Duties
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:
- Surface Water: Performs routine measurements of stage and discharge under a variety of field conditions applying established uniform methods.
- Ground Water: Performs routine water-level and discharge measurements from wells and springs where field conditions require uniform and established methods be followed in order to collect representative data.
- Water Quality: Performs routine field water-quality measurements such as water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity.
- Instrumentation: Performs installation, maintenance, servicing, and troubleshooting of sensing, recording and communications equipment and instrumentation.
- Information Management: Enters, retrieves, edits, and analyzes simple surface, ground, and water quality data using a variety of databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software.
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is: between 50-75 miles depending on location, see below for specifics. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.) at time of application. See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence.
You MUST maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the vicinity of the field unit as listed below:
75 miles from 3535 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
75 miles from 765 Alligator Alley, Hardeeville, SC 29927
75 miles from 9351 Dielman Industrial Drive, Olivette, MO 63132
75 miles from 405 N. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
60 miles from 1441 Jones Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83401
60 miles from 11103 E. Montgomery Drive, Spokane Valley, WA 99206
50 miles from 12110 Tech Center Drive, Poway, CA 92064
50 miles from 7301 Calle Agua Salada, Yuma, AZ 85364
75 miles from 1217 Biltmore Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049
75 miles from 4575 32nd Ave South, Grand Forks, ND 58201
75 miles from 1608 Mountain View, Rapid City, SD 57702
75 miles from 821 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503
75 miles from 10 Bearfoot Rd, Northborough, MA 01532
75 miles from 339 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118
75 miles from 300 East 3rd Street, North Platte, NE 69101
75 miles from 6460 Busch Blvd, Ste 100, Columbus, OH 43229
75 miles from 50 Main Street Williamsburg, KY 40769
75 miles from 3162 Bozeman Avenue, Helena, MT 59601
75 miles from 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
75 miles from 1515 Brightwood Rd SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663
75 miles from 640 Grassmere Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
75 miles from 401 Hardin Road, Little Rock, AR 72211
75 miles from 3095 W California Ave, Ruston, LA 71270
75 miles from 27 Kirkbride Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
75 miles from 308 Airport Road, Jackson, MS 39208
75 miles from 1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Norcross, GA 30093
75 miles from 720 Gracern Road, Suite 129, Columbia, SC 29210
75 miles from 810 Tyvola Road, Suite 108, Charlotte, NC 28217
75 miles from 400 S Clinton St, Suite 269, Iowa City, IA 52240
75 miles from 401 NW Capital Drive, Lee's Summit, MO 64086
75 miles from 1028 S. Bishop Ave., PMB 206, Rolla, MO 65401
75 miles from 3321 College Avenue, Davie, FL 33314
75 miles from 12703 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32826
75 miles from 2639 North Monroe St, Bldg. C, Suite 101, Tallahassee, FL 32303
75 miles from 10770 North 46th St. Suite E 700, Tampa, FL 33617
75 miles from Ft Worth Federal Center, 501 W. Felix St. Building 24, Fort Worth, TX 76115
75 miles from 1505 Fergusen Lane, Austin, TX 78754
75 miles from 3745 S. Jackson Street, Suite A, San Angelo, TX 76903
75 miles from 5563 DeZavala, Suite 290, San Antonio, TX 78249
75 miles from 19241 David Memorial Dr, Suite 180, The Woodlands, TX 77385
75 miles from 202 NW 66th Street, Bldg. 7, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
75 miles from 10207-B East 61st Street, Tulsa, OK 74133
50 miles from 8550 23rd Ave, Sacramento, CA 95826
50 miles from NASA AMES-Moffett Field, Building 19, 260 Moffett Field, CA 94035
50 miles from 1653 Plum Lane, Redlands, CA 92374
50 miles from Cal Poly Technology Park II, 1 Grand Ave, Building 84, Suite 1A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
50 miles from 2885 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.
- Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Direct Deposit participation required.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
- A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
- If your specific duty location requires it, you must obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) within 1 year of entry on duty, if applicable.
- You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
- Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Qualifications
Requirements Continued...
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/10/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.
Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:
Basic Educational Requirement AND/OR Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.
To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level:
- Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: work as a technician or aid in engineering, earth, physical, or natural science, forestry, soil conservation, or surveying; trades or crafts work in maintenance or construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology; drafting; or construction estimating. Experience performing routine measurements with water recording or quality equipment; and documenting geographic or hydrologic data. You must include the hours worked per week.
-OR-
- Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with (a) major study in an appropriate field of science, engineering, construction, or industrial technology, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics. You must include transcripts.
-OR-
- Combination of education and experience. Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. To calculate the education percentage, first total your semester hours beyond for first 60 semester hours and divide by 60; then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 (part-time will be prorated). Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.
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.
Education
You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. The full performance of this position is GS-11. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
Physical Demands: The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as climbing and/or working from tall ladders and scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as slippery or icy riverbanks, steep rocky terrain, cableways, or fast-moving water; lifting heavy objects weighing 23 kilograms (50 pounds) or more or crouching or crawling in restricted areas.
Working Conditions: Office conditions do not require special safety precautions; field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow; hazardous conditions such as ice or flooding; or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of personal protective equipment such as masks, coats, boots, goggles, respirators, or life jackets.
All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.