GIS Specialist (Seasonal)
National Park Service
Summary This position is located in the Resource Management Division of the National Park Service. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for National Capital Parks-East is April-October, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: Beginning of April Open to the first 100 applicants or until 02/23/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities The major duties of the GIS Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following: Designs, develops and manages geographic information systems (GIS) and database management systems. Implements data documentation procedures and distribution using appropriate technologies. Ensures the correct and appropriate application of geographic and cartographic concepts and principles are applied to database construction, analyses, and production of high quality digital and hardcopy GIS products. Provide technical support in GIS and cartography to a wide variety of skill/knowledge levels in GIS AND wide variety of needed uses of GIS data and applications. Collect, develop and manage GIS data according to specific procedures and industry best practices for park management and decision making. Share GIS data as geospatial data services and develop and share web mapping applications displaying GIS data. Analyze geospatial and related data to find answers or gain geographic perspective to/on park management/operations/decision-making. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 1 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Qualifications All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: If you do not meet these basic requirements, you will be considered not qualified and will not receive consideration for this position. Geographer 0150 I have a 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- I have a 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Biologist 0401 I have a degree in: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR- I have a combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Physical Scientist 1301 I have a degree: 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- I have a combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Cartographer 1370 I have a degree: 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- I have a 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 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. - AND - To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Creation of digital, online, and hardcopy cartographic products that meets NPS/DOI mapping standards. Acquisition and creation of geospatial data, along with creating corresponding FGDC compliant documentation (metadata). Creating geodatabases and managing data within that framework, to include conversion of data from legacy formats. High-level understanding of geodetic frameworks for geospatial data. Managing data within protocols for restricted and/or sensitive data to include consideration of PII contained in component databases or public surveys. Preparation of data and maps in support of field data collection. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, with a major that is related to the duties of this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Providing GIS technical support and training in GIS. Developing documentation of procedures and protocols concerning GIS data processes and data collection/management. Contribution/development of online platforms (i.e. Microsoft SharePoint and Teams sites) to support regional and national geospatial operations by providing program information for use by both technical and non-technical staff. Experience conducting geospatial analysis including model development and data processing. Utilizes GIS-compatible coding languages and modeling to develop applications, automate workflows and analyze data. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, with a major that is related to the duties of this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts. You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies". Experience listed as full-time will be credited at 40 hours per week. Volunteer Experience: 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. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Physical Demands: The work is often sedentary, but field work occasionally requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking over rough, muddy, uneven, swampy or mountainous terrain; recurring periods of bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar activities; and recurring lifting of moderately heavy items weighing up to 50 pounds. Computer work is sedentary, which entails the ability to concentrate and use computers for long periods of time. Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed indoors in a climate-controlled office environment. Outdoor work may occur in hot, cold, humid, or dry weather conditions. Outdoor work may also be required during periods of rain, snow, sleet, fog, or other adverse weather conditions. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
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