Supervisory Hydrologic Technician

Clarification from the agency

This is a Merit Promotion Announcement for career and career conditional USGS Employees, Career Transition eligibles (CTAP), and those who are eligible under the hiring paths listed above. Refer to Required Documents section for more information.

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides leadership and oversight to hydrologic technicians by establishing work priorities, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, and supporting employee training, development, and career advancement.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees hydrologic monitoring programs, including the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, and sediment monitoring stations and data-collection networks.
• Ensures hydrologic data collection, computation, review, and dissemination activities comply with USGS technical standards, policies, quality assurance requirements, and safety procedures.
• Coordinates personnel, equipment, vehicles, and other resources to support mission objectives, efficient operations, budget planning, and the delivery of high-quality water-resources data.
• Represents the USGS and Water Science Center in interactions with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners, cooperators, landowners, and other stakeholders to support monitoring programs, funding agreements, and collaborative initiatives.
• Communicates technical and operational information to employees, management, partners, and stakeholders; provides guidance and instruction; and facilitates coordination and resolution of operational issues.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.

• Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam. Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You must meet all eligibility, qualification, and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

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

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: planning, coordinating, and conducting hydrologic data collection and analysis activities; overseeing the operation and maintenance of multiple surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, or precipitation monitoring stations; analyzing and interpreting hydrologic data to evaluate water resources conditions and trends; providing technical guidance and quality assurance for hydrologic data collection and processing activities; resolving complex technical issues related to hydrologic monitoring equipment, data collection methods, and data accuracy; and coordinating hydrologic projects, priorities, and field operations to support water resources investigations and program objectives.

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.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors, if applicable, by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Field Data Collection
• Leadership
• Oral Communication
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating
• Technical Competence

All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

DUE WEIGHT: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) -10/15/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement:

1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
2. Complete All Required Assessment(s).
3. Performance Appraisals and Awards: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor dated within the past 18 months. If unavailable, a written explanation is required (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level). Performance awards dated within the past 5 years may also be submitted for due weight consideration.
4. Eligibility Documentation:
   • Current Federal USGS Employees: If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal US Geological Survey (USGS) employee, you must submit a copy of a recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting proof of competitive status within USGS, tenure, position title, occupational series, grade level and step by the closing date of this announcement, or you will not receive consideration.
   • Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

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