PDF versionJob Summary
General InformationIn order to be eligible to receive consideration for this position, youmustbe able to: (1) report to the duty station location listed in this vacancy announcement, if selected; and (2) be available to work the schedule identified.Salary GS-03: $15.71 (Step 01) to $20.43 (Step 10); Salary GS-04: $17.64 (Step 01) to $22.93 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired atthe Step 01.
Major Duties
The USGS California Water Science Center is seeking undergraduate level student working towards a degree in geology, environmental science, engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics to gain practical experience in hydrology.
As a Student Trainee (Hydrology) you will serve in a trainee capacity, performing routine and recurring development assignments to acquire knowledge and understanding of functions, principles, practices, and methods used in the area of hydrologic science.
Duties include:
- Gathering basic hydrologic data concerning quantity, quality, availability, movement and distribution of water.
- Developing hydrologic and precipitation data for current projects.
- Collecting and processing data to be used in computing stream discharge, determining ground water availability or calculating sediment, chemical, or biological concentrations and physical characteristics.
- Operates a government motor vehicle as an incidental driver.
Physical Demands:
- Work is physically demanding and includes walking, bending, climbing and lifting of equipment up to 100 pounds when in the field, sometimes during adverse weather conditions.
Work Environment:
- Work is primarily performed outdoors, and involves moderate or sometimes extreme exposure to the discomforts of rain, cold/hot weather, and rapidly running or icy streams and rivers. Special safety precautions are required in many cases, and the employee typically wears life jackets, special safety boots, waders, and reflective rain gear.
There are two vacancies; however, this announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies if they become available.
Qualifications
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Internship Program: You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full- or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum); AND
Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or 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; AND
Students currently enrolled must be in good academic standing maintaining a 2.0 grade point average on a cumulative basis; AND
The duties of this position should be related to your academic or career goals.
You must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program. Students who successfully complete the internship program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition. Eligibility requirements for conversion: must be a U.S. Citizen; complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program (*may waive up to a total of 320 hours under specific conditions); successfully complete your degree or certificate requirements from a qualifying institution; meet the qualification requirements for the position to which you will be converted; meet agency-specific requirements as outlined in the Participant's Agreement; and must have performed successfully in your position as documented through performance evaluations. *NOTE: To learn more about the conditions under which a portion of the work experience hours may be waived, visithttps://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/st....
Qualification Requirements
This internship is geared toward students majoring inone of the following areas of study:geology, environmental science, engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics.
For more information on basic qualifications, please click on the following: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/hydrologic-technician-gs-1316. GS-03:All
A. Six months of general experience of any kind that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position;OR
B. Experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation;OR
C. Successful completion of 1full yearof study (30 semester hours/45 quarter hours) above the high school level with courses related to the occupation.
GS-04:All applicants must meet at least one of the following to qualify for the GS-04 level:
A. Six months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-3 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position. NOTE: Excess specialized experience beyond the required 6 months may be substituted for general experience; i.e., one year of creditable specialized experience will meet the requirements for 6 months of general experience and 6 months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position to be filled, OR experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation for which the applicant is applying.
Specialized experience may include work as a technician or aid in engineering, earth, physical, or natural science, forestry, soil conservation, or surveying; trades or crafts work in maintenance or construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology; drafting; or construction estimating if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.
Examples of GS-3 level work assignments include: 1) Performing minor repairs at gaging stations, to water level recorders and other equipment used in hydrologic investigations; 2) Assisting in making measurements of stream flow or making simple current meter measurements on small streams; 3) Recording routine measurements of water levels at specified observations wells; 4) Collecting water quality samples and assisting in making laboratory determinations of water quality parameters by predetermined methods; 5) Maintaining and assisting in readying current meters and sampling equipment for field work. For examples 1-5, a designated authority made assignments by giving complete, explicit oral and/or written instructions at the beginning of each assignment, covering work methods, available equipment, procedures, reference guidelines, etc. Recurring assignments were carried out within well-established procedures, with minimal instruction and were only infrequently spot checked or observed by a designated authority. Less routine assignments were occasionally checked in progress or upon completion;OR
B. Successful completion of two full years of study (60 semester hours/90 quarter hours) that included at least 12 semester hours, or the equivalent, in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics;OR
C. Combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized and/or general experience may be used to meet the qualification requirements for the GS-04 level. NOTE: When crediting education to meet any part of the experience requirement, such education must include the appropriate number of directly related credit hours required in any combination of courses such as engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics. When crediting this education, you must prorate the number of hours of directly related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used. (CLICKHEREFOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE)All applicants must meet qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Pay Range
$15.71 - $22.93