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Oceanographer, GS-1360-13 (DE/CR)

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

Summary

Monster Government Solutions (MGS) will be performing scheduled maintenance between Saturday, April 17th at 12:01 a.m. ET and Saturday, April 17th at 11:59 p.m. ET. You may not be able to complete the application process during this time.

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Water Prediction (OWP), Water Prediction Operations Division (WPOD) at the National Water Center (NWC) with one vacancy in Tuscaloosa, AL. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2021 to 05/06/2021
Salary
$92,143 to - $119,787 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Up to 20% of domestic travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NWS-2021-0083
Control number
597737400

Duties

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The working title for this position is Total Water Specialist. As a Total Water Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Develop specialized oceanographic analysis techniques for integrating large oceanographic, atmospheric, and hydrological data sets to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) predictive capabilities of the effects of storm surge.
  • Performing a wide range of operational forecast duties, including working closely with National Hurricane Center (NHC) Specialists during land-threatening tropical cyclone situations to produce storm surge forecasts and products.
  • Serve as liaison for the Office of Water Prediction (OWP) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), working on coastal dynamics, including leading briefings for senior leaders, core partners, and other federal agencies about routine and high impact weather events.

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 registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.

This position requires a Public Trust (Moderate Risk) Security Clearance.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is authorized.

* This position is in the bargaining unit

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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: During hurricanes events and large-scale extra-tropical storms the increase in workload and the necessity for rapid dissemination of warnings and updates requires periods of acute mental alertness and produces considerable mental stress. Large hurricane events often require the incumbent to work hours longer than the usual shift which may add to the physical and mental stress. Noise levels for communications equipment may be an occasional nuisance. The incumbent may work several consecutive hours at a computer terminal.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This position may be required to work rotating shifts. 

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: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

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:

EDUCATION:

A. Degree: major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.

OR

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

Note: Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in geology or biology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.

- AND -

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Analyzing oceanographic data sets in order to perform oceanographic analyses; and
  • Assisting with the preparation of forecasts and warnings of marine conditions, coastal storm surge activities, tropical cyclones, or flooding.

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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: 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) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

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

  • Knowledge of the principles, practices, and theories of oceanography, atmospheric science, and hydrology with an emphasis in coastal interaction.
  • Ability to perform database research to analyze large oceanographic data sets.
  • Ability to perform operational forecasting services.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, stakeholders, partners, the media, and the public.

To preview questions please click here.

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