Duties

As a Cartographer, you will be responsible for researching, designing, and producing thematic and reference maps in support of CIA finished intelligence. Intelligence maps are designed for conveyance via mobile devices, web, and print. Cartographers work on regional accounts, such as: Africa, Eurasia, Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East, or South Asia-Oceania. Cartographers are encouraged to participate in internal training as well as external workshops, training, and conferences.

You will work as part of a cartographic or interdisciplinary team managing multiple mapping projects under minimal supervision. You will work with analytic colleagues to define project requirements and provide advice on processes and procedures for optimal visual presentation. You will be expected to develop and maintain sufficient regional expertise to provide substantive input into the final map product, including geographic features, Board on Geographic Names (BGN) rulings, key issues, and recent developments.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must apply online, while in the United States.
• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age (dual-national U.S. citizens are eligible).
• You must be willing to move to the Washington, DC, area.
• You must successfully complete a thorough medical and psychological exam, a polygraph interview, and a comprehensive background investigation.
• CIA is a drug-free workforce. The issue of illegal drug use is carefully evaluated during the medical and security processing.

For further requirements information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/how-we-hire/requirements/

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in one of the following:
  • Cartography
  • Geography
  • Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)
• At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred, but exceptions are made for extenuating circumstances
• Ability to collect, analyze, and integrate geographic and substantive data into an effectively designed cartographic product
• Knowledge of cartographic design principles including color theory and symbology, map projections, thematic and statistical mapping, topographic and reference mapping, display hierarchies, typography, and data generation
• Knowledge of GIS principles including data types; data layers; basic geographic, analytic, and statistical functions; geographic coordinate systems; and data formatting
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

• Proficient in the use of, or be rapidly gaining expertise with the software, hardware, and platforms necessary for cartographic, graphic, and web/mobile production, such as some of the following:
  • GIS
  • ESRI ArcGIS
  • Adobe software such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat
  • Avenza MAPublisher
  • Intergraph GeoMedia Pro
  • HTML
  • Programming languages
  • Microsoft Office
• Experience with the Adobe suite of software and web and mobile conveyance

Education

• Bachelor's degree in one of the following:
  • Cartography
  • Geography
  • Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)
  • At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred, but exceptions are made for extenuating circumstances

Additional information

For more information on CIA careers and correct salary rates, visit https://www.cia.gov/careers

CIA Benefits: https://www.cia.gov/careers/working-at-cia/benefits/