GSA Online Application System

 

Public Land Name: Southern Region (R8) Regional Office (Remote/Telework - Eastern Time) Position Title: CLOSED Cartographic Technical Assistant Agency: USFS Position Type: GeoCorps Position ID Number: 2022615, 2022636 Location: Remote/Telework - Eastern Time Accepting Applications? No # of current Applicants: 0 Position Description: GeoCorps America participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Learn more. Each project can accept up to 100 applicants. GeoCorps applicants can apply for multiple projects per season. Applicants must complete a cover letter for each project for which they apply. For current applicants: You are considered a project applicant once you have successfully added the project to your profile while you are logged into your application form. The added project would appear under “POSITIONS YOU HAVE ADDED” for the GeoCorps America Program. You are encouraged to add projects before you complete your application components. In order to be fully considered for any position, you must complete all application components before the application deadline passes on 3 February. Login to your GeoCorps application profile to check the status of your application components, and make sure to complete any remaining items before the deadline passes. Maps provide a social service and represent the vast resources that are available to the general public. They also represent the social values of the Forest Service and the public it services. A good map looks easy, but the complexity of the data and displaying the data is truly both in art and science. Forest Visitor Maps are a critical resource to the public to show and guide visitors to points of interest within our 14 Forests and Grasslands in the Southern Region. Providing the best illustration both in paper copy and digital format will be the primary focus of this position. This will include production and maintenance for the Forest Visitor maps and specialty maps. The participant will be responsible for editing maps using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop-Geographic Imager, and ArcGIS, georeferencing using Photoshop Geographic Imager extension, assist in maintaining the Avenza Map Store for public consumption and Avenza Hidden Store for Agency administrative use. The participant will also be responsible for creating ancillary map data in ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator for visitor maps, updates to existing transportation system maps, recreation information edits and updates to existing maps, research and edit ownership data for visitor maps, research and review existing geographic names on the visitor maps and using ArcGIS, geodatabases, corporate databases, and authoritative datasets outside of the Forest Service to edit and revise existing map databases. This project is offered through the Geological Society of America's GeoCorps America Program, in partnership with the Minerals and Geology Management Program of the USDA Forest Service. GSA and its partners are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and remain committed to providing enriching geoscience work experiences while maintaining the safety of project participants and mentors. Because the current COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue into 2022, project timelines and structure will remain flexible. As such, it may be necessary to postpone start dates, begin work remotely, or reformulate the project workplan. Should any development in the COVID-19 pandemic impact a project’s ability to proceed as planned, the GeoCorps team will work with the host site and project mentors to assess the situation and determine the best course of action at that time. GSA encourages candidates to apply for these opportunities and appreciates your flexibility and understanding during this time. Goals, outcomes, and deliverables: Updating Forest Visitor Map for public use is a Federal requirement. The products the participant creates will be used by the public for hiking, fishing, boating, hunting and many other activities important to the public. The products must be accurate and polished as these will be public-facing products and used by Forests and their partners in daily administrative and emergency situations. Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.): The participant will work directly with the Lead Cartographer in the Southern Region, who will provide the oversight and guidance needed to successfully create the mapping products. The participant will have the opportunity to work with members of the field that specialize in cartography data. Equipment will be provided to the participant’s location to enable the participant to create the products. Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.): The skills that the participant will learn are highly sought after in the government and private sector. The participant will gain the knowledge of using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop-Geographic Imager, and ArcGIS software. The participant will work with a government corporate spatial database and edit and manage data in a digital cloud environment. The participant will gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of pulling together differing data sources into a map. This position is perfect for a participant that enjoys working with map and Illustration software. The work is well suited for an individual that enjoys highly independent work, details, and visual tasks. The software used and skills developed will be of great benefit for those pursuing careers in geology/geoscience, geography, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, and other natural sciences. Leadership Development: This position is remote and entails doing multiple, complex projects concurrently. The participant during this project will develop skills in prioritization and project management. File organization and documentation will be crucial as these projects cross multiple platforms and are check by multiple personnel during the course of the project lifecycle. The position is remote so self-direction and communication is critical in keeping the projects moving and the data fresh, and ensuring the tasks are completed correctly. Presenting Project Results: The participant’s work will eventually be published on plastic, folded maps, and sold over the counter at Forests and on the USGS Map Store. The digital, georeferenced version of the map will go on sale to the public in Avenza for mobile use, and to the Avenza Hidden Map Store for Forest use on mobile devices. The Hidden Store maps are also used by our partners such as county EMS during hurricanes. The maps will also become part of the national package of Forest Visitor Maps sold for unrestricted use to other mobile app companies such as Gaia. Participants would be encouraged to present their results in other relevant venues as well, such as conferences hosted by GSA and other STEM organizations, and Forest Service Minerals and Geology Management webinars, as appropriate. Physical/Natural Environment: This project will be hosted as a remote position. Work Environment: This position will require excellent communication and organizational skills as the project is remote. The main venue for chat and calls is through the Microsoft Teams platform. Email is through Microsoft Outlook. The RIM staff has a monthly meeting. Qualifications: The position requires a college degree with coursework in GIS and/or cartography. Degrees in subject areas such as geology/geoscience, geography, forestry, ecology, natural resource management, and other related subjects would be considered relevant. Experience with ArcMap is required for the project tasks. Experience in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, and Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, and Excel is desirable. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident (“Green Card holder”). Prior to starting this position, the participant will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and pass a background check with either the host agency, GSA’s staffing partner Aerotek, or both. Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable): The position will be hosted remotely. Position Dates: Spring/Summer 2022 (start date flexible) Position Duration: 52 weeks Hourly Wage: $15.00/hour Housing Details: The position will be remote or teleworked, however candidate must be in the EST or willing to modify their schedules to work within the Eastern Time Zone. If you have questions about the application and selection process, please contact GSA's GeoCorps managers.  If you have questions about any aspect of the position — description, qualifications, housing, dates — please direct them to the contact(s) listed in the project description. Remember, application materials can only be submitted online. The project contact(s) will not accept application materials sent to them via e-mail, mail, fax, etc. See the full program details at the GeoCorps homepage. PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION Melanie Riley Lead Cartographer 1720 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30309-2421  470.539.0454  melanie.riley@usda.gov Website SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION Renee Jacokes-Mancini Remote Sensing Coordinator 1720 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 800 Atlanta, GA 30309-2421  770-855-3138  renee.jacokes@usda.gov Website