PDF versionJob Summary
What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? Salary: $34,916 (Step 01) to $51,082 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired atthe Step 01.
Major Duties
As a Hydrologic Technician, with the Pennsylvania Water Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:
- Performs routine surface water measurements of stage and discharge and observes and notes hydraulic or environmental conditions. Computes and checks surface-water records from field data. Plots discharge measurements and estimates short periods of missing records.
- Performs routine ground-water-level and discharge measurements from wells and springs, and observes and notes hydraulic or environmental conditions. Computes and checks ground-water records from field data. Plots water-level measurements.
- Performs routine field water-quality measurements such as water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity. Processes samples and performs limited field or lab analyses of sample constituents. Assembles, evaluates and prepares field and laboratory data for tabulation analysis and subsequent publication.
Work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as: climbing or work from tall ladders or scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous ie: slippery river banks, steep or rocky terrain and in fast-moving water; lift heavy objects weighing over 50 lbs, crouch or crawl in constricted areas and defend oneself or others against physical attack.
Work regularly involves moderate risks or discomforts associated with visiting field sites with limited access, under adverse weather or flooding conditions, 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
For information on basic qualifications, which includes information on whether you may substitute education for specialized experience, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/browse-usgs-qualifications1316.Ifyou are qualifying based on specialized experience, you must meet the requirements listed below:
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)
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.
Pay Range
$34,916.00 - $51,082.00