Outreach Notice: Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialists

Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialists
Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialist

Training and User Support (TUS) Program: 2 positions

Disturbance Assessment and Services (DAS) Program : 1 position

Enterprise Data and Services (EDS) Program: 1 position
The Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC) in Salt Lake City, is pleased to announce an outreach for four Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialist positions.  This is an exciting opportunity for employees who are interested in supporting Forest Service program initiatives using cutting-edge geospatial technologies and developing the remote sensing and associated geospatial skills and capabilities of agency staff.  These positions provide technical support to three GTAC programs through project support to field units, operational support and related technical assistance to enterprise geospatial programs and applications, and the development and delivery of applied remote sensing training.
This notification is circulated to inform prospective applicants of these upcoming opportunities and to determine interest in the positions.  Responses to this outreach will inform approach for a future vacancy announcement, and may be used for a lateral detail(s) not to exceed 1 year, or for a temporary promotion detail(s) not to exceed 120 days.  Potential for permanent reassignment may also be considered.  No travel expenses are authorized for a Detail, but may be authorized for a permanent reassignment.
These positions are located in Salt Lake City, UT, at GTAC, a detached unit of the National Forest System, Engineering, Technology and Geospatial Services.

About the Positions

The positions are considered remote sensing subject matter experts and technical advisors to promote and facilitate the use of remote sensing tools and applications as well as data primarily obtained from satellite or aircraft sensors, including but not limited to analog/digital imagery, multispectral/hyperspectral imagery, radar, and LiDAR.  The positions utilize remote sensing and GIS technologies in combination with an understanding of natural resource issues to develop and analyze data and information to assess and monitor natural resources, resource management activities, and natural disturbances; operate and manage enterprise imagery and raster data services and applications; and develop and deliver remote sensing/image processing training and technology transfer opportunities to the entire the agency.

General responsibilities for all four positions include:
-Provide technical assistance and/or consultation to field units and various remote sensing and GIS users throughout the Forest Service, supporting agency resource management activities.
-Identify, research and implement new and emerging remote sensing and GIS technologies, remote sensing data, and advanced geospatial applications.
-Develop new, more efficient, cost-effective and/or higher quality remote sensing and GIS processes.
-Manipulate and analyze remote sensing data to support resource management decisions for multiple resource, jurisdictional, and ownership units or large geographical regions.
-Perform multi-scale and/or multi-resource analysis in support of planning, analysis, and monitoring activities.
-Advise on the implementation, management, analysis, and use of remote sensing data and information.  Assess quality, compatibility, and limitations of various data used in a wide array of land management and planning efforts.
-Prepare and deliver briefings on remote sensing technologies and projects to stakeholders, resource managers and geospatial data users.

Specific TUS position responsibilities include:
-Engage across GTAC program areas to assess the need for training related to ongoing projects and successful application of remote sensing science to a business are requirement.
-Develop and implement applied training consistent with resource management objectives and organizational business requirements.
-Conduct formal and informal training and provide technical assistance to remote sensing and GIS software users in the development, storage, retrieval and analysis of remote sensing data and analysis outputs.
-Serve as point of contact and training liaison with the Regional Offices, National Remote Sensing Program Manager, Federal, State, and local governments; academia; the private sector; professional organizations; and other individuals concerned with remote sensing, GIS, GPS and mapping.

Specific DAS position responsibilities include:
-Provide support to emergency, fire or all-hazard events including production and delivery of rapid response products under short suspense deadlines.
-Capacity to learn and apply multiple sources of passive and active remote sensing data (Lidar, radar, Landsat, Sentinel 2, WorldView 2 & 3, GeoEye, digital photography etc.) for mapping and analyses.
-Program and automate complex remote sensing and GIS tasks/processes to make data processing and analysis workflow more efficient to solve unique and diverse technical problems and produce consistently derived geospatial products.
-Assist development and technical implementation of project plans for local, regional and nationwide projects including disturbance mapping/monitoring and post-disturbance damage assessments.
Specific EDS position responsibilities include:
-Coordinate the acquisition and compilation of geospatial data and its integration into Forest Service geospatial enterprise applications for access by end users.
-Provide technical assistance to field personnel for enterprise geospatial data applications.
-Review long and short-range functional action plans for the implementation of Forest Service enterprise geospatial applications  
-Develop policies, procedures or techniques to solve problems that require adaptations or extensions for geospatial enterprise data applications.
-Advise management regarding appropriate procedures in analytical tools and information systems use related to enterprise geospatial applications.

These positions are non-supervisory.  The positions require proficiency in communication (written, oral, and virtual), coordination, technical (remote sensing, GIS and related geospatial technologies), and organizational skills (project and file management). 
About the Duty Station

If you are interested in this position, please respond electronically in the outreach database by March 13, 2020. If you are unable to respond electronically, please complete the outreach notice form below and forward it to Brian Vanderbilt at: brian.vanderbilt@usda.gov   Please reach out to the following contacts for questions about the duties of the positions in each GTAC program area

TUS Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialist positions – David Grey (david.grey@usda.gov / 801-975-3441).

DAS Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialist position – Brad Quayle (brad.quayle@usda.gov / 801-975-3737).

EDS Remote Sensing/Geospatial Specialist position – Dave Vanderzanden (dave.vanderzanden@usda.gov / 801-975-3753).