Supervisory Hydrologic Technician

Full Job Description

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Supervisory Hydrologic Technician.

You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Friant, California In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-12, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in federal service having demonstrated experience performing advanced geochemical, hydrologic, and geologic investigations.

Experience includes conducting groundwater and surface-water contamination studies; developing and applying mathematical models for groundwater flow, solute transport, and chemical processes; analyzing and interpreting hydrologic and geologic data; evaluating technical alternatives to resolve water resource issues; and providing technical expertise and recommendations for the design, modification, and improvement of water delivery systems in coordination with engineers, agencies, and water users.

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).

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 01/23/2026. Major Duties:

This position works within the Department of Interior (DOI), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), California Great Basin (CGB) South-Central California Area Office (SCCAO).

Field Office Chief (Supervisory Hydrologic Technician) responsible for technically managing water operation activities and water delivery systems associated with Friant Dam and Bradbury Dam to include supervising lower graded technicians and irrigation system operators in water operations and data collection.

Serves as SCCAO principal contact person responsible for providing hydrologic consultation services in matters relating to the development and revision of accounting and measuring programs; managing Friant Dam and Bradbury Dam projects and flood water operations; and in the coordination of San Joaquin River and Mendota Pool activities involving the exchange water agreements, Santa Ynez River, downstream stakeholders, water operations, delivery systems and related activities.

Serves as a technical expert for geochemical, hydrologic, and geologic studies requiring an advanced level of professional competence for the Friant Dam and Bradbury Dam projects.

Reviews the results of technical investigations described above and makes preliminary assessment of alternatives available to resolve identified problems.

Conducts ground and surface water activities and studies: collection, coordination, analysis, processing, and presentation of hydrologic/geologic data as it relates to quantity, quality, movement and distribution of surface and ground water.

Recommend and implement design modifications and improvements to existing and proposed water delivery systems to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and dependability of water movement.