Geodetic Earth Scientist

Company: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
Location: O Fallon
Posted on: November 16, 2020

Job Description:

Job Summary

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Geodetic Earth Scientists analyze the Earth's gravity and magnetic fields, geophysical structure, material properties, and dynamics for geospatial intelligence and DoD applications. They define and maintain the World Geodetic System (WGS), perform datum transformations between WGS 84 and local datums, and develop spatial and temporal models defining Earth systems. They provide in-depth technical expertise on geodetic and geophysical issues to customers and represent NGA in community forums establishing doctrine and policy.

Additional Job Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

* NGA is hiring in support of NGA & USSPACECOM's national security missions. It is advertised as an Earth Scientist until a SPACE work role is developed. This position drives SPACE-based derivative requirements / application, & SPACE mission assurance. Contributions will solidify resiliency of national Positioning, Navigation & Timing (PNT).

* This program lead oversees a team of scientists addressing Geodesy & Geophysics (G&G) challenges related to a PNT SPACE environment. Must have an advanced understanding of DoD/IC processes, activities, standards, & GEOINT operations. Must demonstrate familiarity with SPACE doctrine, strategy, domain & application of Geomatics to understand, prioritize & communicate architecture, production methods & reference systems. Will determine & define distinct deliverables required for specific projects & initiatives with clear alignment to DoD/IC requirements & familiarity with acquisition & Planning, Programming, & Budgeting Execution (PPBE) Process.

* Must be fluent in DoD program management to define, plan, develop, implement, deliver & maintain alternative positional reference systems to support SPACE PNT beyond the current capabilities of the World Geodetic System (WGS) & associated models. Demonstrate experience in managing stakeholders, scope, budget, risk & schedule in successful delivery of complex geospatial related projects. Develop plans, schedules, project estimates, resource demands, & status reports. Adhere to quality standards & review project deliverables. Excellent written/verbal communication skills & exceptional emotional intelligence. Ability to influence/motivate people across a broad variety of job functions.

* As senior program manager, will make recommendations to leadership/staff on strategic direction of the Program. Will collaborate with policy, research, product, engineering & operations teams to orchestrate end-to-end policies, practices, procedures & address information & capability gaps. Employ analytical, quantitative & data visualization skills to use data & metrics to back up assumptions, recommendations & drive program decisions. Engage with stakeholders to orchestrate projects, tailor expert advice & discussions to convey the proposed method, data, & results to a large non-technical audience. Provide recommendations on G&G issues to internal / external stakeholders & attend community forums as necessary.

* Support team, program & cross-functional initiatives to continuously improve processes to increase effectiveness & provide suggestions for best practices. Superintend analysis, including the conceptualization, creation, delivery of new products, tools, services, platforms, & technical solutions & identify full lifecycle requirements. Manage acquisition / mission assurance for geospatial data supporting SPACE, studies potential applications of geomatics tradecraft, & methods / production in a SPACE-based environment. Embed feasibility, sustainability, interoperability, resiliency, situational awareness, contingency, security & readiness in program planning.

* Experience managing enterprise level projects in the following areas or processes: reference frame transformations, geocentric / lunar-centric systems, developing methodologies, procedures & production in support of SPACE, navigation, & operations, Earth / SPACE-based collection systems, & mission assurance.

* Desired credentials: Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) level III, Six Sigma and/or Project Management Professional (PMP)

* Exhibit technical knowledge, enable healthy partnerships & balance between the mission & employee development. He/she establishes & maintains open / ongoing dialogue with team members, assists performance expectations for direct-report employees & establishes a team who upholds to NGA core values; Excellence, Accountability, Respect, Teamwork, Honesty.

* Applicants currently with a Top Secret security clearance are desired but is not mandatory to apply for this position.

Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to:

* Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics that are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in the application you submit must support the response you provide to this questionnaire.

You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required. Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible. Mandatory Qualifications MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online applications must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

* Previous experience extracting and analyzing information from various sources and briefing the results to an audience

* Documented experience of problem identification, analysis and resolution

* Experience working in groups to develop solutions to problems and deliver those solutions to a customer

* Demonstrated experience in technical program management (Astrophysics, Astrodynamics, Physics, Geophysics, Geodesy, Geosciences, or Orbital Mechanics)

* Experience in Reference Frame Transformations and Coordinate Systems

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Geodesy, Mathematics, Physical Science, or a related discipline that includes at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework in any combination of Astronomy, Cartography, Computer Science, Engineering Science, Geodesy, Geology, Geomatics, Geophysics, Mathematics, Meteorology, Orbital Mechanics, Photogrammetry, Physical Science, Physics, Remote Sensing, or Surveying. Coursework must include differential and integral calculus. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in conducting work related to Civil Engineering, Geodesy, Geophysics, Geotechnical Analysis, Geodetic Surveying, or a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors and shades/hues of principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/40 or better with or without corrective lenses; Far visual acuity of 20/60 or better binocular with or without corrective lenses Highly Desired Qualifications QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

* Having achieved an advanced degree (Masters or Masters and PhD) in one or more of the following areas: Geodesy, Mathematics, Physical Science, or a related discipline that includes at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework in any combination of Applied Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Astrodynamics, Engineering Science, Geodesy, Geodetic Astronomy, Geomatics, Geophysics, Mathematics, Orbital Mechanics, Physical Science, Physics, Remote Sensing, or Geodetic Surveying. Coursework would include differential equations and integral calculus.

* Customer service principles; DoD organizational structure, mission, goals, and priorities; NGA organizational units' missions and functions; decision-making processes; experience and willingness to brief groups; performing scientific analysis; experience/knowledge of computer networking; knowledge of statistical analysis; recent experience in performing scientific analysis; and demonstrated ability to learn new technology.

* Experience delivering strategic support; develop mission statements, vision statements, operational goals and objectives; integrate doctrine, strategy, concepts, and capability development; broker stakeholder interactions and participate in conferences, panels and policy forums.

* Experience performing program oversight; anchor team activities in well-defined and traceable requirements; develop plans, manage budgets, schedules, risk and performance; track actions, identify milestones, construct and maintain roadmaps, and report progress; lead integration activities and matrix teams; experience and willingness to brief groups.

Additional Job Requirements You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs. Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs. Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure. Band 05 $128,669 - $167,275 PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized. Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family. For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nga/ngabenefits.html Cover Letter Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter. The entire cover letter cannot exceed the specified limits provided in the Cover Letter field (3,000 characters). Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered. The cover letter is recommended but is not required for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Applicants should place their narrative information in the Cover Letter / Other Professional Details field. Who may apply External Applicants Only How to apply Application submission involves applying using the Intelligence Community's Applicant Gateway on-line application process. ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. How will I be evaluated? APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:

* All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,

* Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,

* Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education information referenced in the announcement. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.) All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

* U.S. Citizenship Required - Security Clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information)

* Polygraph Test Required

* Position Subject to Drug Testing

* Two Year Probationary Period

* Direct Deposit Required

DCIPS Disclaimer NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. Employees on term or temporary appointments are not eligible to apply for internal assignment opportunity notices. This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility in your application.

Keywords: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, O'Fallon , Geodetic Earth Scientist, Other , O Fallon, Missouri