Description

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Hydrologist. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Ephrata, Washington https://www.usbr.gov/pn/about/hr/area-information.html

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

Duties

• Performs a variety of work in water operations and management of reservoirs and water conveyance systems.
• Schedules, collects, tracks, and verifies hydrologic data from analog and digital sources at multiple sites.
• Plans, manages, and conducts water quality data collection and sampling, including sampling handling and shipping, while following scientifically accepted sampling and collection techniques and processes.
• Plans, manages, and conducts snow surveys to formulate short and long-range runoff studies designed to produce comprehensive data used to show their impact to Project facilities.
• Operates Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system computers to operate, adjust, and monitor canal and reservoir levels, canal structures, and provide general operation of the system.
• Trains and instructs field technicians or other employees to perform hydrological data measurement and collection techniques.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.

You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.

You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).

You must submit eligibility documents for veterans' consideration (see Required Documents).

You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).

You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.

You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.

Continue to the Additional Information section for the Condition of Employment For Probationary Period.

Qualifications

To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having:

1. Degree: 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 coursework 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
2. Combination of education and experience: combination of education and experience-coursework equivalent to a major as described in A, including the required 30 semester hours, 6 hours of calculus, and 6 hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Specialized Experience

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service having demonstrated experience (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 4 of the following: 1) assisting with field activities for hydraulic and environmental studies; 2) utilizing field equipment and instrumentation to collect hydraulic and hydrologic data; 3) compiling data to assist with analysis and reporting; and 4) computing rating tables 5) canal diversions and reservoir regulation 6) snow pack survey 7) gauging station maintenance. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

OR

Education: Successful completion of 2 years of graduate level education leading to a master's degree or a equivalent graduate degree in hydrology or other directly related fields of study.

OR

Combination: Successful completion of a combination of graduate level education and professional experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service having demonstrated experience (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 5 of the following: 1) updating hydrologic curves for reservoir operations 2) utilizing field equipment and instrumentation to collect hydraulic and hydrologic data; 3) compiling data to provide input for analysis and reporting; and 4) identifying and adapting new flow measurement technologies 5) determining appropriate instruments for flow measurement, groundwater monitoring, water level measurement and other measurement parameters at new and existing gauging stations and locations 6) canal diversion and reservoir regulation 7) snow pack and runoff analysis 8) water supply forecasting 9) ground water studies.

OR

Education: Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in hydrology or other directly related fields of study.

OR

Combination: Successful completion of a combination of graduate level education and professional experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing at least 6 of the following: 1) operation of complex canal, river or tributary system 2) utilizes various field equipment and instrumentation to collect hydraulic and hydrologic data; 3) snow survey, runoff and basin forecasts 4) analyzing and calculating flow characteristics 5) river or reservoir regulation operation planning 6) hydrologic or hydraulic modeling 7) irrigation water use & management 8) analysis of adequacy of water supplies from surface or subsurface sources 9) hydraulic data collection, process and analysis 10) water quality data collection and sampling 11) short and long range reservoir studies 12) evaluate facility or waterway capacities and operation.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and general work experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

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 Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 03/25/2026.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

Condition of Employment for Probationary Period: By accepting this position, you must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period. During this time, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment serves the public interest. This period extends the appointment process and requires the agency to determine if your employment supports the public interest, aligns with agency goals and mission, and promotes service efficiency. In making this determination, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct.
• the needs and interests of the agency.
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable, with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

Related Non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For information, visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment..

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

This is a bargaining unit position.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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.

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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.