PDF versionJob Summary
This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Alaska Region, River Forecast Center (RFC) with two vacancies located in Anchorage, AK.
Major Duties
As a Hydrologist, you will perform the following duties:
- Perform daily hydrologic forecast functions including short range forecasting of flow, velocity and stage including during high water and flood events, and long range forecasting to include spring snowmelt, flood outlooks and river volume.
- Collect (including fieldwork), analyze, disseminate, and manage networks of basic water resource data such as information on reservoir and lake storage, ground water levels, and surface ground water quality.
- Develop, modify, and utilize applicable state-of-the-art computer hardware and software components in the preparation of studies of hydrological events and problems.
- Represent hydrologic and water resource programs at public and interagency meetings and help resolve hydrologic related issues.
These duties are described at the Full Performance Level GS-12, the GS-09 & GS-11 are developmental leading to such performance.
Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.BASICREQUIREMENTS:This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
A. 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
B. Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.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.To qualify at the GS-09 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Utilizing established procedures and models to generate hydrologic reports or forecasts for non-emergency situations (e.g. minor flooding); and
Assisting with synthesizing data from a variety of sources into hydrologic modeling or decision support systems. OR
Education:Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in hydrology or a closely related field or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
OR
Combination of education and experience.
Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is creditable.
To qualify at the GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting in the development of hydrologic modeling and analysis procedures for use in forecasting operations or hydrologic studies;
Performing studies for moderately complex hydrologic situations; and
Synthesizing data from a variety of sources into hydrologic modeling or decision support systems. OR
Education:Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in hydrology or a closely related field or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
OR
Combination of education and experience.
Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years is creditable.
To qualify at the GS-12 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Developing hydrologic modeling and analysis procedures for use in river forecasting operations or hydrologic studies;
Performing hydrologic or hydrometeorologic forecasting services for a variety of hydrologic situations;
Synthesizing data from a variety of sources into hydrologic modeling or decision support systems; and
Collaborating with groups to complete hydrologic studies or issue warnings.
Pay Range
$57,319.00 - $108,061.00