Hydrologic Technician

Salary will be dependent on the agreed upon duty location of the position. Locality pay tables can be found here.

NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

This is not a remote position. This position requires the employee to physically report to work at the office designated by the vacancy announcement. Periodic telework may be approved.

Location options include:

East Hartford, CT

Augusta, ME

Northborough, MA

Pembroke, NH

Montpelier, VT

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill currently identified vacancies within the New England Water Science Center. Applicants must meet the Pathways Recent Graduate Eligibility and Qualifications at the time the application materials are submitted.

As a Hydrologic Technician within the New England Water Science Center some of your specific duties will include:

• Collect, process, and archive streamflow, groundwater and precipitation data, sometimes in adverse conditions.

• Operate and maintain streamflow, groundwater and precipitation monitoring stations, including electronic recorders, and sensors.

• Construct and maintain data collection locations and field structures.

• Analyze and verify collected data using automated computer systems.

• Compile, quality assure and archive data into computer databases.

• Operate a government vehicle as an incidental driver.

• Operate and/or maintain motorized watercraft.

Physical Demands: The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as: climbing and/or working from tall ladders and scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as slippery or icy riverbanks, steep rocky terrain, cableways, or fast-moving water; lifting.

Work Environment: Field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow; hazardous conditions such as ice or flooding; or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of personal protective equipment such as masks, coats, boots, goggles, respirators, or life jackets.

The USGS New England Water Science Center is committed to inclusive hiring practices that build a healthy workplace where diversity is our strength, and each staff member has the support they need to succeed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS OPEN CONTINUOUS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

• This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill currently identified vacancies.

• Pathways Recent Graduate Eligibility and Qualifications must be met at the time the application materials are submitted.

• To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s).

• This announcement will have an initial cut-off date of October 31st, 2023.

• Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered upon receipt of the next cut-off date.

The established cutoff dates are as follows:

• December 31, 2023
• February 29, 2024
• April 30, 2024
• June 30, 2024
• August 31, 2024
• September 30, 2024

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an 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. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.

• Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty; however, eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree or certificate was obtained. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained.

Qualification Requirements

For GS-05:

In order to qualify for the GS-5 level, applicants must have specialized experience, education, or a combination of specialized experience and education as outline below.

Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service that is in or related to the duties of this position. 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-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.

OR

Education: 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

Combination of specialized experience and education: 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. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION & SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE).

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements at the time application materials are submitted. Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered upon receipt of the next cut-off date.