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-13 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-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Utilizing hydrometeorological techniques and equipment to assist with forecast preparation; Supporting the development of hydrologic modeling and analysis procedures; and Collaborating with customers or partners on hydrologic forecast products and services.
As a Hydrologist you will perform the following duties: The incumbent will serve as a Senior Hydrologist. Serve as lead hydrologic forecaster on duty executing the day-to-day hydrologic operation of the River Forecast Center (RFC), including both real-and non-real time operations, with the latter supporting procedure development activities critical to the enhancement, implementation, and maintenance of the forecast system technology. Perform routine daily short-range hydrologic and meteorological forecast operations before and during high water and flood episodes and long-range water resources forecast operations. Analyze incoming real-time hydro/met data for consistency and process it into an operational hydrologic modeling system. Provide on-the-job advice and training on daily forecast operations to Hydrologic Forecasters and Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support (HAS) Forecasters.