Duties
As a Hydrologist your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Collects, interprets, and analyzes hydrologic data.
- Collects data used in watershed assessments, implements protocols to measure erosion and assess indicators of health of watershed for rangeland uses.
- Makes minor modifications to approaches and standard methods to meet conditions of the study.
- Serves as a project member contributing to large studies.
- Uses models to conduct and simulate hydrologic analysis and inform operations.
- Uses relational databases to maintain hydrologic data for conducting operational support and planning analyses.
- Contributes to investigative projects which includes evaluation of data from various sources and may include extensive literature review.
- Analyzes, prepares, develops and publishes river volume or flood forecasts for moderately complex basins.
- Conducts water use inventories and characterizes watersheds based on water rights.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered, for Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.
- Resume and supporting documents (See How to Apply).
- Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
- Medical Requirements: Selectee(s) may be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination.
- Driver’s License: Selectees may be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver’s license at all times during their tenure.
- Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- Small Watercraft License: Selectee(s) may be required to possess safety certification or pass an appropriate safety training course commensurate with watercraft used in the performance of duties.
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by 01/24/2022 will be considered.
In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.
Basic Requirement:
Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.
Minimum Qualification [GS-07]
1. One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility equivalent to grade GS-05 in the Federal service. Experience may include
- Technical experience in standard techniques and practices of surface water and groundwater measurement.
- Interpreted and managed hydrologic data using computer programs such as Excel, WISKI or Aquarius Conducted hydrologic investigations of surface water and groundwater processes in coastal ecosystems.
- Directed lower-grade technicians and/or interns in hydrologic monitoring techniques and practices
- Programmed, downloaded, and troubleshot hydrologic data collectors and instruments
- Maintained and troubleshot satellite, radio, or cell phone telemetry equipment
- Used standard surveying techniques to run level circuits
- Used standard surveying techniques to map land surface elevations for developing site specific topographic and/or bathymetric maps Measured surface water discharge in tidally influenced channel.
OR
2. One year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.
OR
3. A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution’s registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school’s definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
PCS Information: PCS entitlements are not authorized.
-Discretionary entitlements are not authorized for this position
Telework:This position is suitable for telework only in an emergency or natural disaster.
Additional Vacancies:One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.
For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/”Read more
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined above.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Knowledge of hydrologic sciences, methods and techniques and water management practices and procedures as well as hydrologic study techniques sufficient to analyze and interpret hydrologic data and information and to prepare data and interpretive findings in support of study conclusions applying a variety of well-established techniques and methods.
- Knowledge of publication requirements and fundamental science practices applied to preparation of reports which clearly present scientific findings, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Skill in communicating scientific data orally and in writing to both technical and non-technical personnel.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified
The category rating process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans’ preference eligibles who meet the qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Help
Required Documents
You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.
Required Documents:
1. Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number. Additional information on what to include can be found here. Your experience needs to address every required qualification.
2. College Transcripts: Please refer to the education section above for additional information. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. A copy of your official transcripts may be required if you are selected.
Additional Documentation, if applicable:
1. Cover Letter
2. Veterans’ Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans’ preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, attach an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference in addition to the proof required by that form (i.e. VA letter). You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.
3. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted
