Supervisory Hydrologist

$147,945

Tuscaloosa, AlabamaFull-timePosted Oct 30, 2026

Against the Tuscaloosa typical range

Job description

You will serve as a Supervisory Hydrologist with Geological Survey. This position serves as the Division Director for the ESPD who is responsible for ensuring that WMA's core knowledge of hydrologic processes, and process-oriented scientific expertise/capacity are well balanced and maintained. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

This is a Merit Promotion announcement for current career and career conditional US Geological Survey Bureau employees and Career Transition eligibles (CTAP). Refer to the Required Documents section for more information. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Directs strategic resource planning and financial management for scientific programs, including developing budget requirements, establishing funding priorities, and overseeing the allocation of personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to support operations and long-term organizational goals.

Plans, directs, and evaluates complex scientific and technical programs involving integrated process-based research, hydrologic modeling, water resource assessments, and quality assurance to ensure scientific integrity, operational effectiveness, and achievement of mission objectives. Provides strategic leadership and direction for scientific research, technical programs, and policy development to advance organizational goals and national water resource priorities.

Establishes and maintains partnership with senior scientific and technical officials across Federal, State, Tribal, local, academic and other organizations to coordinate research activities and counsel on a wide range of modeling-related activities. Exercises supervisory authority over personnel management, workforce planning, performance evaluation, recruitment, and employee relations while ensuring compliance with Federal regulations and merit system principles.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/05/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience . For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, 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.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, you must meet at least one of the following: 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. You must submit transcripts . -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-AND- To qualify for this position at the GS-15 grade level: Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Leading, developing, or managing major interdisciplinary scientific programs or projects involving hydrologic research, water- source assessments, or related scientific activities; developing or implementing scientific, technical, or administrative policies, standards, or procedures; resolving complex scientific or programmatic issues; and providing authoritative technical advice and coordinating with senior officials, scientific leaders, or external organizations.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) 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.

This position does not allow substituting education for experience. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support education requirement. 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. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

Description copied from United States Geological Survey's careers page. Read the full posting before you apply.

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