Summary
Serves as a Staff Hydrologist in the Water Accounting Division (WAD), Operations Department (OD) of the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC). Supports Water Accounting and Water Delivery missions through various disciplines such as program management, operational support, hydrologic modeling, program and scripting, and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) duties.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles), Certain Military Spouses, Peace Corps and AmeriCorps Vista, Schedule A, and certain Land Management Eligibles, Veterans, and The Public.
Duties
- Supports the collection, analysis, and interpretation of hydrographic information.
- Participates in the planning, development, and conduction of hydrologic studies.
- Develops, maintains, documents, and runs hydrologic/hydraulic models in software such as Riverware.
- Processes time-series data (codes/scripts) using a variety of programming languages.
- Facilitates annual agency flood operations training through development of scenarios and logistics coordination.
- Completes water accounting analysis and reporting assignments regarding the ownership and delivery of water.
- Reviews, processes, and coordinates water delivery schedule modifications.
- Participates in binational modeling team meetings and group workshops to analyze water management strategies.
- Performs market research, prepares solicitation packets, and reviews solicitation proposals for Water Accounting.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
- You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
- You must complete and successfully pass the DHS required E-Verify employment verification check.
- STATUS CANDIDATES ONLY: You must meet one or more criteria in the Area of Consideration section.
- You must possess and maintain a valid U.S. Motor Vehicle Driver License, without impeding restrictions, that a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory has issued.
- You must obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation.
- You will be required to complete an Immunization Declaration Form.
- You may be exposed to viruses and bacteria; you may elect to receive preventative vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid Fever, Tuberculosis, and Tetanus at the agency's expense.
- You must be able to lift and carry up to 44 pounds unassisted, and over 45 pounds assisted; and must be able to sustain periods of substantial walking, bending, stooping, standing, crouching, stretching, and reaching.
- You must possess or obtain and maintain, either upon or within 120 days of appointment, a Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer’s Representative (FAC-COR) Level I.
- You must complete and submit the required U.S. Office of Government Ethics Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
- You may be required to enter Mexico to carry out official agency business.
- You may be required to work overtime.
- You must maintain direct deposit of your federal pay.
- You may be required to travel for official business with overnight stay, up to 20% of the time.
Qualifications
Qualifications must be met by 06/26/2024
Individual Occupational Requirements
Basic Requirements:
- Degree: 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.
or
- Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included 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. The following is illustrative 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. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.
Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.
Minimum Qualification Requirement - For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website: Hydrology Series 1315 (opm.gov)
In addition to the Basic Education Requirements, to qualify for this position at the GG-12 grade level, you must possess 1 year of specialized experience. The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level in the federal service (GS/GG-11) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.
Examples of experience include responsible for the collection, analysis, and hydrographic information pertaining to agency water resources; leading and participating in the planning, development, and conduction of hydrologic studies; performing water accounting and reporting assignments regarding the ownership and delivery of water properties; independently addresses questions and concerns from executive agency leadership, stakeholders, and general public; contributing to the review, monitoring and/or processing of scheduled deliveries and modifications of waters on the rivers; training staff in the operation of river modeling software and serving as representative for the software; assisting in the development of annual flood workshops; monitoring flood flows and aiding on-site flood control personnel during flood events; supporting conversion, enhancement, maintenance; documenting legacy applications programs, water accounting databases, web pages and applications; maintaining the Enviromental Satellite Data Collection System (ESDCS);procuring equipment and services in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR); expressing ideas or facts to diverse individuals to convey technical, sensitive, or controversial information; preparing and presenting technical reports; and operating a motor vehicle.
Your resume must have complete information: Please ensure your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Time in Grade (TIG): Current Federal employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible under Merit Promotion procedures. An SF-50 must be provided that verifies eligibility as stated in the Area of Consideration section.
Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.
Education
Basic Education Requirements:
- Degree: 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.
or
- Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included 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. The following is illustrative 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. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.
Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Time in Grade (TIG): Current Federal employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible under Merit Promotion procedures. An SF-50 must be provided that verifies eligibility as stated in the Area of Consideration section.
CATEGORY RATING: Your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Well Qualified and 3) Qualified. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities or competencies: - Hydrology
- Oral Communication
- Program Management
- Technology Application
Your rating will be based on both your entire application package as well as the responses to the assessment questionnaire. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position.
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 per cent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).
Required Documents
All applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- Resume: You MUST include complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
- Completed occupational questionnaire.
- Driver License: You MUST submit a copy of your valid driver license, without impeding restrictions, and issued by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. If you do not submit a copy of your valid Driver License, your application package will be disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
- College transcripts: You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts; if you fail to submit a copy of your transcripts, your application will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
All Merit Promotion (Status) applicants are required to submit the following documents as part of the application package (if applicable):
- Proof of eligibility for merit promotion as described under the Area of Consideration section: Current or former federal civilian employees MUST submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the title, series, grade, appointing authority, and tenure to verify eligibility for merit promotion appointment.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable):
- All Veterans: DD-214 (Member 4 copy is preferred), which includes character of service, or for Active-Duty Service Members a certification which includes service dates, type of separation, and character of service. A "certification" is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active-duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
- Disabled Veterans (if applicable): VA Disability Letter (with percentage of disability) OR document of disability determination from a branch of the armed forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability rating.
- Derived Preference (if applicable): The spouse, widow/widower, or mother of a veteran may be eligible to claim veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it. To do so, you must submit an SF-15 www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and the documentation required by that form. Veterans' Preference: For more information and/or to determine if you are eligible for Veterans' Preference, please visit www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx (for veterans) or www.fedshirevets.gov/job/familypref/index.aspx (for family members). Below is a website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214 online: www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ and the documentation required by that form.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/26/2024 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
- It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
- To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12438033
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.
You will receive status notifications through Application Manager or via email within 4-6 weeks.
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