Database Specialist Water Database Development Project (Cyprus)
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Subject: International Opportunity--Water Database Specialist--Cyprus
08/17/00
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
2-YEAR FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT
Position: Database Specialist Water Database Development Project (Cyprus)
Announcement No.: WRD 00-06
This announcement offers an opportunity for qualified Water Resources
Division (WRD) employees to apply for an overseas assignment in Nicosia,
Cyprus.
Opening Date: August 17, 2000
Closing Date: September 22, 2000
Appropriate Skill Level: GS-12 or 13 (Hydrologist GS-1315 or Computer
Specialist GS-334)
GS-11 and GS-12 employees are encouraged to apply. If a GS-11 employee is
selected, he or she would receive a temporary promotion to GS-12; if a
GS-12 employee is selected, he or she would receive a temporary promotion
to GS-13. If a GS-13 employee is selected, this position would be a
lateral reassignment.
The employee selected will possess extensive experience and outstanding
skills in water database development, data handling, and data manipulation.
In addition to technical skills, this position requires an individual who
excels in interpersonal relations.
Duty Station: Nicosia, Cyprus (Greek sector)
Length of Assignment: 2 years, with a tentative reporting date of December
1, 2000.
For information contact: Anna Lenox, Deputy Chief, International Water
Resources Branch, OACH/PO-Reston, Telephone: 703-648-5053, email:
alenox@usgs.gov or Bill Shampine, IWRB, OACH/PO-Denver, Telephone:
303-236-4935, email: shampine@usgs.gov
Project Background: The USGS has been requested by the U.S. Embassy in
Nicosia, Cyprus, to provide technical assistance to water agencies on the
island of Cyprus. Cyprus is characterized by a fragile hydrologic system
that is undergoing a significant level of stress, which has been
exacerbated by a 10-year drought. Water scarcity resulting from the
drought has caused severe and adverse impacts on the people of Cyprus, on
the natural environment of the island, and on future growth and economic
development. Water issues include ground-water overdrafts, saltwater
intrusion of coastal aquifers, contamination from urban and agricultural
activities, diminishing surface water, and lack of effective regulation.
Various approaches have been proposed for improved water-resource
management on the island, but all of them require ready access to
hydrologic data. At present, there is no centralized source of hydrologic
data on Cyprus. To further complicate the problem, the island has been
divided politically since 1974, with essentially no interaction or
communication between the Turkish Cypriot community in the north and the
Greek Cypriot community in the south. A United Nations presence on the
island supports the partition. The USGS has been asked to initiate a
project to develop comparable water resources databases for both Greek
Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot water agencies.
Statement of Duties: The incumbent serves as the Database Specialist for
the Water Database Development Project and as a key member of the project
team. The primary goal of the project is to foster bicommunal activities
between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot water professionals using their
shared need for water management as a point of common interest. The key
common requirement has been determined to be the development of a water
resources database. Currently, water data are stored in a variety of
locations with little quality control or consolidation of data. The
incumbent will coordinate closely with personnel from the participating
Cypriot water agencies to identify existing systems and work processes,
define user requirements, and establish plans and schedules for developing
a database system that will meet identified needs. The Database Specialist
will select appropriate programming language and utility routines; develop
test data and appropriate testing procedures for the programs and system as
a whole; and code, test, debug, and document the applications. The
incumbent also will design, develop, and document software required to
implement newly advanced system approaches for the maintenance, management,
and processing of hydrologic data. The Database Specialist will conduct
and/or participate in training sessions and technical meetings relating to
the design, development, implementation, and use of the database.
The International Water Resources Branch has worked with the Embassy in
Nicosia and with Cypriot water agencies to develop a detailed proposal
describing the project objectives, plans, and budget. The incumbent will
serve as the Database Specialist and will work closely with the USGS
Project Manager and with major Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot water
agencies, the U.S. Embassy, USAID, and others to implement the project.
The work assignment normally will occur in an office environment; however,
some fieldwork is required which will require bending, stooping, and
walking over extremely rough terrain. It also may expose the incumbent to
moderate discomfort from such extremes as heat, cold, and inclement
weather. Duties may require driving a four-wheel drive vehicle over rough
terrain for long hours.
Special Knowledges, Abilities, Skills, and other Characteristics (KASOC's):
1. Knowledge of the principles and techniques of computer systems
administration, database management, and distributed processing.
