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Director National Hurricane Center

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

Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been delegated overall national responsibility for providing hurricane forecast and warning services for the general public, the public sector, and all branches of the U.S. Government.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
10/04/2022 to 11/03/2022
Salary
$135,468 to - $203,700 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Miami, FL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
22-NWS NCEP-11646984
Control number
680531000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all groups of Qualified Individuals/All-Sources (U.S. Citizens Only).

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Duties

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The National Hurricane Center Director is the key figure in the National Hurricane Warning Program. The incumbent will serve as the hurricane prediction authority figure for the entire weather enterprise (public and private) and is the spokesperson during hurricane and tropical storm events that pose direct threats to the United States and surrounding countries/territories.

The Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has full responsibility for all NHC activities including providing technical oversight and leadership to all NWS offices which are part of the United States hurricane warning service. The basic responsibilities include
(1) providing forecasts, watches and warnings, based on advanced scientific techniques; (2) effectively communicating the forecasts through the media and by other means, and (3) working with the emergency management communities to assure proper response in life threatening situations. In addition, the incumbent has primary responsibility for the following:

1. Provides warnings for the public and concerned special interests, including national, state and local emergency management
communities, DOD OHS and other entities of threatening hurricanes and tropical storms, and related storm surges. In this capacity,
the incumbent is directly concerned with the identification, tracking, and prediction of all Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Eastern North Pacific tropical disturbances and hurricanes as well as the authoritative warnings to the public.

2. Provides year round ocean and marine forecast services for assigned tropical regions in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean domains.

3. Is responsible for identifying and assesses the impact on short and long-term service problems of the deficiencies in the hurricane
warning service area, and for consulting with other agencies and representatives from other countries concerned with disaster
planning, emergency management, prevention, and mitigation of damage, and relief reports.

4. Makes recommendations to the NCEP Director, concerning the initiation, curtailing, or changing programs or parts of programs
associated with the U.S. hurricane warning services.

5. Is the primary spokesperson with the media to relay information related to hurricane threats and weather activities.

6. Serves as Chairman of the WMO's Regional Association, Regional Specialized Meteorological (RSMC) for tropical analysis. The
RSMC forecasts warnings and guidance for its area of responsibility. As Chairman, the incumbent is accountable for the:

a. Preparation and dissemination of analyses and descriptive meteorological products for tropical and subtropical ocean regions of the
western hemisphere from 140 degrees W eastward to the west coast of Africa. These analyses and descriptive products are basic
to present day meteorology serving as forecast guidance for several NWS, DOD, DHS and international forecast offices.

b. Oversees the functioning as a laboratory investigating new and appropriate ways of gathering, analyzing and presenting data for
the tropical latitudes to exploit new observations such as those from satellites, aircraft, buoys, etc. and to develop efficient
human/computer interactive programs to take advantage of evolving electronic data processing technology.

7. Represents the NWS and the NHC on many technical and planning Committees and serves broadly as a consultant and expert on
tropical meteorology and hurricanes.

8. Designated by the White House and the DOC as a Critical Sensitive position. Top Secret clearance is required as the NHC Director,
the Successor to the Secretary of Commerce that resides out of the National Capital Region. The NHC Director must have the
capability to continue the missions of the Office of the Secretary - Command and Control, in the event of a major disaster that
requires him/her to assume the position.

9. Interacts directly with international and other federal, state, county, local governmental agencies, organizations and with individuals in
the private sector on matters of mutual concern and the NHC Director responsible for establishing working relationships with these
entities, organizations agencies and individuals.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed under "How You Will Be Evaluated." Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

Key Requirements:
1. Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
2. Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
3. Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1 year probationary period.
4. Position is subject to pre-employment background investigation.
5. Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required).
6. Position is subject to random drug testing.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below and the educational requirement. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

SES Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):
ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

NOTE: Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages typed in 12-point font.

Professional/Technical Core Qualifications (PTQs):
PTQ 1 - Experience in overseeing large scale operational prediction programs/projects, with an emphasis on tropical meteorology processes and problems associated with hurricane and tropical storm forecasting.

PTQ 2 - Knowledge of the services needed by users of weather service products, and ability to work and interact with local state, Federal agencies and the international community.

PTQ 3 - Knowledge of effective communication and public speaking including current electronic and news print media techniques and demonstrated ability to deliver the proper response to a variety of audiences in life threatening situations.

NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at
http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp

Example of ECQ statements are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Education

Basic Requirements:

  1. 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:
      1. Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;*
      2. Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale);
      3. Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and
      4. 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

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

Additional information

Background Investigation: This position is designated as Top Secret and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish security eligibility.

Public Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.

Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after 12/31/1959, who are required to register with the Selective Service under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, must be registered (or must have registered at the time they were required to do so) in order to be eligible for appointment. For more information, visit the SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM web site at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm.

Veterans' preference: VETERAN'S PREFERENCE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO POSITIONS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE.

Application materials: The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Mary Wilson, the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail atmary.wilson@noaa.gov or by telephone at 301-628-1880. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) listed and each Professional/Technical Qualification (PTQ).
If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and had your ECQs certified by OPM, then you only need to address each PTQ, and you do not need to submit an ECQ narrative.

All other applicants are required to respond to all ECQs and PTQs, addressing each ECQ and PTQ separately. Please give a complete and detailed answer for each qualification. Please keep in mind each ECQ and PTQ are unique qualifications. Therefore, duplicate responses are not sufficient in determining if you meet that specific qualification.

The servicing Human Resources Specialist will forward all minimally qualified applicants to be evaluated by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) rating panel of senior managers to determine the degree to which they possess the executive core and professional/technical qualifications, and best qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The ERB rating panel will make recommendations on best qualified candidates to the appointing authority. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience, the ECQs, and the PTQs.

Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the ECQs and/or PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE".

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

-Best Qualified
-Well Qualified
-Qualified





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