Hydrologist

Duties

• Expert knowledge of hydrogeological and hydrology concepts, principles, practices, and procedures, laws, regulations and current legislative issues including DoD environmental restoration, hydrogeology Conceptual Site Model (CSM) development and interpretation.
• Knowledge of complex groundwater flow systems and contaminant transport, construction and interpretation of complex geologic systems and related potentiometric surfaces, geophysical data, geochemistry data applied to the behavior of contaminants in the subsurface, optimization methods to reduce redundancy in monitoring well networks and sampling frequency, remediation technologies and evaluation of alternatives, and analysis of natural and anthropogenic background levels with respect to establishing cleanup levels and applied remedial actions, and hydrogeological and hydrology problems requiring investigation of environmental conditions pertaining to pollution prevention, compliance, and integration.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and other guidance to make decisions and recommendations concerning assigned restoration, compliance, conservation, pollution prevention, and/or integration principles and practices; and health, safety, and security practices.
• Skill in written and oral communications to write and disseminate technical guidance, standards and criteria, letters, bulletins, etc., conduct briefings, present issues and recommendations; and teach technical courses.
• Ability to develop long-range plans plus develop a budget for resources to enact these plans and ability to integrate an interdisciplinary team of professionals to include but not limited to attorneys, public health specialists, environmental scientists and engineers, regulators, and other government officials, and community groups.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Applicants must have a degree in physical or natural science, or engineering that includes 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 AND includes 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 a combination of college-level education and experience with course work as shown in A above PLUS appropriate experience or additional education. NOTE: 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.

In addition to the basic requirement above, you must also meet the specialized experience below:

FOR GS-13: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-12) or equivalent. Specialized experience must include mastery of advanced hydrological and hydrogeological concepts, principles and practices and operations applicable to the full range of engineering functions including experimental and new applications in resolving unique or novel problems, conditions, or issues; advancing programs and methods; execution of significant projects affecting the welfare of the public; and sustainability of water resources; thorough knowledge of the engineering and hydrology principles involved in the design, operation, and remedies of water quality instrumentation devices; thorough knowledge of and experience in geology and principles associated with groundwater and chemical movement to provide consultant services to members in the organization and those outside the agency.

FOR GS-14: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-13) or equivalent. Specialized experience must include mastery of advanced hydrological and hydrogeological concepts and a working knowledge of geochemical concepts as they apply to activities related to the investigational/restoration/monitoring portion of the program; and executive and managerial skills to plan, direct and operate in a scientific multidisciplinary team environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Expert knowledge of hydrogeological and hydrology concepts, principles, practices, and procedures, laws, regulations and current legislative issues including DoD environmental restoration, hydrogeology Conceptual Site Model (CSM) development and interpretation.
2. Knowledge of complex groundwater flow systems and contaminant transport, construction and interpretation of complex geologic systems and related potentiometric surfaces, geophysical data, geochemistry data applied to the behavior of contaminants in the subsurface, optimization methods to reduce redundancy in monitoring well networks and sampling frequency, remediation technologies and evaluation of alternatives, and analysis of natural and anthropogenic background levels with respect to establishing cleanup levels and applied remedial actions, and hydrogeological and hydrology problems requiring investigation of environmental conditions pertaining to pollution prevention, compliance, and integration.
3. Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and other guidance to make decisions and recommendations concerning assigned restoration, compliance, conservation, pollution prevention, and/or integration principles and practices; and health, safety, and security practices.
4. Skill in written and oral communications to write and disseminate technical guidance, standards and criteria, letters, bulletins, etc., conduct briefings, present issues and recommendations; and teach technical courses.
5. Ability to develop long-range plans plus develop a budget for resources to enact these plans.
6. Ability to integrate an interdisciplinary team of professionals to include but not limited to attorneys, public health specialists, environmental scientists and engineers, regulators, and other government officials, and community groups.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.