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Hydrologist, GS-1315-09/11 (DEU-PERM-MAB)

Department of the Interior
Geological Survey
This job announcement has closed

Summary

What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position?

GS-9 Salary: $59,165 (Step 01) to $76,915 (Step 10); GS-11 Salary: $71,583 (Step 01) to $93,056 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Open to current or former Federal employees: SAC-2020-0161

There is one vacancy; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Posted 02/24/20
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation Expenses are authorized for this position.
Salary
$59,165 - $93,056 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Promotion potential
12
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
50% or less - An average of 10 nights per month of overnight travel may be required for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Announcement number
SAC-2020-0160
Control number
560799500

Duties

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As a Hydrologist within the Alaska Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

  • Plans and carries out the collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication of all water quality data.
  • Authors reports and peer reviewed journal articles on water quality.
  • Collects, processes, and interprets results from water quality samples.
  • Conducts special studies on subjects such as surface water data, water quality data, and sediment data.
  • Operates a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

Physical Demands:

The work requires frequent physical exertion while conducting field portions of project work and with inspection of ongoing operations, including walking over rough, rocky, or uneven terrain; lifting and carrying equipment and supplies; and wading in streams in all types of weather.

Work Environment:

The work involves some degree of risk when conducting on-the-ground assessment of operations as well as exposure to moderate discomfort from such extremes as heat, cold, and inclement weather.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  • Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
  • Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

  • Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.  Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
  • You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties.  Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record.  If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
  • Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Conditions of Employment as required by the USGS Watercraft Safety Program:

  • Must be able to take and pass the Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) within six (6) months of employment.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification for the duration of employment.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain Wilderness or Advanced First Aid certification for the duration of employment.

Qualifications

For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/browse-usgs-qualifications.

In addition to the basic education requirements, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

FOR: GS-09

Examples of such experience include performing a variety of observations, computations, compilations and analyses in assisting higher level Hydrologists in carrying out hydrologic assignments. This work experience would have involved following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying basic principles and procedures, and would have required a good general working knowledge of the principles and the theories of hydrology.

FOR: GS-11

Examples of such experience include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine hydrologic work. This work would have required the individual to select and make minor adaptations to procedures and accepted practices and handle unexpected conditions arising in the normal course of the work. At this level, Hydrologists have a sound working knowledge of the principles of hydrology and the ability to independently perform moderately difficult and responsible scientific work.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

  • 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Additional information

  • Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
  • Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
  • Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.
  • USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations.
  • The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
  • DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.  
  • THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge skills, abilities and/or competencies:

  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Program/Project Management
  • Written Communication
  • Scientific Knowledge
  • Water Quality Scientific Knowledge
  • Collect Scientific Data
  • Compute/Analyze Data
  • Information Management
  • Scientific Records
  • Laboratory Techniques


--Basis of rating:  Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.


To preview questions please click here.

Geological Survey

Agency contact information

Earl Emerson
Phone
916-278-9399
Fax
916-278-9406
Email
pacsac1@usgs.gov
Address
INTERIOR, Geological Survey
3020 State University Dr. East Suite 2001
Sacramento, California 95819
United States

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https://www.usgs.gov/about/about-us

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