This position is located with the USDA Forest Service, Research & Development in Washington, DC. The employee will work in the Knowledge Management & Communications and will perform a wide variety of visual information projects in support of the Forest Service programs. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Sarah Hines at [email protected].

Duties

Plans and completes visual information projects, primarily in the form of printed publications and visual presentation aimed at communicating a wide variety of information about scientific concepts. Demonstrates an extensive range of subject matter expertise, artistic skill, and design ability in the execution and formatting of visual material such as graphics/illustrations, photographs, transparencies, text, and three-dimensional forms. Applies the characteristics and requirements of communicating through the various media, the objectives to be achieved, and the constraints imposed by time, cost, and labor limitations. Provides advice on the technical advantages and disadvantages of various formats, styles, media and methods of reproduction, and types of presentations, suggesting those that will best meet the client's informational objectives. Researches source material, such as reports, plans, and publications, in order to determine the best presentation of material. Translates information into original visual information products without benefit of established formats or clear unambiguous visual models or samples. Applies the tools and methods of computer graphics technology to maximize the quality, efficiency, speed, and cost effectiveness of visual information creation, automation, and transfer to viable end products. Applies the tools and methods of computer graphics technology to maximize the quality, efficiency, speed, and cost effectiveness of visual information creation, automation, and transfer to viable end products.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: Undergraduate or Graduate education with a major in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis. OR Specialized experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-11: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. To qualify at this grade level, your resume must reflect at least 2 out of 3 of the following: Using standard desktop publishing (InDesign) and graphic design (Photo Shop, Illustrator, etc.) software and techniques to design and produce page layouts of technical and non-technical communication products such as pamphlets, brochures, and newsletters, from web and print publications. Producing visual materials which include publications with illustrations, maps, charts, diagrams, graphs, and covers. Advising customers on cost, visual effectiveness, and appropriate media for projects. OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the following fields: commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. OR Possess three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in one of the following fields: commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. OR Possess a LL.M, related to the position. OR An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work and with major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, graphic design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade (salary) if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]