Supervisory Hydrologic Technician

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Billings (MT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Geological Survey is seeking a Field Office Chief in Billings, MT, to supervise staff, oversee monitoring networks, and ensure compliance with technical and safety standards.

You will coordinate programs with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners and guide data collection, processing, and dissemination activities. This role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to manage field operations across multiple stations while ensuring high-quality hydrologic data

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in planning, coordinating, and conducting hydrologic data collection and analysis.
• Overseeing operation and maintenance of surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, or precipitation stations.
• Providing technical guidance and quality assurance for hydrologic data collection and processing activities.
• Resolving complex technical issues related to monitoring equipment, data accuracy, and data methods.
• Coordinating hydrologic projects, priorities, and field operations to support water resources goals.
• Volunteer work or related experience can count toward qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to hydrologic technicians; set priorities, assign work, evaluate performance, and support training.
• Plan and oversee monitoring programs, including design, installation, operation, and maintenance of stations and networks.
• Ensure data collection, processing, and dissemination meet USGS standards, QA, and safety requirements.
• Coordinate personnel, equipment, vehicles, and resources to support objectives and data delivery.
• Represent USGS with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners to support programs and funding.
• Communicate technical information to staff and stakeholders; provide guidance and resolve operational issues.

Skills

Leadership

Oral Communication

Attention to Detail

Partnering

Planning and Evaluating

Technical Competence

Job description

Summary

This position is with the U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Billings Field Office, in Billings, Montana. As Field Office Chief, you will supervise employees who collect, process, review, and publish hydrologic data; oversee monitoring networks; ensure compliance with USGS technical and safety requirements; and coordinate programs with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners.

This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
• Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
• Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
• Internal to an agency
• Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
• Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.
• Land and base management
• Current or former employees of a base management agency.
• Veterans
• Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference
• Military spouses
• Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.
• Clarification from the agency
• Open to current or former Federal employees with competitive status or eligible under a noncompetitive hiring authority, including VEOA, 30% or More Disabled Veteran, Schedule A, Military Spouse, LMWFA, Public Lands Corps, Peace Corps/VISTA, Certain Former Overseas Employees, Foreign Service Employees, Interchange Agreements, CTAP, and ICTAP.

Duties

• Provides leadership and oversight to hydrologic technicians by establishing work priorities, assigning and reviewing work, evaluating performance, and supporting employee training, development, and career advancement.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees hydrologic monitoring programs, including the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, and sediment monitoring stations and data-collection networks.
• Ensures hydrologic data collection, computation, review, and dissemination activities comply with USGS technical standards, policies, quality assurance requirements, and safety procedures.
• Coordinates personnel, equipment, vehicles, and other resources to support mission objectives, efficient operations, budget planning, and the delivery of high-quality water-resources data.
• Represents the USGS and Water Science Center in interactions with Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners, cooperators, landowners, and other stakeholders to support monitoring programs, funding agreements, and collaborative initiatives.
• Communicates technical and operational information to employees, management, partners, and stakeholders; provides guidance and instruction; and facilitates coordination and resolution of operational issues.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• You must be suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• This is a Moderate Risk/Public Trust position. A security clearance is not required.
• You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period unless you have previously completed one.
• You must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• You must possess and maintain a U.S. Government Motor Vehicle Operator's Identification Card for the duration of the appointment.
• You must successfully complete a pre-employment physical examination.
• You may be required to operate government-owned or leased vehicles.
• You may be required to travel up to 50% of the time to remote field sites, meetings, and other locations.
• You must be able to perform strenuous fieldwork, including climbing ladders or elevated structures, working on steep or unstable terrain, wading in fast-moving or deep water, bending, crouching, working in confined areas, and lifting or carrying equipment weighing 50 pounds or more.
• You may work in extreme heat or cold, rain, snow, high humidity, flooding, ice, nighttime conditions, and other adverse environments.
• You may encounter wildlife, biting or stinging insects, poisonous plants, traffic, heavy equipment, chemicals used in hydrologic monitoring, and other field hazards.
• You may be required to wear personal protective equipment such as hard hats, gloves, boots, eye protection, respirators, and life jackets.
• You must meet all eligibility, qualification, and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: planning, coordinating, and conducting hydrologic data collection and analysis activities; overseeing the operation and maintenance of multiple surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, or precipitation monitoring stations; analyzing and interpreting hydrologic data to evaluate water resources conditions and trends; providing technical guidance and quality assurance for hydrologic data collection and processing activities; resolving complex technical issues related to hydrologic monitoring equipment, data collection methods, and data accuracy; and coordinating hydrologic projects, priorities, and field operations to support water resources investigations and program objectives. 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. Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors, if applicable, by the closing date of this announcement. Education: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level in the Hydrologic Technician, GS-1316 series. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements based on specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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)

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. 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.

Resume

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.

Competencies

• Attention to Detail
• Leadership
• Oral Communication
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating
• Technical Competence

Qualifications & Selection

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 your 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.

Required Documents

• Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
• Complete All Required Assessments.
• Performance Appraisals and Awards: Current and former Federal employees seeking consideration under merit-promotion procedures must submit their most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor. If the performance appraisal is not dated within the last 18 months OR no performance appraisal is available, you must submit a statement as to why it is not available (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level).
• Eligibility Documentation:
  • Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the