Seasonal Hydrologic Technician

Full Job Description

These positions are temporary and may not exceed 1039 hours (six months) in a service year. Selectee(s) may be moved between duty stations within the Southwest Alaska Network's boundaries.

Positions and grade levels may not be filled at every duty station.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the number of hours worked per week, full-time, or part-time.

If you indicate part-time, you MUST indicate the number of hours worked per week so that your qualifying experience can be prorated for credit.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience include the following: collecting field data for water-focused projects or studies; calibrating, programing, and maintaining hydrologic monitoring equipment such as water quality sondes; and using standard computer software applications to store, retrieve, organize, and summarize data.

You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR- EDUCATION: Four years (120 semester hours, 180 quarter hours, or the number your school uses to represent four years) of study leading to a bachelor's degree with (a) major study in an appropriate field of science, engineering, construction, or industrial technology, or (b) that included at least 24 semester hours (or equivalent) in any combination of the following course: engineering, industrial technology, construction drafting, surveying, physical science, biology, or mathematics.

You must include a copy of your transcripts with your application and the hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR- A COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: To combine education and experience, first take the number of credit hours in excess of the first 60 semester hours (or equivalent) earned towards your degree and divide by 60 semester hours (or equivalent).

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% to qualify.

You must include a copy of your transcripts with your application and the hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience include the following: collecting field data for water-focused projects or studies; calibrating, programing, maintaining, and troubleshooting hydrologic monitoring equipment such as water quality sondes; using standard computer software applications to store, retrieve, organize, and summarize data; using specialized hydrologic database software to correct and grade data; and communicating water-focused monitoring results, orally and in writing.

You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience include the following: collecting field data for water-focused projects or studies; calibrating, programing, maintaining and troubleshooting hydrologic monitoring equipment such as water quality sondes; using standard computer software applications to store, retrieve, organize, and summarize data; using specialized hydrologic database software to correct and grade data; communicating water-focused monitoring results, orally and in writing; and performing preliminary statistical and spatial analyses on hydrologic datasets.

You must include hours worked per week in your resume. -OR- EDUCATION: At least one year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate level coursework.

Coursework must be directly related to the position. You must include a copy of your transcripts with your application and the hours worked per week in your resume.

-OR- A COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: To combine education and experience, first take the number of graduate level semester hours (or equivalent) earned, and divide by 18 semester hours (or equivalent).

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% to qualify.

You must include a copy of your transcripts with your application and the hours worked per week in your resume.

To qualify for this position at the GS-08 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sector) that is directly related to the position to be filled.

Examples of specialized experience include the following: collecting field data for water-focused projects or studies; calibrating, programing, maintaining and troubleshooting hydrologic monitoring equipment such as water quality sondes; using standard computer software applications to store, retrieve, organize, and summarize data; using specialized hydrologic database software to correct and grade data; communicating water-focused monitoring results, orally and in writing; performing preliminary statistical and spatial analyses on hydrologic datasets; and training and assisting junior crew members in hydrologic monitoring and other tasks.

You must include hours worked per week in your resume.

Volunteer 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. Major Duties:

Please select ALL duty stations you are interested in working at during the application process.

If you are interested in working at all duty locations, also select "location negotiable after selection" when you apply.

You will only be considered for the duty location(s) that you select when you apply.

The typical season for these positions is April through October, but varies during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, and funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April, 2026.

The National Park Service (NPS) serves as a steward for the preservation of America's national parks and their resources. In 1998, the NPS initiated a natural resource Inventory and Monitoring Program.

The purpose of the program was to develop a baseline inventory of significant natural resources in national parks and to monitor these natural resources over time.

The program now includes more than 270 national parks organized into 32 networks.

The Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN) consists of five Alaskan parks (Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Alagnak National Wild River, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve).

The SWAN is hiring 1-2 positions for our seasonal crew, which is responsible for implementing a freshwater monitoring protocol in the field.

The protocol covers a range of water quality and water quantity parameters (e.g., temperature, pH, turbidity, stage, discharge) measured in lakes and streams using various types of equipment (e.g., sondes, temperature loggers, pressure transducers, ADCPs).

The crew will also implement SWAN air quality and freshwater contaminants protocols. Previous motorized boat handling experience is a plus.

For more information regarding SWAN monitoring, please see https://www.nps.gov/im/swan/monitoring.htm.

Duties of the job include the following (this list is not all inclusive): Collecting various types of hydrologic data in the field using standard methods, practices, and procedures; Calibrating and programing electronic water quality/quantity data recording devices; Using standard computer software to store, retrieve, organize and, summarize data; Using a specialized database to store data; Undertaking quality control procedures to identify data issues; and Working with diverse individuals under a variety of conditions, including remote wilderness settings.

Additional GS-06 duties: Troubleshooting electronic water quality/quantity data recording devices; Using a specialized database to correct and grade data; and Producing preliminary reports and informal presentations summarizing routine phases of water quality investigations.

Additional GS-07 duties: Conducting basic statistical and spatial analyses; Producing technical and non-technical written reports and oral presentations summarizing routine phases of water quality investigations; and Motivating, guiding, and training others in order to accomplish goals.

Additional GS-08 duties: Accomplishing duties with minimal supervision; and Finalizing quality control evaluations via certifying hydrologic data in a database.

Physical Demands: The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Heavy items (e.g., equipment up to 50 pounds) must be lifted or moved on a routine basis.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in both an office setting, which is typically well lighted and ventilated, and in the field, where the incumbent may encounter adverse weather conditions, steep or uneven terrain, and other nuisances.

Government housing is available. Please visit find a park for additional park information.