Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Interdisciplinary Physical Scientist/Meteorologist, GS-1301/1340-09/11/12 (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 on Saturday, October 16th between 12:01 a.m. ET and 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), Alaska Region (AR), Weather Forecast Office (WFO), with one vacancy in Anchorage, AK.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
10/14/2021 to 10/28/2021
Salary
$59,756 to - $112,659 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 12
Location
Anchorage, AK
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Less than 10% of foreign and domestic travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
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.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
NWS-AR-2022-0003
Control number
617238200

Duties

Help

Official Title for this position: Meteorologist OR Physical Scientist. Official Title will be determined based on the qualifications of the selectee.

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

  • Act as local expert in sea ice and sea surface temperature analysis and forecasting and provide consultation services to the users of ice products and services, ensuring customers and stakeholders are contacted to determine effectiveness of the sea ice and sea surface temperature program.
  • Assist in the development of new techniques, primarily for sea-ice/sea-surface temperature analysis and forecasting and in the delivery of services to partners and users.
  • Perform and provide Impact-Based Decision Support (IDSS) to a variety of deep core partners and stakeholders. (i.e., sea ice and sea surface temperature analysis and forecasting).

These duties are described at the full performance level of the GS-12. The GS-09 and GS-11 is developmental leading to such performance.

Requirements

Help

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.

 ·      As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

·        Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

GS-09 Only: This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance.
GS-11 and GS-12 Only: This position requires a Public Trust (Moderate Risk) Security Clearance.

* A one year probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is in the bargaining unit.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: This position requires shift work.

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

To qualify for the 1301 series:

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: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

-OR-

To qualify for the 1340 series:

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: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:

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

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

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

            c.     Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and

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

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

     3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.*

     4. 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.

-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-09 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements 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:

  • Using state-of-the-art hydro-meteorological data to assist in the preparation and issuance of warnings, advisories, outlooks and general forecasts for weather, water, ice, or climate hazards.

OR

EDUCATION: Master’s Degree or equivalent graduate degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, physical science, engineering, mathematics, or other related discipline or 2 years of progressively higher graduate level education leading to such a degree.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination.

To qualify at the GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements 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:

  • Using state-of-the-art meteorological data to prepare and issue warnings, advisories, outlooks and general forecasts for weather, water, ice, or climate hazards;
  • Assisting with the development of new or improved meteorological or hydrometeorological analysis and forecast techniques; and
  • Supporting interpretive services, such as decision support services, to partners.

OR

EDUCATION: Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in meteorology, atmospheric science, physical science, engineering, mathematics, or other related discipline or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of related graduate level education and specialized experience. NOTE: Only education in excess of two years is qualifying at this level.

To qualify at the GS-12 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements 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:

  • Conducting sea ice or sea surface temperature analysis and forecasting;
  • Assisting with the development of new or improved sea ice or sea surface temperature analysis and forecast techniques; and
  • Developing and delivering interpretive services, such as decision support services, to partners.

Education

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.

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:

GS-09 ONLY:

  • Ability to assist in the transfer of technology from research to operational environments.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on weather analysis and forecasting.

GS-11 ONLY:

  • Ability to lead in the transfer of technology from research to operational environments.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on weather forecasts and advisories.

GS-09 & GS-11 ONLY:

  • Knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices of physical science fields used to support meteorological forecasting operations.
  • Ability to provide warnings, advisories, and other sea ice forecasts to general public and special user groups.

GS-12 ONLY:

  • Knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices of physical science fields used to support sea-ice/sea-surface temperature analysis and forecasting.
  • Ability to conduct analyses and forecasts of complex weather patterns with specific emphasis on sea-ice and sea-surface temperatures in coastal waters.
  • Ability to lead in the transfer of for sea-ice/sea-surface temperature analysis and forecasting technology from research to operational environments.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on sea ice and sea surface temperature forecast and analysis.

To preview questions please click here.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.