The Recent Graduate Program lasts for 1 year. Participants who successfully complete the Recent Graduate Program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition.
Pay by grade:
GS-04 Salary: $35,639 (Step 01) to $46,330 (Step 10); GS-05 Salary: $39,873 (Step 01) to $51,834 (Step 10);
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
Summary
General Information
The Recent Graduate Program lasts for 1 year. Participants who successfully complete the Recent Graduate Program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition.
Pay by grade:
GS-04 Salary: $35,639 (Step 01) to $46,330 (Step 10); GS-05 Salary: $39,873 (Step 01) to $51,834 (Step 10);
NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.
As a Hydrologic Technician within the Washington Water Science Center (WAWSC), some of your specific duties will include:
Performs routine measurements of stage and discharge under a variety of field conditions. Develops simple preliminary stage-discharge and/or velocity index curves and ratings.
Performs routine field water-quality measurements (i.e. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity). Performs limited analyses of sample constituents; and prepares/ships samples for analyses.
Prepares summaries and basic data reports of field activities, including the preparation of materials for
publication, such as tables of data, map, and other illustrative material.
Performs installation, maintenance, servicing, and troubleshooting of sensing, recording and communications equipment and instrumentation. Calibrates meters and analytical equipment using appropriate techniques and protocols.
Enters, retrieves, edits, and analyzes simple surface, ground, and water quality data using a variety of databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software.
Operates a government owned or leased vehicle as an incidental driver.
Operates and/or maintains motorized watercraft.
Above duties are for the GS-05 level. For the lower grade level, the selectee will perform a wide range of tasks described in the above duties, but at a lower level of work designed to further develop and refine the knowledge and skills of the individual. Assignments will typically combine productive work with on-going training and instruction. Supervision received at the lower level will be closer with oversight and review being provided more frequently.
Physical Demands: The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as: climbing and/or working from tall ladders and scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as slippery or icy river banks, steep rocky terrain, cableways, or fast-moving water; lifting heavy objects weighing 23 kilograms (50 pounds) or more, or crouching or crawling in restricted areas. Work Environment: Office conditions do not require special safety precautions; field conditions may
include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow; hazardous conditions such as ice or flooding; or exposure to irritant
or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of personal protective equipment such as masks, coats, boots,
goggles, respirators, or life jackets.
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
The duration of the Recent Graduates appointment is a trial period.
You must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
You will be 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?
If selected you may be asked to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as those related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Since you are required to operate a government vehicle, you must have a valid State license & a safe driving record.
Taking & passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
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.
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 position remains active. Should your email change, please notify the contact identified in the vacancy so that we can update our system.
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.
Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements:
You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
Or you must be currently enrolled in a qualifying degree program as described above AND expect to complete your degree requirements no later than 05/23/2022. If you do not complete your degree requirements by 05/23/2022, you will be ineligible for consideration under this program.
Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty; however, eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree or certificate was obtained. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained.
Qualification Requirements
GS-4: You must meet one of the following:
6 months of general experience & 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of the position. Only excess specialized experience may be substituted for general experience. General experience: work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position OR experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter/processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of GS-3 work include: 1) Performing minor repairs at gaging stations, to water level recorders & equipment used in hydrologic investigations; 2) Assisting in making measurements of stream flow or making simple current meter measurements on streams; 3) Recording routine measurements of water levels at observations wells; 4) Collecting water quality samples & assisting in making laboratory determinations of water quality parameters by predetermined methods; 5) Maintaining & assisting in readying current meters & sampling equipment. For examples, work was given with explicit instructions at the start of each assignment, covering work methods, equipment, procedures, guidelines, etc. Recurring assignments were carried out with well-established procedures, with little instruction & were only infrequently spot checked. OR
You may substitute successful completion of two full years of study that included at least 12 semester hours in any combination of courses in engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or math. OR
A combination of successfully completed post-high school education & experience may be used to meet the requirement for the GS-4 level. NOTE: When crediting this education, you must prorate the number of hours of directly related courses (any combination of courses in engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics) as a proportion of the total education. (Details listed HERE)
GS-5: You must meet one of the following:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of the position. Examples of GS-4 work include: 1) Making adjustments & minor repairs to water level recorders or equipment used in water investigations; 2) Following well-defined methods & designated formulas; computing, extracting, compiling, & presenting geological or hydrologic data in prescribed tabular or graphic form; 3) Computing mean daily gage heights from water stage record charts, editing record tapes, & making corrections based on field notes. For examples, work involved familiar conditions, concepts & methods; outlined objectives to be achieved without explicit instruction as to work methods. Assignments involving new, difficult or unfamiliar areas were given with specific guidance. Explicit instructions were provided for solving technical problems involving unfamiliar conditions. OR
You may substitute successful completion of a full 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in an appropriate field of science, engineering, construction, or industrial technology or that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses as listed in GS-4 above. OR
A combination of successful post-high school education & specialized experience may be used. Only progressive education in excess of the first 60 semester/90 quarter hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the requirement, assuming the education includes the appropriate number of directly related hours in any combination of courses listed in GS-4 above. (Details listed HERE)
GS-4 AND above: Specialized experience may include work as a technician/aid in engineering, earth, physical, or natural science, forestry, soil conservation, or surveying; trades or crafts work in maintenance/construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology; drafting; or construction estimating if it equipped you with the knowledge, skills & abilities to perform the duties.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
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
Education Requirements:
If you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned and grade received, and the date that the degree/certificate was conferred, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration.
