic information systems; utilizing the airborne remote sensing systems and remote sensing mission planning; co-authoring peer-reviewed publications or technical reports; making oral presentations at a scientific meetings, symposia, or conferences; and applying the Federal Geographic Data Committee geospatial metadata standards.

You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
One year of full-time professional specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to a GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service demonstrating experience in the following areas: providing strategic oversight and technical expertise in the areas of remote sensing, image processing, geographic information systems, digital aerial photography, direct geo-referencing system, and soft-copy photogrammetric methods; planning aerial remote sensing missions and operating airborne remote sensing systems; writing peer-reviewed publications or technical reports to present the results of remote sensing or geo-spatial analyses and preparing briefings to communicate policy or recommendations to internal or external audiences; making oral presentations at scientific meetings, symposia or conferences to present the results of remote sensing or geo-spatial analyses; coordinating the activities of interdisciplinary teams planning, conducting, processing, and analyzing remote sensing missions and resultant data; and applying the Federal Geographic Data Committee geospatial metadata standards and metadata development processes.

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.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-13. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-13. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures:
Current appointees:
You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.· Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency.· Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND· Must have performed at an acceptable level.
Former appointees:·
Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,· Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;·Must apply for position within 2 years after separation,· Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND· Must have performed at an acceptable level.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s) and grade point average or class ranking. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution’s registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.

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 school’s 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.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html