PDF versionJob Summary
General Information Salary: GS-5: $33,949 (Step 01) to $44,130 (Step 10); GS-6: $37,843 (Step 01) to $49,200 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired atthe Step 01.
Major Duties
As a Hydrologic Technician within the Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:
- Performs routine measurements of stage and discharge under a variety of field conditions applying established uniform methods. Observes and notes hydraulic or environmental conditions.
- Computes and checks surface-water records from field data where hydrologic conditions are stable.
- Performs routine water-level and discharge measurements from wells and springs.
- Collect and process samples.
- Operate a government vehicle on a regular basis
Physical Demands
The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as that needed to: climb, or work from, tall ladders or scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as on slippery river banks, in steep or rocky terrain, and in fast-moving water; lift heavy objects weighing 23 kilograms (over 50 pounds) or more; crouch or crawl in constricted areas; and defend oneself or others against physical attack.
Work Environment
The work regularly involves moderate risks or discomforts associated with visiting field sites with limited access, under adverse weather or flooding conditions, or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of special clothing or gear such as masks, coats, boots, goggles, respirators, or life jackets.
Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements: You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that’s part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
OR You must be currently enrolled in a qualifying degree program as described above AND expect to complete your degree requirements no later than December 2019. If you do not complete your degree requirements by December 2019 you will be ineligible for consideration under this program;
Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty; however, eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree or certificate was obtained.The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained. Qualification Requirements
For more information on basic qualifications, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/hydrologic-technician-gs-1316For GS-05:
Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position.
Examples of GS-4 level work assignments include: 1) Making adjustments and minor repairs to water level recorders, or other equipment used in water investigations; 2) Following well-defined methods and designated formulas; computing, extracting, compiling, and presenting geological or hydrologic data in prescribed tabular or graphic form; 3) Computing mean daily gage heights from water stage record charts, editing record tapes, and making corrections based on field notes. For examples 1-3, the work assignments involved familiar conditions, concepts, and methods that were made in terms of the objectives to be achieved without explicit instruction as to work methods. Assignments involving new, more difficult, or unfamiliar areas of work were given with more specific guidance. Explicit instructions were provided for solving technical problems involving unfamiliar conditions, methods, or concepts.
**OR applicants may substitute successful completion of a full four year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (a) with major study in an appropriate field of science (i.e., geology, chemistry, physics, geophysics, biology, ecology, mathematics, soils, forestry, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical science, atmospheric science) engineering, construction, or industrial technology, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours, or the equivalent, in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics.
**OR a combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience may be used to meet the qualification requirements for GS-5. Only progressive education in excess of the first 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours (i.e., beyond the first two years) of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement, assuming the education includes the appropriate number of directly related semester hours, or the equivalent, in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics.(CLICKHEREFOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE)
For GS-06:
Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position.
Examples of GS-05 level work assignments: 1) Computing mean daily gage heights from water stage record charts, editing record tapes, and making corrections based on field observation notes; 2) Preparing maps showing well elevations and depth to water, hydrographs, profiles, and well locations. For examples 1-2, the work assignments involved some technical problems not previously encountered; problems involving concepts and methods for which guides and precedents existed, were resolved independently. General oral instructions relative to the time to be allotted to certain functions, expected time of completion of assignments, possible technical problems which may be encountered, and approaches that may be used in resolving these problems were provided. Other examples of GS-05 level work assignments include: 1) Installing, adjusting, inspecting, and servicing crest-stage indicators, well-recorders, and other instruments for the collection of ground and surface water data; and checking gage settings to ensure continuing accuracy of the records obtained from instruments; 2) Making technical studies of hydrologic data collected in the field, and preparing material for publication, such as, drafts, maps and other illustrative material; applying datum corrections to gage height records allowing for periods of ice effect, temperature variations, and precipitation; and plotting hydrographs and analyzing differences in hydrographs with earlier records, and making necessary changes. For examples 1-2, routine assignments that involved familiar conditions, concepts, and methods were made in terms of the objectives to be achieved without explicit instruction as to work methods. Assignments involving new, more difficult, or unfamiliar areas of work were given with more specific guidance. Explicit instructions were provided for solving technical problems involving unfamiliar conditions, methods, or concepts.
**OR applicants may substitute successful completion of 1/2 year of appropriate graduate level education (9 semester hours, 13.5 quarter hours or the equivalent) in hydrology or other field of study directly related to the work of this position for the required 1 year of specialized experience if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of this position.
**OR applicants may substitute a combination of appropriate specialized experience (as described above) and appropriate graduate level education (as described above) to meet the qualification requirements.(CLICKHEREFOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE)
All applicants must meet qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Pay Range
$33,949.00 - $49,200.00