Bureau of Land Management Logo
Position Title
Geographic Information Systems Specialist
Agency
Bureau of Land Management
Announcement Number
OR-23-DE/MP-11971484-KF Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, June 12, 2023 to Monday, June 26, 2023
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. YOUR RESPONSES WILL AFFECT YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION. The following questions address if you are eligible to apply to this job opportunity announcement through Merit Promotion procedures. You will only be considered under the options you have selected. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the following criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. Please refer to the announcement for additional information. You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement to be considered. (limit characters)
2. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:

• have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
• are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
(limit characters)
3. (1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who is serving on active duty?
-OR-
(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?
-OR-
(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?
For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of your spouse's active military orders and a copy of the marriage certificate. To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc.).
(limit characters)
4. Are you a current federal employee who is considered surplus or displaced from the agency hiring for this position?   If yes, confirm:
 
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of your current position; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than your current position; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
 
(limit characters)
5. Were you employed overseas as an Appropriated Fund employee AND did you: 
• complete 52 weeks of creditable overseas service in an appropriated fund position(s) as a family member during the time you accompanied a sponsor officially assigned to an overseas area; AND, 
• receive a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating; AND, 
• return to the United States to resume residence less than 3 years ago? 


For more information, review: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/family-of-overseas-employees/

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, and performance appraisal.
(limit characters)
6. Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee with a career or career-conditional appointment (Tenure 1 or 2 in block 24 of the SF-50) in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1 in block 34 of the SF-50) who holds/has held the same or lower grade level with lower promotion potential than the position being announced?
OR
Were you formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment or did you obtain career-conditional status (and are within 3 years of the date of separation or are a preference eligible) AND you held the same or lower grade level with lower promotion potential than the position being announced?

If eligible, submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.
Your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2 in block 24) AND status in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1 in block 34).
 
(limit characters)
7. Have you completed at least 1 year of continuous service immediately before separation from one or more nontemporary Foreign Service appointments  ; AND, your separation from a Foreign Service career-type appointment occurred in the last 3 years (individuals entitled to veteran's preference do not need to meet this 3-year requirement)?

-OR

Have you completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before separation from an unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF- 50) reflecting your nontemporary status. If you are outside of the 3-year requirement but are entitled to veteran's preference, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service.

For more information please go to:Appointment ForeignService Employees

 
(limit characters)
8. Are you a current or former federal employee considered displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:
  • you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
  • your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
 
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.  
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
 
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and current with?
 
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs-Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 7401(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104(1) and (3)].
  • Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) employees of the Department of Defense
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Corporation for National and Community Service
  • Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration
  • The Department of Defense (The Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System) Agreement
 
OR
 
Are you an Employee under Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management; or, another authority which grants non-competitive eligibility?
 
  • Postal Career Service Employees
  • Postal Rate Commission Employees
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employees
  • Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employees
 
For more information please review: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems
 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
 
(limit characters)
10. Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency (The Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation) and are serving or served under a time-limited competitive service appointment? You may be eligible to compete under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, P.L. 114-47. For more information review, https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/land-management-workforce-flexibility-act.htm

Current land management agency appointees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees must have initially been hired under competitive procedures for a time-limited appointment; must have served under one or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service; must have been separated (with respect to their most recent separation) for reasons other than misconduct or performance, and must apply for a position covered by these provisions within two years of their most recent date of separation.

You must provide documentation showing all required periods of service which includes ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH appointment as well as ALL performance evaluations or references from supervisors (if employed for periods of time too short to require an appraisal) for each qualifying period of temporary employment claimed.
(limit characters)
11. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months? 

-OR

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position? 

-OR

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years? 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.
 
