This position is located in the Farm Service Agency, Massachusetts State Office, Office of the State Executive Director A, located in Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The Agricultural Program Technology Specialist provides GIS integration, analysis, management and production of GIS deliverables and manages the expansion of GIS data to meet the future needs of the FSA State Office and Service Centers.

Duties

Provides guidance, interpretations, and information concerning GIS technology, procedures and related operations. Maintains current awareness of state-of-the-art GIS technology and related applications and actively participates in national, state or local GIS consortiums. Investigates and resolves county office issues associated with system hardware, software, data manipulation and maintenance, and quality control. Compiles data sources and generates output for use in farm program analysis and evaluation as well as for use of other agencies and private or public entities. Provides guidance and technical training specific to GPS technology using nationally developed tools; independently develops or modifies information as necessary when providing training to state and county office employees. Establishes relationships with other State Office GIS staff to research, locate, and obtain existing digital data.

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. If selected, you will be sent instruction on obtaining fingerprints. Please note, we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
• Successful completion of a one-year probationary or trial period.
• Direct Deposit – 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Background Investigation and Fingerprint Check: Selection and retention in this position is contingent upon a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement 07/22/2024 including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-7 grade level for consideration for the GS-9 grade level.). For the GS-9: At least one full-time year of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-7 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates knowledge of and skill in applying GIS principles, concepts, standards and characteristics to develop new methods, approaches and procedures; develop and generate GIS data and generate maps. In addition, experience that demonstrates the ability to apply fundamental principles, concepts and methods of fact-finding, analysis, and problem-solving techniques sufficient to gather and analyze factual data, interpret and apply regulations and policies, and review program operations to identify, analyze and recommend solutions to problems. -OR- Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field. -OR- 2 full years (18 Semester Hours) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in a related field. -OR- A combination of graduate level education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level) AND specialized experience as listed above. For the GS-11: At least one full-time year of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates knowledge of and skill in using GIS technology sufficient to implement and test geographic databases, generate digital products and maintain software and digital databases. In addition, experience that demonstrates the ability to apply analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of program issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature. -OR- Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree -OR- 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree -OR- LL.M., that included a related field of study. -OR- A combination of graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.) in a related field AND specialized experience as listed above. For the GS-12: At least one full-time year of specialized work experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that demonstrates the ability to utilize GIS concepts and techniques such as data conversions, geo- referencing, spatial interpolation, etc., sufficient to determine the applicability of GIS technologies to a variety of program operations. In addition, experience that demonstrates the knowledge of and skill in applying and adapting analytical and evaluative methods to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of program operations and to develop, modify and improve operations. There is no substitute of education for the GS-12 grade level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp 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 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements for the GS-9 or GS-11:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Contacts

• Address Farm Service Agency 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Katya Bou-Sliman
• Email: [email protected]