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Meteorologist (General Forecaster), GS-1340-09/11/12 (MAP)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Weather Forecast Office (WFO).

The full performance level of this position is GS-12.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you may be non-competitively promoted if you perform successfully and if recommended by management.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, Alaska is 4.22% and is not federally taxed. The COLA is not reflected in the locality salary shown in this vacancy announcement. COLAs are exempt from Federal income taxes; post differentials are not.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is in the bargaining unit.

NOTES:

*This vacancy may be used to fill other Meteorologist (General Forecaster) GS-1340-09/11/12 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band requires the same qualifications as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

*Applicants currently occupying a 1340 series position in the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and apply under competitive merit promotion procedures are covered under the "Exception" clause and DO NOT need to submit transcripts.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/14/2017 to 06/27/2017
Salary
$40,684 to - $103,663 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 12
Locations
Anchorage, AK
1 vacancy
Fairbanks, AK
3 vacancies
Juneau, AK
2 vacancies
Raleigh, NC
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel is approximately 10%.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation is authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time / Career or Career-Conditional
Service
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NWS-2017-0123
Control number
472083500

This job is open to

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Duties

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As a Meteorologist (General Forecaster), you will perform the following duties:

  • Integrate meteorological data for a variety of sources for analyzing and assessing the current and forecast weather situation at both synoptic and meso-scale levels. Devise and formulate all necessary warning, advisory, and forecast products assigned to his/her forecast "desk" during the shift, with emphasis on meeting the needs of the users.
  • Conduct a weather watch which involves interpretation of Doppler radar data and satellite imagery, and the analysis of other meteorological and hydrologic data. Determine appropriate and relevant data, identify questionable or conflicting data (resolving those if possible) and analyze all integrated data sets to determine: 1) need of warnings, statements, or advisories, and 2) need for issuing or updating local public, and aviation (or marine, if applicable)forecasts.
  • Provide weather advice and guidance to the general public, and to agricultural, commercial, transportation and recreational interests. Provide forecasts and weather briefings to press, radio, and television stations as needed.
  • Provide hydrologic service products for assigned WFO area, including forecasts and warnings of floods and river stage for the public and numerous users dealing with water resources and/or land management, transportation, emergency management, river and flood plain control, etc.
  • Conduct or participate in the conduct of local studies and developmental projects designed to capitalize on or incorporate the benefits of new science/technology/local techniques into WFO operations. Apply this developing body of knowledge and experience to the warning and forecast environment.
These duties are described at the FPL GS-12, the GS-09 and GS-11 are developmental leading to such performance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • Time-in-grade requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

Rotating shift work is occasionally required with the WFO in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During periods of threatening weather or rapidly changing weather conditions, the increase in workload and the necessity for rapid dissemination of weather warnings and updates requires periods of acute mental alertness and produces considerable mental stress. Adverse weather conditions often require the incumbent to work hours longer than the usual shift, adding to mental and physical stress.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:

A. Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:

a. At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of credit in meteorology/atmospheric science including a minimum of:

i. Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;*

ii. Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale);

iii. Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and

iv. Two semester hours of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.

b. Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.*

c. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.*

d. At least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following: physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography, physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and computer science.

* There is a prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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.

To qualify at the GS-09 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Preparing and issuing statements for a geographic area concerning a number of hazardous weather conditions, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe storm;
  • Maintaining radar surveillance of a geographic area using the NEXRAD system; and
  • Participating in the conduct of local weather studies.
OR

EDUCATION: Two (2) years of progressively higher graduate level education leading to a Master's degree, a Master’s Degree or equivalent graduate degree in Meteorology or other related discipline.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Assessing the current and forecast weather situation at both the synoptic and mesoscale levels. Devising and formulating warning, advisory and forecast products and hydrologic service products using the NEXRAD system; and
  • Conducting weather watch involving interpreting Doppler radar data and satellite imagery and the analysis of other meteorological and hydrologic data.
OR

EDUCATION: Three (3) years of progressively higher graduate level education leading to a Ph.D, a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in Meteorology or other related discipline.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience as described above.

To qualify at the GS-12 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Analyzing and assessing the current and forecast weather situation and weather trends at both the synoptic and mesoscale levels;
  • Devising and formulating warning, advisory and forecast products and hydrologic service products using the NEXRAD system;
  • Conducting weather watch involving interpreting Doppler radar data and satellite imagery and the analysis of other meteorological and hydrologic data; and
  • Providing advice and assistance to peers and staff on complex weather situations and data.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Ability to use complex electronic and electro-mechanical equipment utilized in data acquisition, communications and service programs.
  • Knowledge of operational and applied meteorology.
  • Ability to communicate orally to provide weather advice and guidance to general public.
  • Knowledge of theoretical meteorology.
  • Skill in developing studies and projects with local partners.
If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

To preview questions please click here.

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