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Student Trainee (Hydrologist)

Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Positions are being filled under the Pathways Student Internship Authority that will provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore federal careers.

If selected you must report no later than June 2020 to begin the internship.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/17/2019 to 10/23/2019
Salary
$24,773 to - $35,139 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 2 - 3
Location
Salt Lake City, UT
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
4
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NRCS-20-10628421-PW-UT-HM
Control number
548868400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

WHO MAY APPLY: Students who are currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying educational institution in a certificate, degree, or diploma program with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Duties

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  • Assists in the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of shelter buildings, antenna towers, meteorological equipment towers, snow water sensors, precipitation gauges, temperature sensors, and snow depth sensors.
  • Assists in the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of other hydrologic sensors and equipment on existing snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) and Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) sites throughout the Data Collection Office (DCO) area.
  • Assists in maintaining the Snow Survey Shop facility as a safe, efficient working environment. Supports additional SNOTEL maintenance functions such as sensor and equipment calibration, inventory, receiving and maintenance
  • Assists with the collection of data used in water supply forecasting through field measurements and through contacts with other agencies and cooperators.
  • Assists with the examination and interpretation of SNOTEL, and snow course data to ensure accuracy of the snow survey products.
  • Student Trainees will perform developmental duties under direct supervision that will assist the employee in gaining the competencies necessary for a career.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • If you are a males born after 12/31/1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so
  • Complete at least 640 hrs of work experience prior to completion of degree
  • Enrolled at least half-time at a qualifying educational institution
  • A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways
  • Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • Successful completion of two-year trial period
  • Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
  • Duty Location may change during internship based upon training needs or upon conversion.
  • This position requires the incumbent to possess a valid state driver's license.
  • Must be in good academic standing as defined by USDA as a cumulative GPS of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Qualifications

Program Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) as a certificate or degree-seeking student at a qualifying accredited educational institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education;
  • Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time as defined by your educational institution;
  • Applicants must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5 or equivalent) to qualify for the intern program and to stay throughout the duration of their intern in, or related to, the internship opportunity being advertised.
  • Examples of relevant educational fields for this position include but are not limited to: Hydrology, Physical Sciences, Geophysics, Engineering Science, Soils, Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Geology, or the Management or Conservation of Water Resources or other Hydrology-related disciplines that will allow applicants to qualify for the conversion requirements listed below.
This internship is intended to last for more than one year in order for the selected applicants to gain the required experience and meet all the requirements of the pathways program.

Position Qualifications: Applicants must meet position qualifications requirements as shown below at the time of appointment. The agency must be able to verify that the education was completed successfully before the applicant can be appointed.

Below is the education requirement to be qualified for this position:
  • GS-02: Completion of high school or possession of a GED diploma.
  • GS-03: Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study.
One full academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent as defined by the accredited college or university.

This internship is intended to last for more than one year in order for the selected applicants to gain the required experience and meet all the requirements of the pathways program.

Conversion Information: Candidates selected from this announcement may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent position in the competitive service, provided that all terms of the Internship Program are met and there is an available position. Conversion is not mandatory or guaranteed and is at agency discretion.

Pathways Interns may convert to a permanent position in the same occupational series (e.g., GS-1315) as outlined in the intern's Pathways agreement. Upon conversion to the competitive service, this position will have a career ladder up to the GS-9 full performance level. To be eligible for conversion, you must satisfactorily complete all Pathways Program requirements:
  • Complete Complete at least 640 hours of work experience prior to graduation;
  • Complete all mandatory training requirements;
  • Meet performance expectations and be recommended for conversion;
  • Meet suitability requirements; and
  • Meet the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards. See the link below:

GS-1315 Basic Requirement:

Degree: 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.

Education

College Transcripts: You must submit a copy of your college transcript or high school diploma/GED certificate as proof that you meet the educational requirements for the grade to which you are applying. You may submit unofficial copies of transcripts at the initial phase of the application process; however, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entrance-on-duty. See "Required Documents" section for more details.

MUST PROVIDE all transcripts/proof of enrollment/acceptance, and/or current class schedule.

All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov/

Additional information

Student Interns must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of the appointment. Incumbents will be required to provide proof of continued enrollment and good standing (cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale) each semester or grading period throughout the internship program. Failure to do so will result in termination of the appointment.

Upon completion of all program requirements, Pathways Interns may be converted to a term, career-conditional or career appointment within 120 days following successful completion of all their education; however, conversion is not guaranteed. The full performance level (FPL) of the position to which converted may be up to the GS-09 level.
  • Physical Demands: Work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as walking on rough terrain, jumping ditches and furrows, climbing steep banks, or negotiating other terrain features.
  • Work Schedules: Selected Interns will be expected to work full-time (40 hours per week) during school summer breaks, and may be allowed to work part-time during the school year, depending on location/state selected.
  • Promotion to the next higher grade may occur without further competition once all legal and regulatory requirements are met to include management's certification of the continuing need for performance of duties at the higher grade level.
  • Housing stipend may be authorized. Depending on budget, you may be authorized a housing stipend for the summer if the location selected for is outside the local commuting area of your temporary or permanent address. You may also be provided reimbursement for out-of-pocket transportation expenses necessary to get to and from duty station at the end of the work period (summer). Availability and the gross amount will vary by location; not all work locations offer these benefits.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Position Qualifications and Pathways Intern Program Eligibility Requirements listed in the "Qualifications" section above. Applicants who meet these requirements will be placed on the certificate of eligibles per the grade qualified and forwarded to the selecting official for further review and consideration. Selections will be made from the certificate of eligibles. Interviews may be conducted but are not guaranteed.

Veteran's preference applies in the arrangement of qualified applicants for all USDA Pathways Programs positions (5 CFR 302.101(a). Qualified applicants eligible for veteran's preference will be referred and considered ahead of non-veterans.

NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you provided false documentation, you will be removed from consideration.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10628421

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