PDF versionJob Summary
This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR),Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), Physical Sciences Division (PSD) with 1 vacancy in Boulder, CO.
Major Duties
As a Hydrologist, you will perform the following duties:
- Enhance understanding of model-simulated hydrometeorological processes, events, and patterns, in support of NOAA Water Goals. Conduct hydrologic model simulations and model experiments to further understand and explain the complex hydrologic manifestations of regional weather and climate patterns, extreme events such as floods and drought, and evolving climate conditions.
- Apply computer programming experience to design and conduct hydrologic model-based sensitivity studies and/or modify existing hydrologic models to test complex scientific hypotheses or evaluate potential model improvements.
- Prepare written and verbal summaries and other visual materials describing findings from research studies. Engage in scientific community service (e.g. advisory panels, reviews of proposals and papers, journal editor and outreach) and coordination of cross-discipline and cross-organizational teams to advance relevant science.
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 or a substitution of education for experience in order to be found minimally qualified.You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:
To qualify for the 1315 series:
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.
Evaluation of Experience: Acceptable experience must have included performance of scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The following is illustrative of acceptable experience: field or laboratory work that would require application of hydrologic theory and related sciences such as geology, geo-chemistry, geophysics, or civil engineering to making observations, taking samples, operating instruments, assembling data from source materials, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting findings orally and in writing. In some cases, professional scientific experience that is not clearly water resource experience may be acceptable if such experience was preceded by appropriate education in hydrology or by professional hydrology experience.
Applicants with related experience in hydrology gained through earlier Federal Government employment might have gained that experience in one or more occupational series. Such series include Soil Conservation, GS-457; Forestry, GS-460; Soil Science, GS-470; Civil Engineering, GS-810; Chemistry, GS-1320; Meteorology, GS-1340; and Geology, GS-1350. Comparable non-Federal experience may be given similar credit.
ANDSPECIALIZED 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 ZP-3 or 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 ZP-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Using hydrologic modeling concepts and practices to support developing model-simulated hydrometeorological processes;
Contributing hydrologic data/findings for use in technical reports, designs, documents, or oral/written presentations; and
Performing computer programming assignments on hydrologic modeling applications/systems and data processing. OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION:Master's or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: An equivalent combination of graduate level education and specialized experience is qualifying. Note: Graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination.
Pay Range
$70,181.00 - $109,358.00