This position is with the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC), Water and Climate Services (WCS) Team, located in Portland, Oregon within the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Serves as a hydrologist within the Water & Climate Monitoring (WCM) Branch at the NWCC. This role provides leadership for remote data collection of snowpack, precipitation & climate data for the Snow Survey & Water Supply Forecasting Program (SSWSF).

Duties

Assists research and development efforts of new sensor and telemetry technology as well as coordinates with SSWSF staff to implement new technology into the SNOTEL and SCAN data systems to meet customer needs and higher efficiency standards. Coordinates procurement processes for centralized purchasing of SNOTEL and SCAN equipment, including gathering contracting requirement documentation, communicating with vendors, and tracking inventory and shipments to ensure equipment is available for installation at remote sites. Provides guidance and assistance with automated and manual snowpack measurements, weather station network design, and climate sensor installation and maintenance procedures. Prepares and presents professional materials and/or training courses involving snowpack monitoring, safe field operation protocol, and weather station installation and maintenance. Assists with developing standards and specifications for data collection, sensor calibration, and data quality control and analyses. Assists with the implementation of the SSWSF Strategic Plan for long-term data collection and network management to ensure high quality data measurements and water supply analyses to meet the needs of internal and external customers. Makes technical and scientific recommendations for the Snow Survey Program. Participates in agency working groups to address technical, data, reporting, and/or scientific concerns. Exercises considerable initiative and resourcefulness in carrying out related assignments to completion.

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: Occasionally field work is required 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 including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No Award or General Adjustment SF-50's will be accepted). Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. See addition information. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Must possess a bachelor's or higher degree in hydrology, physical or natural science, or applied basic science 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 Must possess a combination of education and experience: 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education. (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 GS-12: Must have at least one full-time year (12-months) of specialized work experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service that includes: Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data for hydrologic investigations; Evaluating data to make recommendations related to water supply forecasting efforts; Utilizing knowledge of hydrology, streamflow forecasting techniques, statistics, and general Western water use and irrigation management; and Interpreting complex hydrologic principles to internal and external customers of various professional levels. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience.) 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]