Hydrologist

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Department of Agriculture

Job Summary

This position is located on the Snow Survey Staff of the NRCS State Office, under the supervision of the State Snow Survey Supervisory Hydrologist. The incumbent serves as a hydrologist in the Oregon Snow Survey program, assisting in the complete range of snow survey and water forecast activities conducted within the state by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Major Duties

  • Responsible for the collection, quality control (QC), data entry, and annual archive of hydro?meteorological data within the boundaries of the Oregon, parts of California and Washington jurisdiction.
  • Provides technical assistance to the snow survey staff in data collection, data entry, verification, quality control, processing and archival.
  • Monitors Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) site performance and data quality to assist in establishing maintenance work loads and setting priorities.
  • Performs snow surveys by helicopter, on snow machine, and on foot.
  • Assists in the preparation of the Water Supply Outlook Report (WSOR), Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) and other products on a monthly basis through the winter and spring.

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement:

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: Combination of education and experience: At least 30 semester hours in one or more of the disciplines shown above, including at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement to be considered:

Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience includes research on water and water resources; the collection, measurement, analysis, and interpretation of information on water resources; the forecast of water supply and water flows; and the development of new, improved or more economical methods, techniques, and instruments. Examples of specialized experience include: Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data for hydrologic investigations; Evaluating data to make recommendations related to water supply forecasting efforts; Installing, calibrating, operating and maintaining sensors used to collect hydrometeorological data; and Providing technical assistance in the data collection of snow water content, snow depth, precipitation, streamflow, soil moisture, etc. OR

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience: for the GS-11 level: 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in 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 including at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience includes research on water and water resources; the collection, measurement, analysis, and interpretation of information on water resources; the forecast of water supply and water flows; and the development of new, improved or more economical methods, techniques, and instruments. Examples of specialized experience include: Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data for hydrologic investigations; Evaluating data to make recommendations related to water supply forecasting efforts; Installing, calibrating, operating and maintaining sensors used to collect hydrometeorological data; Providing technical assistance in the data collection of snow water content, snow depth, precipitation, streamflow, soil moisture, etc.; and Interpreting complex hyrdrologic principles and snowfall to internal and external customers of various professional levels. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined above. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Professional and Scientific Positions

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Pay Range

$68,309.00 - $106,442.00

More information...

End Date: 

Wednesday, April 8, 2020