Multiple positions are being filled, located within Region Three. The selecting official will determine the duty station at the time of the job offer. This position is responsible for conducting and interpreting 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. See "Additional Information" about the duty locations and POC information.

Duties

Duties listed are at the GS-12. Develop soils and water program priorities based on data collected through the national watershed condition framework, watershed analyses, hydrologic function, soils inventory and assessment, water quality, and Best Management Practices (BMP’s). Develop partnerships for watershed restoration and water quality through coordination with state and federal agencies, municipalities, and non-government organizations such as watershed councils. Provide hydrologic technical support for the development of long- and short-range programs for watershed management. Interpret the findings from studies in terms of scientific significance. Lead development, organization, administration, and implementation of the regulatory components for watershed management, water rights, and water quality programs. Develop the out-year and annual budget for program of work priorities. Analyze watershed condition classification indicator data to identify trends to meet organization standards. Interpret policy materials from higher authority or regulatory entities. Prepare replies to congressional or other queries pertaining to watershed projects. Advise Leadership on soils and water program priorities. Make watershed presentations and answer questions at public meetings. Consult with other specialists in assessing the impacts of proposed programs and projects on watershed values.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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.

Qualifications

In 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. Basic Requirement: GS-1315: 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 course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience. Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level; Specialized experience is defined for this position as follows. To be qualified an applicant must demonstrate they meet 4 of the 5 following examples: Assisted senior hydrologists by carrying out routine analysis; Assisted in implementing standard hydrology projects; Helped in identifying goals and concerns for water resource management; Prepared water resource inventory data for use in the land management planning process; Assisted in water resource inventories following established procedures and maintained databases that house these data 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. For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined for this position as follows. To be qualified an applicant must demonstrate they meet 4 of the 5 following examples: Applied conventional methods to analyze water samples and determine the causes of data anomalies; Independently carried out routine analysis using common hydrologic computer programs, Collected, analyzed, and interpreted watershed data for input to environmental reports; Prepared environmental analysis reports for watershed restoration projects; Conducted water resource inventories following established procedures to support management programs. OR Successfully completed three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled such as hydrology, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils). For the GS-12 level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 federal grade level. Specialized experience is defined for this position as follows. To be qualified an applicant must demonstrate they meet 4 of the 5 following examples: Developed and implemented strategies to assess watershed functions; Participated in hydrologic and soil productivity investigations and studies required for planning and design of multi-purpose projects; Compiled information from investigations and studies into long range prescriptions or plans for watershed management; Proposed, implemented, or reviewed watershed restoration projects with defined objectives and success criteria; Provided technical expertise in the planning or evaluation of environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, or conservation reports; 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

See above for education that may be qualifying for the specific grade level.

Contacts

• Address USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. Albuquerque, NM 87109 US
• Name: HRM Contact Center
• Phone: 1-877-372-7248 X2
• Email: [email protected]