(limit characters)
12. Are you a current Federal employee who holds or has previously held a non-temporary career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a non-temporary career or career-conditional position in the competitive service with equal or higher promotion potential as the position being announced?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career status (Tenure 1) or career-conditional status (Tenure 2.  If you have career-conditional status you must have separated within the last three years OR have veteran's preference.
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 

-OR-

Are you a former Federal employee who previously held a career or career-conditional position in the competitive service, separated from the Federal Government over a year ago, and your last performance rating on record as a Federal employee was at least Fully Successful (or equivalent)?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status AND your last Federal performance appraisal plan.
Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:
• career status (Tenure 1) or career-conditional status (Tenure 2). If you have career-conditional status you must have separated within the last three years OR have veteran's preference.
• your status is in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1). 
Your last Federal performance appraisal plan must reflect: 
• Rating of Fully Successful (or equivalent)
 
(limit characters)
13. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist showing proof of intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disability. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
(limit characters)
14. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:
• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service, and/or other documentation which shows you are entitled to veterans' preference.
 
(limit characters)
15. Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR
• are a disabled veteran; OR
• served on active duty during a war, campaign or expedition; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
 
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
3. In the last five years, based on the closing date of this announcement, have you served or are you currently serving as an Executive Branch political, Schedule C, or Non-career SES appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your Standard Form 50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
(limit characters)
4. I have a satisfactory or better rating on my last performance appraisal. I will provide a copy of my performance appraisal, if requested. (limit characters)
5. I have received recruitment incentive awards during the last two years and have listed them on my resume. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Your responses to this questionnaire, in conjunction with the other portions of your completed application, will be evaluated in determining your eligibility and qualifications for this position. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provided in your resume or other application materials. (limit characters)
Minimum Qualifications, GS-09 (limit characters)
1. Select one statement from the choices below that demonstrates how you meet the Minimum Qualification Requirement for the GS-09 grade level.
(limit characters)
Minimum Qualifications, GS-11 (limit characters)
2. Please select one response below that indicates how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the GS-11 grade level.
(limit characters)
For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience, education and/or training carrying out each task using the scale provided. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Define data need parameters for specific geospatial projects and/or assignments.
(limit characters)
4. Identify interrelationships within data and applies layers of geographic data to produce spatial analysis and derivative maps to promote effective and economical management of natural resources.
(limit characters)
5. Reconcile coding errors and resolves technical problems.
(limit characters)
6. Analyze cumulative impacts of frequently measured environmental factors and conducts spatial analysis and geospatial modeling to analyze resource distribution and behavior.
(limit characters)
7. Administer geospatial databases and implements quality control and assurance guidelines for geospatial data projects.
(limit characters)
8. Conduct research to locate and obtain information from existing databases.
(limit characters)
9. Compile geographic data from a variety of sources.
(limit characters)
10. Provide technical user support for all aspects of geospatial data and/or software.
(limit characters)
11. Assist in the development of statewide applications to ensure project consistency and effectiveness.
(limit characters)
12. Design, develop, and manage geospatial databases, including conversion of digital data in various formats.
(limit characters)
13. Represent office managers when working with other internal/external organizations on geospatial matters.
(limit characters)
14. Assist in the integration of Enterprise GIS with long- and short-term planning and management activities.
(limit characters)
15. Promote and support an integrated training program to teach basic and complex skills in the use of geospatial software, data acquisition, retrieval, and analysis.
(limit characters)
16. Work with a diverse group of resources specialists, planners, and managers to coordinate and implement geospatial applications.
(limit characters)
17. Incorporate GIS resource data into a range of local planning documents and processes.
(limit characters)
18. Participate in professional conferences and other events for the purpose of exchanging information and presenting technical and policy information.
(limit characters)
19. Assist with long- and short-term planning and/or management activities of Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
(limit characters)
20. Recommend changes to localized procedures and methods.
(limit characters)
21. Develop and/or implement quality control and assurance guidelines for geospatial data projects.
(limit characters)
22. Assist in the development of statewide standards to ensure project consistency and effectiveness.
(limit characters)
23. Work with resources specialist/technician and IT staff to identify and schedule geospatial hardware and software processing needs to develop local plans for required upgrades.
(limit characters)
24. Gather information, identify, and analyze issues to improve the consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of geospatial data throughout an organization.
(limit characters)
As previously explained, your ratings in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume and documents you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your ratings. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you, for rating you ineligible, for lowering your score, or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period, or other disciplinary action, including termination. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: understand this warning; have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy; and verified that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and demonstrated capability (limit characters)
25. Failure to agree or respond to the statement below will disqualify you from further consideration for this position. Select the most appropriate response below.
(limit characters)