Hydrologist

SummaryThis position is located within a National Forest. The primary purpose of this position is to perform professional work in the field of hydrology. Incumbent has responsibility to conduct and interpret hydrologic surveys and analysis, watershed rehabilitation and management planning, and providing technical guidance within the framework of multiple-use management of forest and range lands.ResponsibilitiesCollects, analyzes, and interprets watershed data for input to environmental reports. Participates as a member of interdisciplinary teams working on land management planning, emergency burn rehabilitation, or other Forest projects.Follows prescribed project plans, applies conventional methods to analyze water samples and determine the causes of data anomalies. Evaluates the data, identifies trends and provides oral and written feedback on the results obtained.Prepares and carries out water quality monitoring programs, including preparation of plans, collection and analysis of samples, and interpretation of data.Conducts water resource inventories following established procedures to assemble data bases required to support management programs and Forest planning.Surveys areas needing restoration or stabilization following disturbance by resource activities.Makes recommendations on treatment needs, estimates project costs, and prepares environmental analysis reports for restoration projects being considered for implementation.Plans, conducts, and reports on assigned parts of hydrologic interpretive studies which typically adhere to established techniques and conventional methods of investigation.Collects and analyzes hydrologic data relating to one or more of the three disciplinary fields (ground-water, surface-water, quality-water), determining apparent reasons for data anomalies,and correlating the wide variety of factors that affect the information presented.Prepares reports of findings for assigned parts of interpretive studies summarizing the results of hydrologic investigations.Participates with higher level project hydrologists in the development of project proposals or descriptions, which summarize critical information relating to the objective, approach, funding, and expected results of proposed investigations.RequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsIn order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.GS-09: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. In addition, you must also possess the Basic Requirement in the amounts listed below; OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Basic Requirement: 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. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. Examples of specialized experience include: Assisting senior hydrologists by carrying out routine projects. Assisting in implementing well-established hydrology programs or projects. Responding to routine questions concerning water flow or circulation. Collecting and analyzing water samples. 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. To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.EducationAdditional InformationPLEASE NOTE: This vacancy is being used to fill positions for FY2021 Temporary Employment Hiring season. This position is temporary, has a Not-to-Exceed date and will be filled for up to 6 months or as a not to exceed (NTE) 1 year, however an extension of the appointment may be possible without further competition. The appointment may also end early due to lack of work or lack of funds. The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligible must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. If you are retired from the Federal Government and are selected for this vacancy, your retirement annuity may be offset from your pay. This position is not eligible for telework.Bargaining Unit Status: Eligible - Coverage is dependent upon unit location.Availability of government housing and federal day care facilities will vary by location.