2. Skill in compiling, computing, analyzing, and quality assuring
water-quality, stream flow, and ground-water data.
3. Ability to establish goals, coordinate programs, and make sound
decisions.
4. Ability to communicate interpersonally and in writing.
5. Ability to meet deadlines, maintain production, and work well with
others.
Application Materials: Submit by email, through normal supervisory
channels, to Anna Lenox (alenox@usgs.gov) and to Bill Shampine
(shampine@usgs.gov):
1. Memorandum of interest addressing KASOC's.
2. Updated Career Documentation Profile or Curriculum Vitae detailing
work experience.
3. Most recent supervisory rating.
NOTE: Sending the Memorandum of Interest and CDP/CV as Word documents
attached to an email is preferred.
Information about this Assignment: The individual selected for this
assignment will be given Diplomatic status; both the incumbent and
accompanying family members will travel on Diplomatic Passports. Foreign
Service Regulations apply to this position, and the individual selected
will be given a 2-year Excepted Appointment. A temporary, one-grade
promotion will be given to any successful GS-11 or GS-12 applicant for the
duration of the overseas assignment. A GS-13 applicant would receive an
Excepted Appointment and a lateral reassignment. Geographic location pay
does not apply, and there is no post differential or post allowance. An
educational allowance will be provided to an employee who brings school-age
children to Cyprus.
Furnished housing is provided, as well as a vehicle to be shared by the
USGS staff for official business only. Cyprus is a "right-side drive"
country (British system). While shipping a left-hand drive car to Cyprus
is permitted, it probably would be best to purchase a car for personal use
after arriving in Cyprus. As a U.S. diplomat, vehicles can be purchased
from and sold to another member of the diplomatic community duty free.
Officials posted to the American Embassy in Nicosia indicate that there is
a good supply of high quality used vehicles and that car purchase and sale
among the diplomatic community is accomplished on a frequent basis.
When this project is completed or terminated, or upon expiration of this
appointment, the incumbent is eligible to return to a position of
equivalent grade and pay as the one held when this appointment was
accepted. Upon completion or termination of this Excepted Appointment, the
highest salary rate received under the Excepted Appointment will be used in
setting your base salary, provided the Excepted Appointment lasted for 1
year or more. The highest rate under the Excepted Appointment is
calculated using base pay only and excludes any cost of living allowance or
post differential. The salary of the position to which you return will be
matched as closely as possible to the base salary that you received under
the Excepted Appointment, plus the locality pay of the new duty station.
This rate cannot exceed Step 10 of the grade. However, if termination of
this Excepted Appointment is the result of unsatisfactory performance, your
pay will be adjusted to that earned immediately prior to your acceptance of
this Excepted Appointment, plus any comparability increases and within
grade increases which would have accrued had you remained in your original
position. Return to your previous position or to your previous duty
station or geographic location is not guaranteed.
Information about Cyprus: Cyprus, an island nation in the eastern
Mediterranean with an area of 3,572 square miles, is half the size of New
Jersey, and twice the size of Rhode Island. It lies only 40 miles from
Turkey at the nearest point, 500 miles east of mainland Greece, and 100
miles west of Syria.
At the present time, Cyprus is divided into two areas. The division of the
island occurred in 1974. The southern part of the island is controlled by
the Government of Cyprus and is populated largely by Greek Cypriots who
comprise approximately 80 percent of the island's population. The northern
part of the island is inhabited mostly by Turkish Cypriots. Their
Government is known as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," however;
the United States does not recognize the sovereignty of the "TRNC."
Between the two areas is a buffer zone called the "Green Line" which is
patrolled by the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The "Green
Line" runs through the capital, Nicosia, splitting it between the Greek and
Turkish Cypriot communities, which have practically no contact with each
other.
Despite its Middle Eastern location, Cyprus is in many ways oriented
towards the West. It has been a crossroads of diverse civilizations and
cultures throughout its history. Present day Cypriots generally speak
excellent English. They are used to meeting people from other countries
and they take interest and pleasure in associating with them. Cypriots are
very hospitable and enjoy friendship, talk, and laughter; the island is
steeped in history and bathed in sunshine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anna Lenox
International Water Resources Branch
U.S. Geological Survey
420 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Phone: 703-648-5053
Fax: 703-648-6687
Email: alenox@usgs.gov
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