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This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Clarification from the agency

All United States Citizens and Nationals.

Duties

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Plans work of subordinates: assigns priorities, evaluates performance, interviews candidates, and makes appropriate recommendations. Supports Equal Employment Opportunity, diversity, and related programs in daily actions.
Oversees a stream gauging program: manages hydrologic data from various sources, tracks, schedules, and coordinates frequency of measurements with staff, and develops and documents hydrologic data.
Operates the Columbia Basin Project irrigation system by adjusting gates based on delivery demands and by determining and coordinating flow amounts.
Oversees water quality data collection, sampling, and coordinates with others to accomplish goals.
Applies a comprehensive range of hydrologic and hydraulic processes related to water operations and irrigation fundamentals.
Communicates with internal and external staff to address operational issues as they arise.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship or National
Suitability for Federal employment determined by a background investigation
Must submit a resume and supporting documentation - See How to Apply
Must meet specialized experience requirements - See Qualifications
For veterans consideration, submit documents under Required Documents
Physical and driver's license required

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements and any selective factors, by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience Requirements:

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that the applicant meets the specialized experience requirement - this information must be included in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as working as an assistant operator of canal, river or reservoir systems; controlling, adjusting, and correcting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) settings to safely manage a large irrigation system; or operation and maintenance of flow measuring devices and methods including the analysis of flow measurement data.

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. Applicants will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Additional information

Position is being advertised concurrently under BR-PN-VA-CCA-18-277 for current Federal employees serving under a competitive service career or career-conditional appointment or reinstatement eligible. Applicants interested in applying under both announcement numbers, must submit application packages for each.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Location – Ephrata, WA http://www.usbr.gov/pn/about/hr/area-information.html

Additional Information on Relocation Expenses: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law this past December, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. As a result, employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

At the present time, we have one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional, equivalent positions at this duty location.

Applicants initially appointed to a career-conditional position must serve a 1-year probationary period.

Current permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.

If the selectee has not previously served as a Federal manager or supervisor, he/she will be required to serve a 1-year managerial probation period.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: http://www.sss.gov

If selected, the selectee will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying to his/her ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.

Public Trust Background Investigation. The selectee must successfully undergo Public Trust background investigation. The selectee will be required to undergo a reinvestigation of his/her background every 10 years. If the selectee is found to be unsuitable for the position, either initially or upon the reinvestigation, he/she will be removed from the position.

Valid State Driver’s License. The selectee must maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver’s License at all times will result in removal from the position.

Required to be on call for operations and emergencies for a significant part of each year. Will be required to work overtime, holidays, and weekends on an assigned schedule.

May operate motor boats and equipment, such as a forklift, for which certification is required. Must possess or be capable of earning a Department of the Interior Motor Boat Operator's Certificate for river, lake, and reservoir boat operations. Must possess or be capable of earning specific equipment operator certificates.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Category rating and selection procedures will be used to evaluate applications from this announcement. If an applicant meets the basic qualification requirements, his/her on-line responses to the vacancy assessment questionnaire will be used to determine the quality and extent of his/her experience, education, training, etc., for placement in one of the following categories: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Well Qualified, and 3) Qualified. Qualified candidates will be assigned a numerical score on a scale of 70-100 and veterans with preference will be placed at the top of the respective category. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Applicants will be further evaluated on the following “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)” through his/her resume and responses to the online questions.

KSA 1: Skill to supervise Hydrologic Technician activities by providing levelheadedness in emergency situations, attention to detail in day to day operations, and recognizing when higher skills or more knowledge are required.

KSA 2: Ability to operate and maintain a large-scale irrigation system by monitoring sites, reviewing/determining/projecting/meeting water demand, determining and coordinating flow amounts, and adjusting parameters for gate settings.

KSA 3: Knowledge of a comprehensive range of hydrologic/hydraulic processes, standards, methods, and the corresponding scientific principles and results related to water operations, irrigation fundamentals, and power plant production.

KSA 4: Knowledge of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to operate the system, adjust gates, and understand flow rates, lag times, and rates of fill.

To preview questions please click here.

Required Documents

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To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment, i.e. years and months), an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate.

DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty: Applicants who are entitled to veterans’ preference must submit a copy of his/her DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or an official statement of service from his/her command if he/she is currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves the applicants military service was performed under honorable conditions. If the applicant has a compensable service connected disability, submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and the required documentation requested by this form, in addition to the DD-214.

For information on veteran's eligibility visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx

CTAP/ICTAP: 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 selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ctap/

For information on ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.

This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation’s Hiring System—HireMe. For more information, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/hr/

As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in the applicant not being considered for this position. Options for submitting supporting documentation include:

-- Auto Requested Fax or uploading from the applicants USAJOBS profile – instructions provided during the online application process
-- E-mail to vvosquez@usbr.gov
-- Fax directly to the HR Office at (208) 378-5023
-- Mail to the Bureau of Reclamation, ATTN: PN-1446, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234 – or –
-- Hand deliver to the Bureau of Reclamation, Human Resources – Room 109, 1150 North Curtis Road, Boise, Idaho.

Include the applicant name and vacancy number on supporting documents.

Agency contact information

Human Resources

Phone: 208-378-5155
Fax: 208-378-5023
Email: vvosquez@usbr.gov

Address: BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
1150 N. Curtis Road, Suite 100
Attn: PN-1446
Boise, Idaho 83706-1234
United States

Next steps

Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.

After all application packages have been received, resumes and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.

Required Documents

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To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment, i.e. years and months), an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate.

DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty: Applicants who are entitled to veterans’ preference must submit a copy of his/her DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or an official statement of service from his/her command if he/she is currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves the applicants military service was performed under honorable conditions. If the applicant has a compensable service connected disability, submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and the required documentation requested by this form, in addition to the DD-214.

For information on veteran's eligibility visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx

CTAP/ICTAP: 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 selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

For information on CTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ctap/

For information on ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Help

Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.

This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation’s Hiring System—HireMe. For more information, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/hr/

As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in the applicant not being considered for this position. Options for submitting supporting documentation include:

-- Auto Requested Fax or uploading from the applicants USAJOBS profile – instructions provided during the online application process
-- E-mail to vvosquez@usbr.gov
-- Fax directly to the HR Office at (208) 378-5023
-- Mail to the Bureau of Reclamation, ATTN: PN-1446, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234 – or –
-- Hand deliver to the Bureau of Reclamation, Human Resources – Room 109, 1150 North Curtis Road, Boise, Idaho.

Include the applicant name and vacancy number on supporting documents.

Agency contact information

Human Resources

Phone: 208-378-5155
Fax: 208-378-5023
Email: vvosquez@usbr.gov

Address: BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
1150 N. Curtis Road, Suite 100
Attn: PN-1446
Boise, Idaho 83706-1234
United States

Next steps

Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.

After all application packages have been received, resumes and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.