Student Trainee (Hydrology)
Duties
As a Student Trainee (Hydrology), you will:
- Complete periods of pertinent formal education and periods of employment as part of a formal student employment program.
- Exercise judgment in developing and preparing daily streamflow forecasts, as well as oral and written briefings for BPA planning staff, for the Columbia River Basin.
- Assist in maintaining BPA's streamflow modeling system and support software.
- Maintain computer software, spreadsheets, and databases to enhance the operational functions of the weather and streamflow forecasting group.
- Apply mathematics and statistical methods to evaluate hydrologic studies and technical literature, modeling and streamflow procedures, and hydrometeorological data.
As part of onboarding, you will need to submit DOE's Certification of COVID-19 Vaccination for Prospective Federal Employees attesting to truthfulness that you are fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021, or prior to onboarding, if hired after November 22, 2021. Once onboard, you will then be required to provide proof of vaccination in DOE's MyEnergy system and certify the documentation you provide is true and correct under penalty of perjury. Providing a knowing and willful false statement on either DOE's COVID-19 Vaccination Form prior to starting or when providing proof of vaccination in DOE's MyEnergy system once onboard is punishable by fine and/or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001) and will result in termination from Federal service.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- Work assignments are structured and include a variety of technical tasks to support streamflow forecast operations. Employee participates as a team member engaging in extensive coordination with staff meteorologists to analyze and forecast daily, weekly, and intra-annual streamflow. The incumbent uses skill and experience to correct missing data, highlight discrepancies between forecasts and observations, and minor programming problems or support displays and spreadsheets. The work involves applying specific standards, methods, and procedures to carry out tasks; assisting others by relieving them of routine work associated with larger studies; and completing a segment of an assignment or project of broader scope.
- Must be at least 16 years old.
- Must be in good academic standing (GPA of a 2.0 or higher).
- Must be enrolled in at least a half-time course load, as defined by your educational institution.
- Must submit a copy of your current transcripts and/or letter of acceptance as proof of your enrollment. If selected, official transcripts/proof of enrollment must be submitted prior to establishing a start date.
- Your entire time as a Pathways Intern will be considered your probationary/trial period.
- As a Pathways Intern you may have rotational assignments in various organizations.
- As a Pathways Intern you are expected to work during your summer, winter and spring breaks unless otherwise coordinated with your manager.
Continued in Education section.
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Currently enrolled in an accredited college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
GS-04:
To qualify, you must have completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study OR an associate's degree. (1 full academic year is equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours.)
As a physical sciences intern (hydrology), completes periods of pertinent formal education and periods of employment as part of a formal student employment program. Work assignments during periods of employment include tasks that involve a varied and complex sequence of standardized or prescribed operations in the field of hydrology. The incumbent uses these skills to: With assistance from more senior staff, performs routine weather or streamflow data monitoring and analysis. Recognizes errors that are readily apparent but that require a limited knowledge of hydrology or meteorology; Processes the data according to well-defined methods and designated formulas; Become familiar with the work group's program requirements, techniques, and procedures; Maintain simple computer spreadsheet, and databases to enhance the operational functions of the weather and streamflow forecasting group; Apply mathematics and statistical methods to evaluate hydrologic studies and technical literature, modeling and streamflow procedures, and hydro meteorological data; Follows oral or written technical instructions and works in close cooperation with other workers to complete training assignments.
GS-05:
To qualify, you must have completed 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's degree OR a bachelor's degree.
As a physical sciences intern (hydrology), completes periods of pertinent formal education and periods of employment as part of a formal student employment program. Work assignments during periods of employment include tasks that involve a varied and complex sequence of standardized or prescribed operations in the field of hydrology. The incumbent uses these skills to: With assistance from more senior staff, performs routine weather or streamflow data monitoring and analysis. Recognizes errors that are readily apparent but that require a limited knowledge of hydrology or meteorology; Processes the data according to well-defined methods and designated formulas; Become familiar with the work group's program requirements, techniques, and procedures; Maintain simple computer spreadsheet, and databases to enhance the operational functions of the weather and streamflow forecasting group; Apply mathematics and statistical methods to evaluate hydrologic studies and technical literature, modeling and streamflow procedures, and hydro meteorological data; Follows oral or written technical instructions and works in close cooperation with other workers to complete training assignments.
