Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Hydrologic Technician

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Hot Springs National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary


This is located in Hot Springs National Park, fulltime Permanent


Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/13/2020 to 03/19/2020
Salary
$34,916 to - $45,393 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Hot Springs, AR
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
5
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MW-1543-HOSP-20-10739762-DE
Control number
561555900

Duties

Help

The Hydrologic Technician position will be an integral member of the natural resource management team, helping to achieve management goals for the park's primary resource - its thermal water - through research, monitoring, and characterization of the hot springs' physical parameters, aiding in visitor outreach and education about the geothermal hydrology of the hot springs and the life forms that call them home, and assisting the Natural Resource Program Manager by creating reports, interpretive programs, and digital and printed educational materials to inform park management decisions and expand visitor understanding and satisfaction.
Primary responsibilities will be to calibrate, maintain, and use multiparameter meters for the measurement of temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and acid neutralizing capacity at 35 hot springs. Secondary responsibilities will include the development of printed and digital interpretive material and the creation and presentation of formal interpretive programming about the park's hydrogeology and other natural resources.
Assists the Natural Resources Program Manager with the completion of resource management duties by conducting and documenting field observations of geologic and water resources, climate conditions, and fauna and flora. Other duties include providing logistical support to scientists conducting studies in the park and clerical work. The main focus of this position will be water quality monitoring.

The incumbent provides customer service on the telephone and during field work, and welcome park visitors, providing helpful information about the park and its resources to ensure visitors have an enjoyable experience.

This position requires standing for long periods of time, up to 8 hours/day, both inside and outside, and is subject to adverse weather conditions including high temperatures and humidity, as well as the presence of poisonous plants and biting insects. The position also requires hiking, both on and off trails, up to 10 miles/day, up and down the mountains in the park (approximately 600 vertical feet).

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. Y
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 2 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Government housing is not available
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/19/2020-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-11/18/2019-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect either full-time or 40 hours per week. If a part-time work schedule is reflected, the hours must be annotated to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one if not all of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:
EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. My experience included the following: conducting research and sharing information with individuals and groups of various understanding/education levels, making formal presentations, both orally and in writing, and working cohesively within interdisciplinary teams. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Technician or aid in engineering, earth, physical, or natural science, forestry, soil conservation, or surveying. Trades or crafts work in maintenance or construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology . Drafting. Construction estimating.
- OR-
EDUCATION: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with (a) major study in an appropriate field of science, engineering, construction, or industrial technology, or (b)that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics. IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to show how you satisfy the course/education requirements. If you do not provide TRANSCRIPTS that include your name, school name, credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking, you will be rated ineligible. Your rating will be based solely on the information you submit with your application. (A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected).
- OR-
Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take percentage of required education completed. Then take the number of months of full time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: 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

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking. and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g .. equipment up to 20 pounds) must be lifted or moved on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in both an office setting, which is typically well lighted and ventilated, and in the field, where the incumbent may encounter adverse weather conditions, steep or uneven terrain, and other nuisances.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, 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.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Customer Service
  • Hydrology
  • Reading
  • Research
  • Teamwork
  • Written Communication

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.