Hydrologic Technician
What you'd do
These positions serve as Hydrologic Technician's, GS-1316-06 with the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Director, Rocky Mountain Region, New Mexico Water and Science Center.
Major duties
These positions are located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of the Director, Rocky Mountain Region, New Mexico Water and Science Center, duty stationed in Roswell, New Mexico. At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Perform complex problem solving in their area of expertise with minimal guidance and/or input from others. 2. Create and/or maintain tip sheets and Standard Operating Procedures relative to their area(s) of expertise (i.e., instrumentation, indirect measurements, local database management, innovative techniques, geophysics, etc.). 3. Plan, schedule, coordinate and/or conduct, and review a full range of quality assurance testing, such as equipment calibration, aquifer tests, geophysical logs, cross sectional surveys, blanks, duplicates/replicates, etc. 4. Ensure data and related documents for a wide variety of parameters and hydrologic records are properly evaluated and stored in appropriate archives, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics software following established USGS policies. 5. Oversee the configuration, installation, maintenance, and servicing of a wide variety of sensing, recording and communications equipment and instrumentation utilizing significant electronics and computer skills. Pre-employment Medical Examination This position involves field work where the duties of the position may involve arduous conditions. Therefore you will be required to pass a pre employment medical examination to ensure you can perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position, with or without accommodation. Work Environment Office conditions do not require special safety precautions; field conditions may include extreme heat or cold, rain or snow, possible aggressive wildlife encounters, and hazardous conditions such as ice or flooding, or exposure to irritant or toxic chemicals. Work may require the use of special clothing or gear such as masks, coats, boots, goggles, respirators, or life jackets. Physical Demands The work regularly requires considerable dexterity, agility, and strenuous physical exertion such as: climbing and/or working from tall ladders and scaffolding; work in areas where footing is treacherous such as slippery or icy riverbanks, steep rocky terrain, or fast-moving water; lifting heavy objects weighing 23 kilograms (50 pounds) or more or crouching or crawling in restricted areas. Driver's License You will be required to maintain a valid State issued Driver's License as a condition of employment. Travel You will be expected to travel for meetings, trainings, and/or site visits, typically for one week each month. Telework The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Salary Range Information (Per Annum): *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. GS-06: $45,409 - $59,031
What you need to qualify
Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 08/17/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Minimum Qualification Requirements: Specialized Experience: GS-06 To qualify for the GS-06, you MUST possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Experience working in trade or craft work in maintenance or construction of facilities or equipment related to hydrology. To qualify you MUST meet the specialized experience statement above. -OR- Education Successful completion of at least 1 year of appropriate graduate level education (18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or the equivalent) in hydrology or other field of study directly related to the work of this position for the required 1 year of specialized experience if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of this position. You must include transcripts. (Unofficial Okay) -OR- Combination of Education and Experience To combine education and experience, first take graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. The education must be related directly to hydrology or another field of study directly related to the work of this position. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE) Volunteer Experience: 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.
Before you apply
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