Summary This position is located at the National Cemetery Administration in Washington, District of Columbia. Responsibilities Under general technical direction of the GIS Program Manager and supervision of the Chief, Cemetery Development & Improvement Service the incumbent performs GIS and GPS support for the assigned District. Support includes training, data development, spatial analysis, and reporting. The incumbent analyzes current and proposed programs to evaluate their actual or potential effectiveness in establishing and achieving goals and objectives set by the agency. They are considered the expert in GIS for the assigned District and will, as part of the GIS program team, directly coordinate GIS/GPS functions with the District. The following typical duties are performed: Serving as a Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist in the assigned District, provides technical expertise and oversight for planning, development, implementation, and management of GIS spatial products. Advises and provides assistance in acquiring and compiling geospatial data and reports. Determines best way to present data and provides GIS products upon request including hardcopy maps, graphical displays, and reports that are appropriate for a given project. Coordinates closely with end-users to assure GIS product needs are accurately defined and communicated. The incumbent assures the coordination of the Districts GIS/GPS efforts in accurately mapping the cemeteries and recording new interments and headstone placement with established GPS collection methods. The incumbent compiles and analyzes data, prepares reports, and recommends solutions for resolving problems and to ensure compliance with operational standards and measures. Assignments involve special studies and investigations to promptly detect problem conditions in connection with GIS/GPS operations through the District. Studies relate to the full scope of interment operations, grounds maintenance operations, headstone/marker/niche cover operations, and GIS/GPS information management, as well as to other topics such as facilities, personnel, and security. Resulting recommendations and advice may impact more than one interrelated activity and have strong impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of future cemetery GIS/GPS program operations. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Available Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description Title/PD#: Cartographer GIS Specialist/PD1642587 The full performance level of this position is GS - 12. At the level GS-11, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12950715 Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 05/15/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Preferred Experience: ArcGIS Pro proficiency in a versioned editing environment. ArcGIS Online and Portal for ArcGIS administration. Use and training of others in GPS collection techniques using VRS and RTK correction sources. Data automation and reporting using Python 3.x and SQL.Basic Education Requirements: (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) You must meet the basic education requirement to be considered. 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, 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. You may qualify based on your experience and education, as described below:GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Serving as a Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, providing technical expertise and oversight for planning, development, implementation, and management of GIS spatial products. Advising and aiding in acquiring and compiling geospatial data and reports. Determining the best way to present data and providing GIS products upon request including hardcopy maps, graphical displays, and reports that are appropriate for a given project. Coordinating closely with end users to assure GIS product needs are accurately defined and communicated. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the 36 semester hours of graduate education earned. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) GS-12: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Serving as a Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist, providing technical expertise and oversight for planning, development, implementation, and management of GIS spatial products. Advising and aiding in acquiring and compiling geospatial data and reports. Determining the best way to present data and providing GIS products upon request including hardcopy maps, graphical displays, and reports that are appropriate for a given project. Coordinating closely with end users to assure GIS product needs are accurately defined and communicated. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Cartography Technical Competence Quality Assurance Computer Skills Design Critical Thinking 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Additional Information Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
