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Hydrologist

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

Summary

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement for federal employees pursuant to Executive Order 14043 does not currently apply. Click here for more information.

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

Information about the state of Alaska can be found at Alaska

We expect to fill 2 vacancies (1 in Fairbanks and 1 in Anchorage) at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/08/2022 to 10/06/2022
Salary
$50,216 to - $96,607 per year

The salary includes base pay and locality pay, you will also receive a 2.48% cost of living allowance. This allowance is subject to annual review.

Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Locations
Anchorage District Office
Anchorage, AK
1 vacancy
Arctic District Office
Fairbanks, AK
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to drive long distances over rough gravel roads, operate all-terrain vehicles, fly in various small aircraft, and travel over water by raft, canoe and riverboat.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11 - If filled at a lower grade level, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need and performance of higher-level duties.
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
AKDE-22-11605337-SJB
Control number
676116900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • The GS-7 is a developmental and advanced trainee position which works under the guidance of others and works with increasing independence in the completion of assignments based upon gained experience and training.
  • Plan, schedule, and collect various hydrologic stream channel and climatic data in the field; work on assignments involving the analysis of water flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in surface and ground water;
  • Analyze/evaluate data; identify trends in movement of water and known contaminants; report anomalies; apply/calibrate hydrologic models to generate information on streamflows/duration, riparian/channel behavior, water quality parameters/concerns;
  • At the higher grades perform work involving the collection, analysis, and/or evaluation of surface and ground water quality and quantity associated with the management of public lands or functioning of the hydrologic cycle
  • Plan and coordinate projects involving the analysis and evaluation of stream flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in stream channels and ground water; provide technical advice on water rights applications and claims;
  • Review flood forecasts and apply standard flood forecasting procedures and determining short-term flood risks; perform a variety of hydrologic models to generate information on high flows, channel behavior, and sedimentation;
  • Calibrate hydrologic models to account for changes in land use patterns and modifying modeling procedures to improve model validity; recommend actions to assure the availability of water for administration responsibilities;
  • Serve on interdisciplinary teams as the subject matter expert on water resources or to provide information on hydrologic and water behavior data; and engage in negotiations for agreements for the use of federally owned water resources.

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 Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

GS 07: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have appropriate experience or additional education. 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. Specialized Experience for the GS-07 Hydrologist: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in hydrologic related work. Specialized experience is defined as experience which includes the application of knowledge and competence in solving theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. Examples: Under close supervision by a senior hydrologist or supervisor performing basic hydrological tasks such as collecting various hydrologic stream channel and climatic data in the field; assisting on assignments involving the analysis of water flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in surface and ground water; analyzing and evaluating data and identifying trends in movement of water; and assisting in assignments to identify the effects of land management activities upon water resources;

OR

Education: 1 year of graduate education in Hydrology or a directly related field.

OR

Combination: an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above. Only graduate level education may be combined with experience.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

GS 09: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education of the position. 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. Specialized Experience for the GS-09 Hydrologist: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in hydrologic related work. Specialized experience is defined as experience which includes the application of knowledge and competence in solving theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. Examples: working with senior specialists to plan and coordinate projects involving the analysis and evaluation of flow and transport of sediment or pollutants in stream channels and ground water; assessing, monitoring, and researching existing work on the nutrients, pollutants, and other components in ground and surface water; evaluating data, identifying trends in movement of water and any known contaminants and providing feedback on anomalies to more senior specialists; and applying standard flood forecasting procedures to compensate for missing or conflicting measurements;

OR

Education: 2 years of graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree in Hydrology or a directly related field;

OR

Combination: an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the first year of may be combined with experience.

GS 11: In addition to meeting the basic entry requirement, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education of the position. 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. Specialized Experience for the GS-11 Hydrologist: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in hydrologic related work. Specialized experience is defined as experience which includes the application of knowledge and competence in solving theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. Examples: providing input and advice on watershed actions or plans associated with forest management, wildlife management, road construction or other activities; providing technical advice on water rights applications and claims; assessing, monitoring, and researching existing work on the nutrients, pollutants, other components in ground water and surface water; and determining short-term flood risks in identified areas;

OR

Education: 3 years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Hydrology or a directly related field;

OR

Combination: an equivalent combination of the type and level of experience and education described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years may be combined with 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.

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

Physical Demands: Work may also be performed in the field which involves periods of walking, bending, climbing, or driving motor vehicles to worksites. The work may also involve some overnight travel for training, meetings, and site visits. Field work requires physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable walking, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, and climbing such as in regular and periodic construction activities and field inspections. Work may also include frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds. Field assignments may also involve operating small watercraft, driving motor vehicles to work sites, some of which may be remote.

Work Environment: Field site visits are typically performed in either an outdoor setting subject to weather changes, diverse terrain, and safety hazards associated with working around complex features and/or construction, or an industrial setting subject to noise, fumes, and moving machinery. May require the use of personal protective equipment. Safety precautions and protocols are observed at all times. The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks, discomforts, and unpleasantness such as: high noise levels, infectious materials, or toxic or irritating chemicals; travel in safety approved small aircraft and water craft; high winds and low or high temperatures; noxious fumes; flammable liquids; or radiation.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement which requires you to have 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.

OR

A combination of education and experience that includes the coursework shown above plus appropriate experience such as field or laboratory work requiring application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics or civil engineering to make observations, take samples, operate instruments, assemble, analyze and interpret data and report findings orally and in writing.

You will need to clearly state your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and submit your college transcripts or a listing of your college courses that includes hours and grades.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP 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 CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

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. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number AKMP-22-11605339-SJB, for status candidates and special hiring authority eligible. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

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

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 Alternative Application

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Hydrology
  • Project Management
  • Reasoning
  • Research
  • Technical Competence
  • Technical Credibility
  • Technology Application

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the following additional assessment: Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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