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
This position is being filled under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program that affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs.
There is currently two vacancies to be filled; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
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 Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Agency Benefits:
USGS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework in accordance with the DOI Telework policy and with supervisor approval. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
For additional information on our internal telework policy, please reference the Department of the Interior Telework Handbook at: https://www.doi.gov/telework/policies.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
--Basis of Rating: You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality group (i.e., Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified). These responses must be substantiated by the resume. Veterans' preference rules apply.
--Vacancy Related Questions: As part of the online application process, you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies: Collect Scientific Data, Compute/Analyze Data, Infrastructure Maintenance, and Scientific Instrumentation
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1.Resume-- showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (start/end dates with month-year) and duties performed under each experience block. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume to support that you meet the 1 year of specialized experience (if applicable). More information: What should I include in my federal resume? 2. Transcripts--You are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned, grade received, and the date that the degree/certificate was conferred, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.If transcripts do not list degree conferred, letter from the school can suffice to meet this requirement.-AND- 3. Other supporting documents (if applicable) as listed below:
Veterans--Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation must submit documentation that confirms the period of active duty that kept them from applying during the typical 2-year eligibility period. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained.
If you are claiming veterans' preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge). Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.
If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans' preference and that your character of military service is honorable.
If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders.
--Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement. If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans' preference. Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
WESTERN WASHINGTON FO
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US
Next steps
--If you are one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Required documents may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1.Resume-- showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment (start/end dates with month-year) and duties performed under each experience block. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume to support that you meet the 1 year of specialized experience (if applicable). More information: What should I include in my federal resume? 2. Transcripts--You are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) or list of course work, which includes semester hours earned, grade received, and the date that the degree/certificate was conferred, by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts.If transcripts do not list degree conferred, letter from the school can suffice to meet this requirement.-AND- 3. Other supporting documents (if applicable) as listed below:
Veterans--Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation must submit documentation that confirms the period of active duty that kept them from applying during the typical 2-year eligibility period. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained.
If you are claiming veterans' preference you must provide a legible copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, member 4 copy or any official documentation or statement from the Armed Forces that confirms your dates of service and that your separation, discharge, or release from active duty was under honorable conditions (i.e., Honorable or General Discharge). Note: If you have more than one DD-214 for multiple periods of active duty, submit a copy for each period of service.
If you are currently on active military duty, you must provide documentation (e.g., campaign document, award citation, etc.), that verifies entitlement to veterans' preference and that your character of military service is honorable.
If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the documents specified above, you must also submit documentation that supports your claim, e.g., an official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs (dated 1991 or later) or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying the existence of a service-connected disability, or the award of the Purple Heart, etc. The overall rating must be identified on your certification letter or separation orders.
--Documentation must be received by the closing date shown in this vacancy announcement. If you fail to submit any of the required documentation, you will not be granted veterans' preference. Additional information on veterans' preference can be found in the VetGuide.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
--Applications (resume and application questions) for this vacancy must be received on-line via USAJOBS BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, you will not be considered for this position. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Most libraries, employment offices, and all USGS personnel offices can provide access to the Internet. If applying online poses a hardship for you, you must speak to someone in the Servicing Human Resources Office listed on this announcement PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE for assistance.
--Instructions for Applying Online for this Vacancy Announcement: 1)Click the blue "Apply Online" button. 2)If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. 3)As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. 4)Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. 5)Address the eligibility questions as well as the questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. 6)Submit required documents using one of the available methods listed below. 7) If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk.
WESTERN WASHINGTON FO
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Mail Stop 600
Reston, VA 20192
US
Next steps
--If you are one of the most highly qualified candidates, you will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30-45 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified via email of the outcome. You can also go to "My Account" within USAJOBS to review your Application Status.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
