Natural Resources Conservation Service Hiring for STUDENT TRAINEE (CARTOGRAPHY) at Jackson, Mississippi Full Time

Summary Position is under the Pathways Student Internship Authority, designed to provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level paid work opportunities in agencies to explore federal careers while in school. If selected you must report no later than June 2023 to begin the internship. Student Trainees assignments will be under direct supervision, developmental in nature and assist in gaining the competencies necessary for the duties listed below. Responsibilities In a developmental capacity, assists state resource conservationist in developing and maintaining state GIS information. Performs a variety of general technical support duties such as assisting with digitizing data, and maintaining state geospatial database layers; prepares basic manual and digital maps and graphics in support of NRCS programs and activities. Performs assignments that involve tasks in obtaining and maintaining current and useful aerial photographs, orthophotographs, base maps, and resource map data for state and field office use. Makes geospatial data accessible to state office staffs. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Program Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be currently enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as a certificate or degree-seeking student at a qualifying accredited educational institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time as defined by your educational institution; Applicants must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5 or equivalent) to qualify for the intern program and to stay throughout the duration of their intern in, or related to, the internship opportunity being advertised. Examples of relevant educational fields for this position include but are not limited to: Cartography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Land Surveying, Geophysics, Physical Geography, and Remote Sensing or other cartography-related disciplines that will allow applicants to qualify for the conversion requirements listed below. Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed. Below is the education requirement to be qualified for this position: GS-03 Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study. GS-04: Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate’s degree. One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university. One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 18 semester hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university. Conversion Information: Candidates selected from this announcement may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service, provided that all terms of the Internship Program are met and there is an available position. Conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed and is at agency discretion. Pathways Interns may convert to a permanent position in the same occupational series (e.g., GS-1370) as outlined in the intern’s Pathways agreement. Upon conversion to the competitive service, this position will have a career ladder up to the GS-9 full performance level. To be eligible for conversion, you must satisfactorily complete all Pathways Program requirements: Complete at least 640 hours of work experience prior to graduation, typically one summer of full time work (40 hours per week) is equivalent to 320 hours; Complete all mandatory training requirements; Meet performance expectations and be recommended for conversion; Meet suitability requirements; and Meet the position’s Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards. See the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=1300-ndx GS-1370 Basic Requirement: 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). Education College Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your college transcript or high school diploma/GED certificate as proof that you meet the educational requirements for the grade to which you are applying. You may submit unofficial copies of transcripts at the initial phase of the application process; however, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entrance-on-duty. See “Required Documents” section for more details. MUST PROVIDE all transcripts/proof of enrollment/acceptance, and/or current class schedule. All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov/ Additional Information Physical Demands: Work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as walking on rough terrain, jumping ditches and furrows, climbing steep banks, or negotiating other terrain features. Work Schedules: Selected Interns will be expected to work full-time (40 hours per week) during school summer breaks, and may be allowed to work part-time during the school year, depending on location/state selected. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position requires 40 hours of formal, interactive training. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) may be authorized upon meeting Pathway Conversion eligibility requirements, if SLRP policy requirements are met and as Agency funding allows. A mobility agreement may be required. Position may change duty stations throughout internship and conversion to permanent position. Recruitment and Relocation Incentives may be offered.