This position is located within BLM New Mexico, at the Las Cruces District Office. This position is concurrently open to Merit Promotion eligibles under Announcement Number BLM-NM-24-12227374-MP-OPM.

Duties

This position is located in the Las Cruces District Office of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. This position is responsible for participating on hydrological studies of considerable scope and complexity or serving as a member of an interdisciplinary team performing complex work with wide latitude for the exercise of professional judgment. Performs and/or coordinates comprehensive hydrological studies or significant components of extensive studies, that describe and interpret hydrological conditions in order to define, analyze, forecast, or describe both natural and human-induced hydrological changes in the area. Will provide expertise on watershed health, and function and will lead restoration effort throughout the district. Contribute to the planning, review, and evaluation of multi-basin, multi-aquifer investigations which includes predictive water quantity and quality numerical modeling and adherence to all management-based water resource policies. Collect, interpret, analyze, and evaluate hydrologic data. Contribute to team efforts to implement landscape-level projects to restore watersheds, improve water quality, protect federal water rights, and protect wild and scenic rivers. Participate in periodic meetings with cooperating officials to discuss program potential, development, progress, and technical accomplishments. Physical Demands: The work is typically performed in an office setting with no special physical demands. However, 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. The work regularly combines both office and field assignments. 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, and include overnight stays in remote locations. Working Conditions: The work is usually performed in an office setting. However, work time may also be spent periodically visiting field sites. 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. Both settings may require the use of personal protective equipment. Safety precautions and protocols are observed at all times and the scientist complies with safety instructions and regulations and ensures individual and others' safety by promptly reporting unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and accidents to the supervisor. 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; infestation of dangerous reptiles or poisonous plants, snakes, or insects; adverse weather conditions; noxious fumes; flammable liquids; or radiation. The work involves performing tasks in close proximity to rotating heavy mechanical and electrical machinery and may involve working within confined spaces for extensive periods of time. Special safety precautions and protocols such as protective clothing and gear are necessary and observed at all times and the scientist complies with safety instructions and regulations and ensures individual and others' safety by promptly reporting unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and accidents to the supervisor.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required
• May be required to complete background investigation and drug screening.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
• Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents).
• You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
• If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet Both the Basic Education Requirement AND the Additional specialized experience and/or education requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT-Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's degree (or higher) with a major study 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. (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with conferred date). OR, An equivalent combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major course of study, as shown in statement A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Appropriate experience is defined as the 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. Examples 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. (NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcripts and your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience). AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION Requirement: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying: Specialized Experience GS-07 : One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) performing a range of standard tests to determine the chemical and/or biological components of water samples; (2) assisting with hydrologic data collection; (3) conducting water use inventories based on water rights. (NOTE: Your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, or you may be found ineligible.) OR, Education GS-07: Successful completion of one (1) year of graduate education from an accredited college or university with major study in physical or natural science, or engineering that included courses in any combination of the following: 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. (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts). OR, Combination of Experience/Education GS-07: An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Note: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts AND your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you may be found ineligible.) OR, Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) GS-07: Successfully completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with major study in physical or natural science, or engineering that included courses in any combination of the following: hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resource, and meet one of the requirements for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A) based on the following: (1) class standing (upper third standing in graduating class based on completed courses); (2) grade-point average (3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum); or (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. (Note: You must provide a copy of your transcripts with conferred date). Specialized Experience GS-09: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) planning hydrologic studies to determine the condition of water resources; (2) utilizing relational databases and related applications to maintain hydrologic data for planning analyses; (3) providing information on water resource management to customers; (4) preparing scientific and technical reports on hydrologic related study findings. (NOTE: Your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, or you may be found ineligible.) OR, Education GS-09: Successful completion of (2) two years year of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university with major study in physical or natural science, or engineering that included courses in any combination of the following: 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. (NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts). OR, Combination of Experience/Education GS-09: Successful completion of a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. Please note only graduate education in excess of one year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Note: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts AND your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you may be found ineligible.)

Education

QUALIFICATIONS (Continued):

Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) collecting and analyzing hydrologic data; (2) applying hydrology, geology, or geochemistry principles in resolving complex water issues; (3) Conducting, planning, reviewing, and evaluating multi-basin, multi-aquifer investigations; (4) partnering with state, local, and tribal land managers to ensure water resources management practices are consistent with state, federal, and local policies. (NOTE: Your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, or you may be found ineligible.)

OR, Education GS-11: Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in physical or natural science, or engineering with major study in physical or natural science, or engineering that included courses in any combination of the following: 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.( Note: You must submit transcripts.)

OR, Combination of Experience/Education GS-11: Successful completion of a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Please note only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify under this option. (Note: You must submit a copy of your college transcripts AND your resume must demonstrate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you may be found ineligible.)

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Volunteer 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 include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Contacts

• Address BLM New Mexico State Office BLM New Mexico, NM-951 301 Dinosaur Trail Santa Fe, NM 87508 US
• Name: San Antonio Services Branch
• Phone: 816-541-8101
• Email: [email protected]