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Hydrologist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Winnemucca, NV.  Information about the area can be found at Winnemucca Chamber of Commerce

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/23/2019 to 06/20/2019
Salary
$51,440 to - $80,912 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Winnemucca, NV
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel may be required for field work, meetings, and training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. The use of a relocation service company and home marketing incentive will not be offered.
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position.
Work schedule
Full-time - Work Schedule is Full Time.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NV-DEU-2019-0072
Control number
534260400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens – No previous Federal Service is required.

Duties

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As the hydrologist in the office, the employee must plan and coordinate projects involving the analysis and evaluation of stream flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in stream channels. The employee applies a variety of hydrologic models to generate information on high flows, channel behavior, sedimentation. The employee also calibrates models to account for changes in land use patterns in the district and modifies modeling procedures to improve model validity.

The employee engages in negotiations for agreements for the use of federally owned water resources and recommends actions to the district manager to assure availability of water needed for BLM management responsibilities. The employee provides support to other programs for water developments on public land. The incumbent may be required to provide guidance and instruction to less experienced specialists and student workers.

The incumbent provides technical advice on water rights applications and claims. The employee meets with other BLM personnel, state and local government officials, other federal agency personnel, tribal councils, State Office officials and members of the general public to discuss hydrological issues.

Physical Demands: The individual works partly in an office setting at this level, and partly in the field. Field work requires gathering samples and other data, monitoring and inventory activities, and participation in project work. In his/her field capacity, the individual will be required to walk or ride vehicles over rough terrain, perform duties that require recurring bending, crouching, stooping, reaching or lifting. Work may also include lifting of moderately heavy items, such as equipment and samples.

Work Environment: The work of the employee is performed partly in an office setting and partly in the field. When necessary to complete the work, there is outdoor exposure. Outdoor exposure requires some discomfort in extremes of temperature or inclement weather. The incumbent may subjected to hostile wildlife, chemical and physical hazards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you
  • Have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land
  • Direct Deposit Required
  • Background Investigation Required

This position falls under the group coverage qualification standards for Professional and Scientific positions and has an individual occupational requirement under the Hydrology Series, 1315.

If selected for this position you will need to complete the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training prior to start date (if applicable).

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled.

This position has a Basic Education Requirement:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. 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, OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.

Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.

For GS-09 Grade Level: Meet the basic requirement AND have one year of professional experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience; OR Meet the basic requirement AND have completed 2 years of graduate education leading to a master's degree in hydrology or a directly related field: OR Meet the basic requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

For GS-11 Grade Level: Meet the basic requirement AND have one year of professional experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: planning and coordinating projects involving the analysis and evaluation of flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in stream channels and ground water; provide technical advice on water rights applications and claims; evaluate data, identify trends in movement of water and any known contaminants and provide feedback on anomalies; apply standard flood forecasting procedures to compensate for missing or conflicting measurements, and determine short-term flood risks; apply a variety of hydrologic models to generate information on stream discharge, high flows, channel behavior, and sedimentation; OR Meet the basic requirement AND have completed 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in hydrology or a directly related field: OR Meet the basic requirement AND possess an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. See qualification section for description of the Basic Education Requirement (BER). Additionally you must submit copies of transcripts or a list of all college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university, with your application. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution, See Foreign Education .

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System website.

May require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.

How you will be evaluated

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

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your rating will be based on your responses to the Job Specific Questionnaire and the information stated in your resume. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. In addition, interviews may be conducted for this position. The interviews may be conducted on a pass/fail basis or may be scored. The job specific questions relate to the following knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the work of this position.

KSA 1: Knowledge of the theories, principles and concepts related to hydrology and other natural resources sufficient to evaluate potential impacts and to recommend mitigation to maintain or restore water quality and hydrologic function.

KSA 2: Knowledge and skill sufficient to apply standard techniques and processes while maintaining quality assurance and within established deadlines with minimal supervisory control.

KSA 3: (GS-09) Ability to acquire or provide information or data needed for field office activities, and to work with colleagues and supervisors, including working on interdisciplinary teams to resolve natural resource management issues.

KSA 3: (GS-11) Ability to devise strategies to overcome significant resource management problems, particularly those related to water quality issues, including developing relevant designs and implementation guidelines considering feasibility, cost/benefit, resource protection and longevity.

KSA 4: (GS-09) Ability to evaluate various hydrologic and climate data sourced from stream gage, rain gauges, electronic data recorders, satellite and other computer generated information, in order to complete the assigned hydrologic work.

KSA 4: (GS-11) Ability to plan, design, implement, and complete projects to ensure completion on schedule and within budget.

KSA 5: (GS-09) Knowledge and experience with computers and computer modeling, spreadsheets or databases, geographic information systems and maps, advanced calculators, aerial photogrammetry, and other data management software.

KSA 5: (GS-11) Knowledge of federal, state, and local water laws, including a familiarity with applicable state water right procedures.


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