This position is located in the River Forecast Center (RFC) with vacancies in each listed location. The RFCs keep watch over the nation's waterways to minimize loss of life and property damage from flooding and meet the water service needs of our nation. RFCs produce timely and accurate water forecasts and information to support the NWS customers and partners. RFCs produce flood forecasts, river and water information used for navigation, recreation, reservoir operations, and water supply plans.
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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: To qualify for the 1315 series: EDUCATION: 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. -AND- 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-15 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-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Overseeing the technical and administrative aspects of a hydrologic program; Providing support or information on water resource management for a hydrologic program; and Disseminating information on hydrologic products and services with stakeholders and the public.
As a Supervisory Hydrologist, you will perform the following duties: The working title of this position is Hydrologist in Charge. As a Hydrologist in Charge, the incumbent will serve as senior manager for hydrologic forecast operations and services within a River Forecast Center (RFC) area of responsibility. Must be able to lead and direct the resolution of major hydrologic/hydrometeorological issues. Responsible for resolving a multitude of problems associated with technical procedures and systems. Provide technical oversight for the content of hydrologic services provided to the public in the RFC area of responsibility. Lead River Forecast Center (RFC) staff in achieving National Weather Service (NWS) goals and objectives. Involved in the many cooperative efforts with other National Weather Service (NWS) offices as well as water management and hydrologic-oriented agencies outside the NWS. Manages the RFC involvement in these areas and provides overall direction of the staff effort given to maintaining and improving a variety of RFC services to WFOs and outside authorities and agencies. Provides supervision for the entire RFC staff and is the most knowledgeable person on overall operations of the center. Interact on a frequent basis with the Meteorologists In Charge (MIC) at WFOs in the River Forecast Center (RFC) area to maintain and improve support to Weather Forecast Office (WFO) operations and to enhance the operational application of RFC products in each WFO. This includes management of the regional water resources program for Alaska and Pacific Regions. Lead efforts to optimize the exchange of data and the cooperative support between the RFC and water management agencies.