This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The incumbent serves as a leader for forecasting in the field of hydrology, performs data analysis, prepares reports and presentations on hydrology conditions, and serves as a subject matter expert.

Duties

Selects, calibrates, tests, and implements appropriate operational snowmelt runoff water supply models for hydrologic analysis. Provides expertise and staff assistance in the development of statistical and machine learning methods for hydrologic and climatic analysis, drought management, reporting, and streamflow forecasting. Represents the agency on external committees and task forces and at public forums concerning hydrology. Provides technical guidance to NRCS employees as well as other stakeholders.

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. 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/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.
• Physical Demands: Occasional on-site review of data collection sites, watersheds, irrigation systems, and reservoirs. This entails short periods of travel in rugged terrain at high elevations.
• Work Environment: Mostly computer work although occasional field work opportunities are available with exposure to all climate conditions. Trips involve air and/or vehicle travel and lodging at hotels.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Basic Education Requirement: Degree: Completion of all requirements for a bachelor's or higher 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. Coursework must have included at least 6 semester hours of calculus (including differential and integral) and 6 semester hours of physics. (Must provide transcripts) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities equivalent to that gained through a bachelor's degree in an appropriate field of study. The education must have 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 of calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours of physics. (Must provide transcripts) In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the respective grade level at which you are applying: GS-13 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Preparing hydrologic analysis to be distributed to staff and stakeholders; Leading interagency teams in order to address water resources issues and to produce accurate and scientifically credible water resource products; Preparing and issuing forecasts of streamflow for rivers and streams; Managing workload and schedules of staff to ensure work is completed; and Representing an agency on committees and task forces related to water management. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) There is no education substitute for specialized experience at the GS-13 level. 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). 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. The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

Education

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). 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. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the 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. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Email: [email protected]