AMVETS Jobs

Summary Lead Montana's Snow Survey program as part of the Montana leadership team reporting to the State Conservationist. The Montana snow survey program has a team of snow surveyors, water supply specialists, hydrologists, and technicians who gather, analyze, and disseminate snowpack and climate data for Montana. Montana's snowpack reports and stream forecasts are highly regarded by farmers, ranchers, outdoorsmen, and emergency responders to prepare for, use, and manage seasonal runoff. Responsibilities Responsible for the Snow Survey Program including the Data Collection Office activities in a designated Data Collection Office. Provides leadership and guidance in the design, development and maintenance of administrative procedures to ensure that NRCS programs and services are translated into appropriated actions consistent with annual plans of operations in all units. Analyzes and manages the Snow Survey budget and reimbursable agreements with Federal and non- Federal partners for the Data Collection Office. Provides leadership in the assigned jurisdiction for the dissemination of water supply reports, news releases and other information activities relating to the Snow Program Survey. Conducts an extensive information program with TV, radio, and newspapers. Responds to media requests for current information by providing live and taped interviews. Responsible for the collection of hydrometeorological data within the boundaries of the Snow Survey Data Collection Office jurisdiction. Ensures that data observations are conducted in a timely manner and that the data is accurate. Ensures that SNOTEL sites meet service standards. Maintains current and accessible automated snow course, stream flow, precipitation and reservoir data files for the areas of jurisdiction. Responsible for the maintenance of facilities and equipment required for data acquisition. Works with the SCE in correlating data for preparing budgets and budget estimates for watershed and rehabilitation planning. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-12 grade level for consideration for the GS-13 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: 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 Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as performing work that includes applying research on water and water resources; collecting, measuring, analyzing, and interpreting information on water resources; forecasting of water supply and water flows; and developing new, improved or more economical methods, techniques, and instruments. Examples of specialized experience include: Developing long-range hydrologic plans, programs, and /or precedents. Developing and modifying hydrologic forecast procedures when existing procedures are not supplying results that are sufficiently accurate and usable. Developing procedures for specialized forecasts for which procedures do not exist (e.g., snowmelt, river ice formation and dissipation, minimum flow, and flash floods). Planning and conducting hydrologic surveys. Planning, coordinating, and implementing tests to collect hydrometeorological data. Performing scientific and technical evaluation, correlation, synthesis, and presentation of hydrometeorological data. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-13 level. Education You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e., substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g., special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Physical Demands: Physical demands are quite varied. Occasionally, the incumbent will be required to travel in remote mountainous areas, carry heavy loads, and work extended hours in inclement weather. Travel in that environment may be by pickup, over-snow machine, all-terrain vehicle, or aircraft. Foot travel by skis or snowshoes in the winter is often necessary. Normally, the physical demands are less rigorous, and activities are confined to office environment. Work Environment: Physical demands are quite varied. Normally, office activities are sedentary without special physical demands. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, and driving a motor vehicle. The normal work environment is in an office setting and requires no special precautions. Occasionally, work is conducted outside in a mountainous, high elevation, alpine setting. PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8-hour workday, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015, for more information. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.