This position is located within the Watershed Physical Processes Research Unit of the National Sedimentation Laboratory for USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Oxford, MS. In this position, you will perform a variety of technical duties in one or more phases of the research process using hydrologic testing equipment and instruments.

Duties

Constructs, assembles, and installs new hydrology equipment (such as rain gauges, stage sensors, and data loggers), and makes modifications and repairs to experimental or other equipment. Performs field maintenance on hydrology instrumentation to insure proper operation throughout the test period. Assists the research scientist in making accurate research interpretations and drawing accurate conclusions. Uses appropriate electronic equipment and computer software in assembling and tabulating data. Plans, assembles, installs and calibrates instrumentation for collecting research data. Determines the causes of deviations in the test data, such as equipment malfunctions, sampling technique, or observational errors.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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/

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. GS-07: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-07 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-06 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience assisting with collecting hydrologic field measurements; maintaining and operating general field measurement equipment; and assisting research scientists in one or more phases of a research project. OR Education: One full year of graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include: Hydrology, Meteorology, Geology, Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. OR A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above. GS-08: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting hydrological field data; programming or installing hydrologic instruments and devices; recording and analyzing instrument data; and summarizing the results of research or experimental data. OR Education: Two full years of graduate education leading to a master's or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include: Hydrology, Meteorology, Geology, Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. OR A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above. GS-09: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience collecting and analyzing hydrologic field measurements; troubleshooting and making modifications to hydrologic testing equipment or instruments; planning and coordinating various steps in a research project or experiment; and developing charts, graphs, and reports to summarize research results. OR Education: Two full years of graduate education leading to a master's or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related. Related degrees may include: Hydrology, Meteorology, Geology, Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Biosystems Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Engineering. OR A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education as described above. 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. Physical Demands The work requires some physical exertions, such as regular and recurring walking or bending. In many situations the duration of the activity (e.g., continuous testing of samples) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, such as in a laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. Work Environment The work is performed in a laboratory, shop, field, or other research setting which involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts requiring special safety precautions, e.g., working with electronic equipment or working outdoors. The employee is required to use protective clothing such as boots, goggles, gloves.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Robert Green
• Phone: (703) 259-9392
• Email: [email protected]