GS-07:
To qualify, you must have completed 1 full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a bachelor's degree.
As a physical sciences intern (hydrology), completes periods of pertinent formal education and periods of employment as part of a formal student employment program. Work assignments during periods of employment include tasks in the hydrologic or meteorological forecasting programs, which consists of providing daily, weekly, and intra-annual weather and streamflow forecasts at over 300 sub basins in the Columbia Basin. Uses skills and experience for operational weather and streamflow forecasting, hydro-meteorological computer science and water supply assessment. The incumbent uses these skills to: With assistance from more senior staff, exercise judgment in developing and preparing daily streamflow forecasts, as well as oral and written briefings for BPA planning staff, for the Columbia River Basin. Completed forecasts are reviewed for scientific soundness by more senior staff; Assist in maintaining BPA's streamflow modeling system and support software. Responsibilities include learning model components and software configurations, using the model for hydro-meteorological monitoring, evaluating model performance, assisting in model maintenance and backup, execution of the Extended Streamflow Prediction (ESP) portion of the model, and evaluation of ESP results; Maintain computer software, spreadsheets, and databases to enhance the operational functions of the weather and streamflow forecasting group; Apply mathematics and statistical methods to evaluate hydrologic studies and technical literature, modeling and streamflow procedures, and hydro-meteorological data.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Education Requirements:
Your educational goals must include obtaining a professional degree in Hydrology.
You must submit a copy of your current transcripts for proof of education and enrollment. If you are not currently enrolled, but have been accepted for future enrollment you must submit a copy of your acceptance letter with your application.
DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.
NOTE: This Pathways Internship will has a tentative start date in February/March of 2022. If you graduate before June 2022 you will not be eligible for this Pathways Internship Program.
PATHWAYS PROGRAM COMPLETION:
BPA has the option to convert an intern to a permanent position upon program completion. This is not automatic nor guaranteed. It is at the discretion of the employing office. Interns may be converted to the General Schedule (GS) level qualified for at the time of conversion. To be eligible for conversion, an intern must:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the internship program before completion of their educational program/degree. Hydrology Series, 1315
- Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the intern will be converted
- Meet requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
- Perform their job successfully and be recommended by the organization to a permanent position.
Additional information
- The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
- This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
- For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps
Veterans Information: http://www.usajobs.gov/vi
Telework: www.telework.gov
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/
Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
BPA strives to ensure a safe, positive, inclusive work environment, supported by Leadership Behaviors. For more information on Leadership Behaviors visit: www.bpa.gov/goto/LeadershipBehaviors
We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.
Benefits
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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to ensure you have been placed into the appropriate quality category.
Your application is rated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education (when applicable), and training as described in your resume and applicant assessment. Your credentials are measured against the established duties of the position at the grade level(s) being advertised.
If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).
If you are a Veteran Preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring 85.0 or higher.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (12/27/2021) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11298542
Benefits
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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:
- Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
- Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
- Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
- Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.Agency contact information
Richard Howard
Address
Bonneville Power Administration
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208
USNext steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.
You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.
You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job-this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.
In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Financial suitability
- Selective Service
- New employee probationary period
- Signature and false statements
- Privacy Act
- Social security number request
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:
- Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
- Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
- Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
- Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
This job is open to
Students
Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
- Students who are currently enrolled or have been accepted for enrollment in a degree seeking program (diploma, certificate 4 year college or university, graduate, professional school, etc.) - All U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and Foreign Nationals who meet both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws. - This Pathways Internship will have a tentative start date in January/February/March of 2022. If you graduate before June 2022 you will not be eligible for this Pathways Internship Program.