Hydrologist

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Hydrologist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

At the full performance level (GS-11) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serve as a project member for complete hydrologic investigations by planning, conducting, and reporting on interpretations of limited independent studies or contributing to large, expansive studies.
• Modify established hydrologic techniques or procedures.
• Collect, interpret, analyze and evaluate hydrologic data. Plan, execute, and report on hydrologic studies that require adapted approaches to meet problems.
• Plan, perform, coordinate and direct comprehensive hydrologic studies of hydrologic systems in accordance with and applicable authorizations, policy, and regulatory requirements. Use comprehensive process or computer models to conduct and simulate hydrologic analysis and inform operations.
• Develop, modify, and utilize relational databases and related applications to maintain hydrologic data for conducting operational support and planning analyses.
• Work on complex water issues whose solutions require a proven understanding of hydrology and one or more related disciplines such as hydraulics, geology, geochemistry, and the complexities of ground or surface water flow.
• Plan, review, and evaluate multi-basin, multi-aquifer investigations which includes predictive water quantity and quality numerical modeling and adherence to all management-based water resource policies.
• Provide current information on resource management and technical requirements. May be called on to provide technical data and professional advice. Work with State, local and/or tribal land managers to ensure water resources management practices are consistent with Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Federal Land Management Policy Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, state laws, and various regional, State, Federal, and local policies and procedural guidance and with Interior Board of Land Appeal decisions.
• Work with a team, or independently, to implement landscape-level projects to restore watersheds, improve water quality, protect federal water rights, and protect Wild & Scenic Rivers.

These duties are described at the GS-11; the GS-07, GS-09, are developmental leading to the full performance level GS-11.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.

You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.

You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).

You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).

You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).

You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads.

Continue to the Additional Information section for the Condition of Employment For Probationary Period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the Basic Requirement and the Education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

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

To qualify at the GS-07 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-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

Experience analyzing hydrologic data such as snowpack, rainfall, streamflow, and reservoir/groundwater storage. Experience with the collection and interpretation of hydrologic data, and supporting water resource type projects.

OR

Education Substitution GS-07: One year of graduate-level education in hydrology or a closely related field.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement as demonstrated by a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:

• a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
• a GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
• class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
• Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

OR

Combination of education and experience :A combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience.

To qualify at the GS-09 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-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

Experience analyzing hydrologic data such as snowpack, rainfall, streamflow, and reservoir/groundwater storage. Experience with the collection and interpretation of hydrologic data, and supporting water resource type projects.

Education substitution GS-09: Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in hydrology or a closely related field or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

Combination of education and experience.

Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is creditable

To qualify at the GS-11 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-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

Experience with computer applications used to model water accounting, hydrology, river and reservoir routing, and database management. Experience analyzing hydrologic data such as snowpack, rainfall, streamflow, and reservoir/groundwater storage. Experience preparing reports and presentations regarding the source, distribution, and movement of surface and subsurface water; and experience overseeing water resource type projects.

Education substitution GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in hydrology or a closely related field or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

Combination of education and experience .

Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years is creditable.

• Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit OPM.

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). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 10/21/2026.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at each grade level. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. 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.

This position has a mandatory education requirement. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

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 additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: 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: 1) your performance and conduct; 2) the needs and interests of the agency; 3) whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and 4) whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary 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 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.

E-Verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit

Background: This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to:

Bargaining Unit: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Incentive: 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 recruitment, or relocation incentive.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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.

Help

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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our 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.