The R1 Regional Office, Engineering Staff may soon be advertising for a Geospatial Information Technology Specialist Position (GS-2210-9/11) in Missoula, Montana.
INTRODUCTION
This position is located in Missoula, Montana and is part of the Northern Region (R1) Regional Office engineering geospatial services group. The Forest Service’s Northern Region includes 12 national forests located in Montana and Idaho, as well as the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. The incumbent will work as a member of a team of GIS, Remote Sensing, and Cartography professionals as the Region’s Spatial Database Administrator to assist in implementing effective GIS analysis systems, database maintenance/update, and mobile computing technologies. In addition, the incumbent will lead R1 geospatial web development.
MAJOR DUTIES
Provides consultation on all aspects of the GIS spatial database, including standardizing the data management life cycle; analyzing and defining data requirements and specifications; and designing, normalizing, developing, installing, and implementing databases, applications and operating systems functions. Develops and documents systems administration standard operating procedures.
Develops and maintains strategic plans and coordinates and discusses procedural questions or recommended changes with peers and higher level managers to ensure a commonality of procedures throughout the agency and ensure that information technology services meet program requirements.
Analyzes and makes appropriate adjustments in systems and procedures or develops recommendations on new database technologies and architectures or changes in policy to stay abreast of anticipated changes in data capacity requirements and/or to improve the services to clients.
Works with customers to test applications. Conducts functional and quality audits and continually evaluates feedback to ensure programs, projects, and products meet requirements, policies and the goals of the Forest Service and to identify opportunities for new or improved business process solutions.
Supports customers by trouble shooting and providing solutions for problems encountered by GIS practitioners beyond the skill level of primary customer support. Generalizes those solutions as user documentation, new standard operating procedures, or changes to software configuration as appropriate to prevent recurrence of these problems.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
- Knowledge and demonstrated experience in the maintenance and update of geospatial information system (GIS) data and associated databases.
- Knowledge and demonstrated experience in the use of GIS and Remote Sensing technologies to conduct analysis of natural resources data to support land management decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and performs well as a “Team Player” to meet common goals and objectives.
- Strong communication and organizational skills.
Your response to this outreach by June 13, 2014 is important in helping us determine the area of consideration for this vacancy announcement. For more information please contact
Jim Barber, R1 Geospatial Services Group, at jbarber@fs.fed.us
THE COMMUNITY
Missoula is nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana and draws people from diverse backgrounds. This scenic city is bustling with activity, as western Montana’s regional source for business, culture, medical services, retail, and entertainment. With an area population of more than 70,000, Missoula has what you’d expect to find in a big city; a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops and galleries, several museums, a ballet company, live theater and a symphony. As a natural outdoor playground it’s unparalleled, and yet Missoula is one of the most dynamic cultural centers in the Northwest.
There is a great diversity of neighborhoods and residential settings within the community and surrounding area ranging from urban to very rural. The median home sales price in April, 2014 was $234,000.The Missoula school system is considered excellent with three public and two private high schools, numerous elementary schools, a College of Technology and the University of Montana.
Missoula serves a trade area in excess of 300,000 people and therefore, has more amenities and services than most cities of its size. As the major retail hub in Western Montana, Missoula offers a wide variety of specialty, discount, and budget shopping centers for an estimated 200-mile radius. The foundations of Missoula’s economic base are wood and paper products, Federal Government, motor carriers and the University.
There are an abundance of recreation facilities and opportunities located in and around the Missoula area. These include: public golf courses, parks, tennis courts, swimming pools, health clubs, racquetball courts, YMCA, softball diamonds, hiking trails, and an ice skating rink. There are many rivers in the area for rafting, fishing and swimming. Also close to Missoula are numerous alpine ski areas, cross country ski trails, and snowmobile trails.
Missoula is a medical hub for Western Montana and has two large hospitals which provide a full array of inpatient and outpatient services. Missoula has many other health care practitioners and claims one of the nation’s highest doctors to patient ratios.
Missoula residents enjoy all four seasons of the year. The elevation is 3,205, with an average annual temperature of 45 F, with a January daily minimum of 15.5 F. and July daily maximum of 83.4 F. The growing season averages 137 days, an average mean rainfall of 13.5 inches, and an average mean snowfall of 42.5 inches.
Additional information about the Missoula area can be found on the internet at http://www.missoula.montana.com or http://www.destinationmissoula.org
GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM
*** Reply requested by June 13, 2014 ***
If you are interested in this position, please complete this form and email to Jim Barber, R1 Geospatial Services Group (jbarber@fs.fed.us)
Name: ____________________________________________
Email Address: ______________________________________
Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________________________
Current Agency or Forest: _________________________________________________
Current Job Title, Series and Grade: ___________________________________________
If you are not a federal employee with permanent status (career or career conditional), please check the following special authorities that you are eligible for:
• Reinstatement Eligible ____
• Person with Disability____
• Veterans Readjustment____
• Disabled Veteran w/30% Compensable Disability____
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998____
• Former Peace Corps Volunteer____
• Student Career Experience Program____
• Other________________________________________
Please list or explain your experience with Geospatial Information Technologies and Spatial Database Administration:
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