Hydrologist Job

Vacancy No. BOR-LCB-25-DE-12590120-LRT Department Bureau of Reclamation
Salary $74,050.00 to $115,379.00 Grade 11 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/5/2024 Close Date 11/19/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Yuma, AZBoulder City, NV


Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Hydrologist. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Boulder City, Nevada and Yuma, Arizona
Boulder City, NV: http://www.bcnv.org
Henderson, NV: http://www.hendersonchamber.com
Las Vegas, NV: http://www.lvchamber.com
Yuma, AZ: https://www.yumachamber.org

Duties

At the full performance level this position:

  • Collects, interprets, analyzes, and evaluates hydrologic data in the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, Restoration Development Group.
  • Works on complex water issues whose solutions require a proven understanding of hydrology and or more related disciplines such as hydraulics, geology, geochemistry, and the complexities of ground or surface water flow.
  • Prepares investigative project proposals and develops work plans and protocols which include consideration of previous experimental and theoretical analyses, evaluation of all available data from various sources, and the development and adaptation of procedures and methods of investigation.
  • Writes and publishes reports of findings as internal or external reports, recommendations to resource managers, or scientific journal publications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: To be eligible for the position, you must meet the Basic Education Requirement for a Hydrologist GS-1315 series as noted below:

Qualifications for GS-1315, Hydrologist:
1. 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 coursework 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-
2. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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.

Additional Requirement: To qualify for the position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in hydrology or a closely related field OR one year of specialized experience equivalent in complexity and difficulty to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service OR a combination of graduate level education and specialized experience. Note: Combination of education and experience, only graduate education in excess of two years is creditable.

Specialized experience for GS-11: Experience defined as planning and coordinating habitat restoration projects. This includes project management tasks such as preparing and tracking budgets, creating timelines, drafting restoration plans, preparing scopes of work/contracts/agreements, and technical report writing. Experience should include analyzing hydrologic models.

GS-12: In order to qualify for the GS-12 grade level, your resume must reflect one year of full time specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 grade level in Federal service.

Specialized experience for GS-12: Experience defined as planning, coordinating, and implementing the restoration of large tracts of land and experience working with others to develop and execute partnerships for the restoration and enhancement of terrestrial and/or aquatic habitats. This includes project management tasks such as preparing and tracking budgets, creating timelines, implementing restoration plans, preparing scopes of work/contracts/agreements, technical report writing, and primary representative for the restoration action. Experience should include developing hydrologic models.

*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.

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.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 11/19/2024.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

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. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

Position is being advertised concurrently to status applicants under vacancy announcement BOR-25-MP-12590119-LRT. Applicants interested in applying under both announcement numbers, must submit application packages for each.

Salary:Salary reflected is for the Boulder City, NV location. If a selection is made from a different location, then salary for that location will apply. For more information on Federal Salaries visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule

Probationary Period: You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period.

Telework: Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval. Current Reclamation policy requires employees to report to the official duty station for at least 50 percent of their regularly scheduled tour of duty per period (2 weeks). Full time telework or remote work is not available for this position.

Superior Qualifications: If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

E-verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

Background Investigation: This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit position represented by AFGE 1978 GS Unit.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

Benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Category rating and selection procedures will be used to evaluate applications from this announcement. If an applicant meets the basic qualification requirements, his/her on-line responses to the vacancy assessment questionnaire will be used to determine the quality and extent of his/her experience, education, training, etc., for placement in one of the following categories: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Well Qualified, and 3) Qualified. Qualified candidates will be assigned a numerical score on a scale of 70-100. The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

You also will be evaluated on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application, the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A three-phase process will be used to evaluate candidates for referral.

Phase 1: Applicants will complete an assessment questionnaire, which will take approximately 45 minutes to complete, and then will be given an interim score based on those responses. Application packages will be reviewed by Human Resources to ensure they meet eligibility and basic qualification requirements (see definition of specialized experience). If applicants meet eligibility and basic qualifications, they will continue to the next phase.

Phase 2: Candidates who were minimally qualified based on the assessment questionnaire identified in the first phase will advance to a structured resume review by Subject Matter Experts. Subject Matter Expert(s) will score resumes using a pre-determined scoring matrix based on the following competencies:

  • Hydrology
  • Project Management
  • Writing
Phase 3: Candidates will be given a final score which combines the scores from the first and second phases. Those candidates who score as best qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12590120

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.

Required Documents

Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.

Resume: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.

Transcripts: Required for candidates using education as a basis for qualifications.

Veterans: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15. For more information, click here.

Career Transition Programs: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information, click here.

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

Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 11/19/2024. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.

Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.

Agency contact information

Lisa Tate-Jones
Address
Lower Colorado Basin
Bureau of Reclamation
PO Box 61470
Boulder City, NV 89006
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.

After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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