Hydrologic Technician

U.S. Department of the Interior; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, seeks a Hydrologic Technician to perform surface water, groundwater, and water-quality measurements in York County, PA. The position emphasizes field data collection, data entry, and basic analysis under supervision.

You will work with instrumentation and data systems, support required safety protocols, and contribute to ongoing water-resources monitoring efforts.

Qualifications

• Must submit transcripts to substantiate education used to qualify
• U.S. citizenship is required
• Background investigation and selective service requirements apply

Responsibilities

• Surface Water: performs stage and discharge measurements using approved techniques and protocols.
• Ground Water: performs water-level and discharge measurements from wells and springs using appropriate methods.
• Water Quality: conducts field measurements such as temperature, conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity.
• Instrumentation: installs, maintains, and configures sensing and recording equipment.
• Data Management: enters, retrieves, edits, and analyzes hydrologic data using databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software.
• Duties are developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Skills

Scientific data collection

Data analysis

Field measurements

Documentation

Tools

Water-quality instrumentation

Job description

Summary

You will serve as a Hydrologic Technician for the Pennsylvania Water Science Center. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. NOTE: This position is located in York County, Fairview Township, Pennsylvania.

Major Duties

Surface Water: Performs a wide variety of stage and discharge measurements using appropriate techniques, equipment and protocols.

Ground Water: Performs wide variety of water-level and discharge measurements from wells and springs selecting appropriate techniques, equipment and protocols.

Water Quality: Performs field measurements such as water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity.

Instrumentation: Installs, maintains, services, and assists in the configuration of a variety of sensing, recording, and communications equipment and instrumentation.

Data Management: Enters, retrieves, edits, and analyzes hydrologic data using one or more of several databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software programs.

Monitors water-quality sampling frequencies for timely data collection and reports discrepancies.

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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Requirements

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. 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 www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. A physical examination will be required, or a statement regarding physical ability will need to be completed. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 10 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary 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 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 any additional assessment(s) required for this position. 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. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Collect Scientific Data Compute/Analyze Data Information Management Scientific Instrumentation Scientific Records If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the agency will expand the group of candidates in accordance with the pre-announced supplement strategy and 5 CFR 332.402(f). Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. 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. Physical Demands/Work Environment: Work requires agility and strenuous physical exertion. Must be able to lift over 50 lbs. Field conditions include heat or cold, rain or snow and conditions such as ice and flooding or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. All Department of Interior (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, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 08/19/2026 to receive consideration.

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/19/2026: