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Hydrologist

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Division of Water Resources. As a Hydrologist you will be responsible for assisting in the administration of the Regional Water Resources Program, including serving on task forces and committees, reviewing proposals from other Federal and State agencies, and advising senior leadership on water matters.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/17/2018 to 09/28/2018
Salary
$61,425 to - $95,710 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Albuquerque, NM
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
R2-18-10306111-NM-MP
Control number
510758900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal Employee, Merit Promotion, Status Candidate, Land Management, 30% disabled, Military Spouse, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Vista, VRA, VEOA, ICTAP, Schedule A, Individuals with disabilities, Former Overseas Employees

Duties

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Assist in the administration of a Regional Water Resources Program.
Securing and perfecting property rights in reserved and nonreserved water supplies.
Develop facts and evidence in applying Federal, State, and case laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Plan, conduct, and report on studies to evaluate the water supplies and needs of Agency facilities.
Install water measurement devices and recording systems.
Instruct staff on various scientific techniques to measure and record water use.
Compile, compute, and analyze water uses by the refuges and hatcheries to substantiate existing water rights and file for new water rights.
Prepare documents for administrative hearings to document historic beneficial water use.
Develop and use computer programs and hydrologic models to predict hydrologic changes.
Develop hydrological study criteria, prepare professional services performance specifications and cost estimates.
Prepare complicated official documents that require great skill in writing and text preparation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Time-in-Grade requirements apply to status candidates
  • LMWFA or Public Land Corps eligibles may apply

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by will be considered.

Basic Education Requirement for the 1315 Occupational Series:

A 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.

OR

A combination of education and experience -- course work as described above, plus appropriate experience or additional education

Additional Qualification at the GS-11 grade level:

1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include: Knowledge in the administration of
a Regional Water Resources Program; knowledge in securing property rights in reserved and nonreserved water supplies; assist in the development of facts and evidence in applying Federal, State, and case laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; assist in planning, conducting, and reporting of studies to evaluate the water supplies and needs of Agency facilities; install water measurement devices and recording systems; compile, compute, and analyze water uses by the refuges and hatcheries; assist in preparation of documents for administrative hearings; use computer programs and hydrologic models to predict hydrologic changes; assist in the development of hydrological study criteria; prepare official documents.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

OR

A combination of education and experience.

Additional Qualification at the GS-12 grade level:

1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience may include: Assisting in the administration of a Regional Water Resources Program; securing and perfecting property rights in reserved and nonreserved water supplies; independently develop facts and evidence in applying Federal, State, and case laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; independently plan, conduct, and report on studies to evaluate the water supplies and needs of Agency facilities; install water measurement devices and recording systems; instruct staff on various scientific techniques to measure and record water use; compile, compute, and analyze water uses by the refuges and hatcheries to substantiate existing water rights and file for new water rights; prepare documents for administrative hearings to document historic beneficial water use; develop and use computer programs and hydrologic models to predict hydrologic changes; develop hydrological study criteria, prepare professional services performance specifications and cost estimates; prepare complicated official documents that require great skill in writing and text preparation.


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.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-11/12. At lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11/12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.The selectee may be promoted without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L. 114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies to compete under merit promotion procedures:
Current appointees:
Note: You must submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency.
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level.
Former appointees:
·Must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency,
·Must have served under 1 or more time limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years;
·Must apply for position within 2 years after separation,
·Must have been separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND
·Must have performed at an acceptable level

Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority:
Note: You must provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Compliance Hiring Based for Public Land Corps Service.
(1) In order to be eligible for PLC non-competitive status, a former member of the PLC must provide documentation, as part of their application, verifying their eligibility and meet the following criteria:
(a) Served as a qualified youth on an appropriate conservation project completing a minimum of 640 hours of satisfactory service that included at least 120 hours through the PLC;
(b) Applied to a vacancy announcement for which applications are being accepted from individuals with non-competitive status;
(c) Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) minimum qualification standards stated in the vacancy announcement for the position which you are applying; and
(d) Completed his/her most recent Corps service, which provided him/her with a total of 640 hours, inclusive of 120 hours on a PLC project as defined in 16 USC 1723(d), within the last two (2) years.
(2) Appointments must be effected within the two years requirement.
(3) The two year time-frame cannot be extended.
(4) Selectees will be subject to a probationary period.
(5) This authority may be used for General Schedule and Federal Wage System positions.
(6) Competitive service appointments may be made for temporary, term or permanent positions.

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) and grade point average or class ranking. 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

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of 09/28/2018; OR More than one position may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.


A PCS Move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations. Contract for home sale will not be authorized. All moving expenses are taxable.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

DRIVER'S LICENSE: You must possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during your tenure in order to operate government-owned or leased vehicles.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work includes both office and field environments. In an office, the work area is adequately lighted and ventilated with normal everyday risks that require normal safety functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is mostly sedentary, however, some hiking, bending and stream wading is required during the course of field investigations.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience 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):

Competence in the disciplines of stream hydraulics, hydrology, and hydrogeology, as well as, ground water resources including aquifers, water movement, and pump tests.

Knowledge of water rights laws, court adjudication procedures, Service water rights policies, and judicial, Congressional and executive mandates.

Knowledge of organizations and regulations of various water agencies in order to obtain water necessary to fulfill the mission of the Service.

Knowledge of contract administration procedures and requirements to participate in the selection, negotiation, and performance evaluation of outside hydrologic/hydrology services.



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 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

Career Transition Assistance Program Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) : These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP or CTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

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