Hydrologist

Duties Responsible for the collection, quality control (QC), data entry, and annual archive of hydrometeorological data within the boundaries of the NRCS Alaska Data Collection Office jurisdiction.
Provides technical assistance to the snow survey staff in data collection, data entry, verification, quality control, processing and archival.
Analyzes, interprets and communicates relevant snowpack water supply information to end users.
Assists in the preparation and presentation of the monthly Water Supply Outlook Report (WSOR) and other summary products through the winter and spring.
Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a US Citizen or US National.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints.
Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.
e-verify.
gov/.
A valid state driver's license is required.
The incumbent serves as an incidental motor vehicle operator, requiring the safe operation of vehicles including pick-ups/1-ton trucks, SUVs, 4-wheel drives, ATVs and snow machines.
The incumbent will be required to safely operate vehicles pulling trailers loaded with equipment for extended periods.
The operator drives during daylight hours and occasionally after dark, commonly in snow conditions.
The incumbent must pass an annual physical exam including a baseline treadmill cardiovascular stress test upon employment.
This position requires field work where dangerous wildlife are common.
Passing courses in bear safety and firearms handling on an annual basis and the legal ability to carry a firearm, are required for this position.
This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996.
Certification of compliance with 18 U.
S.
C.
922 (g) and (n) National Rifle Association Shotgun Safety and handling certification.
This position is designated for random drug testing under Departmental Regulation DR 4430-7922-2 dated April 2011.
This position must complete and pass a Pre-Employment Drug Testing before entrance on duty (EOD).
A service agreement is required for authorization of relocation expenses and allowances.
Employment/Mobility Agreement may be required due to time limitations on OCONUS assignments.
At the completion of the tour(s), the employee has guaranteed return rights to a position of grade and pay equivalent to the employee's current position.
This position includes Return Rights and Tour Renewal Travel.
Return rights must be exercised prior to the 3 year ( 5 years if extension is approved) time period.
After five years, the employee can opt to remain in Alaska but will forfeit any guaranteed return rights.
Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Basic Education Requirement: Degree: 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.
Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience: At least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines shown above, including at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics plus appropriate experience or additional education.
In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position: GS-07: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-07 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service.
This experience must include demonstrating experience of basic and applied research on water and water resources; the collection, measurement, analysis and interpretation of information on water resources; the forecast of water supply and water flows; and the development of new, improved or more economical methods, techniques, and instruments.
Examples of specialized experience include: Participating in hydrologic investigations including collecting, evaluating, and analyzing data.
Operating hydrologic instruments, equipment and materials to perform investigations.
Assisting with data collection and data entry OR Superior academic achievement in a bachelor's degree curriculum directly related to the work of the position.
To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.
0 on a 4.
0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.
5 on a 4.
0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society; OR Education Substitution: for the GS-07 level: one year of progressively higher-level graduate education 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.
OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position.
This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position.
Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.
GS-09: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service.
This experience must include demonstrating experience and knowledge of basic and applied research on water and water resources; the collection, measurement, analysis, and interpretation of information on water resources; the forecast of water supply and water flows; and the development of new, improved or more economical methods, techniques, and instruments.
Examples of specialized experience include: Ensuring that data observations are conducted in a timely manner and the data is accurate; Developing snow survey products such as soil moisture, snowpack and precipitation products, surface water supply indexes, and streamflow models; Participating in the installation and maintenance of snow courses and snow telemetry (SNOTEL) sites; Performing data collection and data entry.
OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: for the GS-09 level: two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in hydrology, water resources or related field.
OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position.
This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position.
Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.
GS-11: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service such as research on water and water resources; the collection, measurement, analysis and interpretation of information on water resources; the forecast of water supply and water flows; and the development of new, improved or more economical methods,techniques, and instruments.
Examples of specialized experience include: Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data for hydrologic investigations; Evaluating data to make recommendations related to water supply forecasting efforts; Installing, calibrating, operating and maintaining sensors used to collect hydro-meteorological data; and Providing technical assistance in the data collection of snow water content, snow depth, precipitation, streamflow, soil moisture.
OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: for the GS-11 level: 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.
D.
degree or Ph.
D.
or equivalent doctoral 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 including at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics.
OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above.
This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position.
Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.
To view the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.
S.
Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards.
See the link below: https://www.
opm.
gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=0400-ndx 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.
Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education.
If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.
g.
special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.
), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated.
Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement.
Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
Click on this link for more information.
Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Additional information In addition to salary, compensation also includes a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) of 2.
01% (subject to change).
COLA is not subject to Federal income tax & is not calculated as salary for retirement.
This allowance is to offset the cost of goods and services, housing, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
For more information visit https://www.
opm.
gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/.
This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number NRCS-24-12211502-MP-AK-DD.
Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement.
See the above announcement for more information.
DRUG TESTING: This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
Selectee must submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and random testing thereafter.
Final appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results for illegal drug use.
Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management.
However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.
Physical Demands: Some physical exertion: periods of standing, traversing slopes and construction sites, bending and stooping, jumping across ditches, walking in muddy and slippery conditions and lifting/carrying equipment and samples that weigh up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an office.
Trips to field sites involve exposure to construction equipment and extreme temperatures.
Employees will be required to wear hard hats and observe precautions on scaffolding, in trenches and near machinery.
Exposure to loud noise levels and exposure to disease carrying insects and irritating plants can be expected.
NOTE: In the interest of filling this position as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted.
If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline.
This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements.
Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.
Appointment includes OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) time restrictions.
Initial duty is not-to-exceed 3 years with possibility for extension for an additional 2 years upon approval.
After five years, the employee can opt to remain in Alaska but will forfeit any guaranteed return rights.
The time limitation refers to the time spent in Alaska.
If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee who has a designated place of residence in the lower 48 continental United States or the District of Columbia (CONUS): the initial tour of duty in Alaska is for 3 years.
An employee may elect to serve an additional 2-year tour with the approval of the Alaska State Conservationist.
Guaranteed return rights are forfeited once management accepts an employee's request to extend his/her tour beyond the 5-year period.
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.
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.
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating.
Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.
Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Data Collection, Analysis and Research Oral Communication Technical Competence Written Communication Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.
Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.
Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible.
To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.
CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.
When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible.
Please follow all instructions carefully.
Errors or omissions may affect your rating.
Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.
Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.
e.
the online questionnaire.
The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process.
To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.
To view the application form, visit: https://apply.
usastaffing.
gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12211465 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.
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 As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits.
Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee.
You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete.
Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.
Encrypted documents will not be accepted.
Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.
An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.
Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university.
If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education as equivalent to U.
S.
education standards.
There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service.
For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.
The SF-15 should be included but is not required.
Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.
Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education.
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.
How to Apply Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin.
You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.
m.
Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged.
We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.
m.
- 4:00p.
m.
, Monday - Friday).
If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method.
All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, click "Apply" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office.
If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document.
You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred.
However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents.
Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.
g.
SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application.
Each file must not exceed 3MB.
Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process.
Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX).
Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.
Agency contact information Barry Culbreath Phone 816-926-1482 Email barry.
culbreath@usda.
gov Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US Next steps Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official.
If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
Log in to your USAJOBS to check your application status.
We expect to make a final job offer approximately 40 days after the deadline for applications.
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
Fair and Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent.
Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Reasonable accommodation policy Financial suitability Selective Service New employee probationary period Signature and false statements Privacy Act Social security number request Required Documents The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete.
Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc.
Encrypted documents will not be accepted.
Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.
If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts.
An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty.
Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university.
If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education as equivalent to U.
S.
education standards.
There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service.
For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website.
All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
If claiming veteran's preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
If currently on active duty you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment.
Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
If claiming 10-point veteran's preference you must provide the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference.
The SF-15 should be included but is not required.
Failure to submit these documents could result in the determination that there is insufficient documentation to support your claim for 10-point preference.
For more information on veterans' preference visit FEDSHIREVETS Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.
Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.
S.
Department of Education.
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.
Help This job is open to Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
The public U.
S.
Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.
S.