Hydrologic Technician

U.S. Department of the Interior; California (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, seeks a Hydrologic Technician to perform surface water and groundwater investigations, collect data, and support water delivery operations.

The role involves operating water-control structures, monitoring dam releases, and collaborating with external partners across agencies and districts. The position emphasizes data processing, quality control, and timely reporting of hydrologic and meteorologic observations to support decision-making for

Qualifications

• Attention to detail required for data collection and recording.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to learn, adapt, and work under pressure.
• Proficiency in reading comprehension and reasoning.
• Willingness to complete USA Hire assessments.

Responsibilities

• Perform surface water and groundwater investigations and data analysis.
• Operate water-control structures and monitor dam releases.
• Collect and evaluate hydrologic and meteorologic data daily.
• Calibrate instrumentation and maintain data quality control.
• Coordinate with partners on water delivery and environmental flows.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Flexibility

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal skills

Learning

Reading comprehension

Reasoning

Self-management

Stress tolerance

Teamwork

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Hydrologic Technician with Bureau of Reclamation. The position serves as a Hydrologic Technician responsible for carrying out surface water and/or ground water investigations to ensure stable, efficient, and accurate water delivery systems. This involves collecting, processing, recording, analyzing, and presenting hydrologic and meteorologic data as it relates to quantity, quality, movement and distribution of surface water.

Major Duties

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Serve as Dam Tender at Friant Dam, conducting routine and emergency structural inspections and monitoring surrounding landforms. Operate and manipulate valves, gates, pumps, and other water-control structures to manage river and canal releases. Collect, record, and evaluate daily operational data including reservoir conditions, meteorological observations, releases to river/canal systems, and operational changes. Conduct water measurement and discharge measurements, applying diverse hydrologic methods to assess flows, identify unusual conditions, and troubleshoot discrepancies. Perform water quality collection and analysis, including field sampling, data evaluation, instrument calibration, and maintaining accuracy using emerging hydrologic and hydro-chemical methods. Maintain, calibrate, and verify hydrologic instrumentation used for flow measurement, water quality monitoring, meteorologic data collection, and specialized sensors. Collect physical and environmental data related to operating conditions, weather, and hydrologic behavior to support operational decisions. Advise and inform upper management team on significant changes in hydrologic, physical, or meteorological conditions affecting dam operations. Collaborate with external partners (e.g., California Parks & Recreation, SJRRP, PG&E, SCE, Friant Water Authority, local irrigation districts) to coordinate water delivery, environmental flows, recreation needs, and operational planning. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Education

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Pre-employment medical examination required. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary/trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment. All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. DUE WEIGHT: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Other Information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive. All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior