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As a Meteorologist, you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as Flight Director on research and reconnaissance flights, coordinating and executing mission objectives. Serve as the onboard Meteorologist responsible for in-flight weather data collection and dissemination.
• Provide quality control and quality assurance for data collection and processes. Responsible for the validation and quality of airborne research data collected on assigned missions and which are ultimately supplied to the research community.
• Provide technical guidance and direction in monitoring, analyzing, and collecting remote sensing and aircraft in-situ data in dynamic weather environments. Analyze aviation hazards, identify risks and recommends solutions. Retrieve and evaluate climatological data and report data using standard statistical methods and procedures.
• Monitor and evaluate real-time weather data, aviation and ground radar, and satellite imagery for both scientific and safety purposes. Analyze and assess current and forecasted weather situations at both the synoptic and mesoscale levels for pre-flight mission briefings. Deliver mission briefings and/or presentations to small groups, including other crewmembers, scientists, media, and leadership.
• Adapt general forecasts to conform to observed local weather phenomena and prepare warnings and advisories. Warn or alert general public of immediate danger situations such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe storms by issuing local statements, warnings, and advisories in accordance with procedures.

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

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 Moderate Risk Security Clearance.

All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Additionally, you will be subject to random drug testing, if permanently selected.

The full performance level of the position is GS-13

*A one year probationary period may be required.

*Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

*This position is in the bargaining unit.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is split between office and flight conditions.
• Serves as a crewmember onboard government aircraft. Assignments often entail flying into dynamic and hazardous weather environments.
• Must be able to climb an aircraft ladder, and at times be able to carry equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Position requires the FAA 3rd class or equivalent physical evaluation, based on NOAA aviation policy.
• Traveling across the US and to foreign countries is not uncommon.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Incumbent serves as a NOAA Air Crewmember on mission flights which may include flights into severe storms. Flying environment may be turbulent.
• Aircraft noise levels may be greater than 85 decibels.
• Fieldwork may occur anywhere in the world, under less than adequate living and working conditions.
• Deployed areas may require exposure to extremes from tropical heat, or sub-zero arctic cold.
• Incumbent receives training in safety procedures, aircraft egress, water survival, and must follow all NOAA and FAA safety regulations related to the position.

Qualifications

(Continued from the Requirements section)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• The position requires that the incumbent engage in mission flights, which may include flights into severe storms to perform the duties of this position and NOAA Air Crewmember duties during these flights. The incumbent is required to meet and maintain the Air Crewmember medical requirements as described in the AOC Operations Manual and the AOC Medical Policy. For AOC purposes, a valid Class 3 FAA Medical Certificate without limitations will be deemed equivalent to an Aircrew Medical Examination.
• The position requires strict adherence to safety procedures and training due to exposure to potentially severe weather conditions and hazardous flight environments.
• Travel for extended periods of time is a requirement of the position. This may include international travel. Travel status of up to 90 days per year and for periods of four to six weeks at a time is not uncommon. Shiftwork may be required during operations.
• POSITION SENSITIVITY MODERATE RISK - Position with potential for MODERATE TO SERIOUS ADVERSE IMPACT on efficiency of the service, with duties or CONSIDERABLE MISSION IMPORTANCE, such as service to public, mid-management, policy development assistance, or independent action.

NOTES:

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Meteorologist, GS-1340-11/12 (Full Promotion Potential GS-13) positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

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 has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR substitution of education for experience OR combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:

To qualify for the 1340 series:

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-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: 

• Participating in analyzing meteorological data for weather forecasting services; and
• Collecting meteorological data from a variety of sources such as computer systems/software, aviation and ground radar, satellite imagery, and/or meteorological sensors.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. 

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of related graduate education and specialized experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of two years is qualifying for combination.

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: 

• Participating in the development of meteorological forecasts, watches, warnings, and/or advisories;
• Analyzing, validating, and/or providing quality control for meteorological data collection; and 
• Communicating meteorological results to a variety of audiences such as public groups, the media, and/or other government entities.

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:

ALL GRADES:

• Ability to serve as an airborne meteorologist and support in-flight weather data collection.
• Ability to provide quality control and quality assurance for meteorological data collection.
• Ability to validate airborne research data.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and evaluate remote sensing and climatological data.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate real-time weather data, aviation and ground radar, and satellite imagery.
• Ability to analyze and assess weather situations for pre-flight mission briefings and aircraft operations.
• Ability to develop weather forecasts and issue warnings and advisories for hazardous weather.

GS-12 ONLY:

• Ability to serve as Flight Director on research and reconnaissance flights.
• Ability to provide oversight and guidance for meteorological investigations in dynamic weather environments.