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Meteorologist

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service (NWS), National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), Aviation Weather Center (AWC), with two vacancies in Kansas City, MO.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS NCEP-24-12480686-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/25/2024 to 08/08/2024
Salary
$49,793 to - $114,818 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 12
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Kansas City, MO
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
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.
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
NWS NCEP-24-12480687-DE
Control number
801362200

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Duties

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The incumbent will serve as Meteorologist. As a Meteorologist you will perform the following duties:

  • Gather meteorological data in order to provide meteorological forecast support, continuously analyze and reassess forecast information, and conduct research studies along with applying complex algorithms to evaluate and interpret such data.
  • Develop material for planning, training, or evaluating emergency response to provide a basis and improve overall Impact Based Decision Support, provide warnings and advisories for upcoming hazards, while also tailoring products to address specific events to provide information to make appropriate decisions during major climatological events.
  • Work closely as a team to gather, improve, and optimize weather prediction center functions for assigned service area while providing concise and easy to comprehend reports or information as accurate and timely as possible to ensure all stakeholders can plan appropriately.
*Duties are described at the GS-12 level; duties performed at the GS-7, GS-9, and GS-11 levels are intended to prepare for the full performance GS-12 level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:
  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
  4. More requirements are listed under Qualification and Other Information.
  5. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
  6. Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
  7. This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is covered by NWSEO 1538.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
  • Working rotating shifts, to include weekends, nights and holidays, is routinely required with the WFO or National Center in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Incumbent must maintain sharp mental focus during highly stressful events.
  • Incumbent will be required to maintain weather watch at office when general public is evacuating the area.
  • A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
  • Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

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.

EDUCATION:

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:

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 coursework 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 coursework in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics, and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.

OR

A 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 for the GS-7 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-5 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Under close review gather and provide information to be used to provide assistance with meteorological forecasts;
  • Gather and present requested data for senior specialists to use in research studies to integrate new science, technologies, or techniques; and
  • Create graphs or other ways to present information to assist senior specialists in creating tailored products, specialized notifications, remote briefings, or on-site deployments.
OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education in a directly related field.

OR

SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:
1. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
2. A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
3. Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
4. Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of related graduate-level education and specialized experience.

To qualify for the GS-9 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-7 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Gather and integrate meteorological information to assist with providing forecasts;
  • Gather, analyze, and present requested data for senior specialists to use in research studies to integrate new science, technologies, or techniques; and,
  • Gather and provide information for use in creating tailored products, specialized notifications, remote briefings, or on-site deployments to assist with Impact based Decision Support Services.
OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field or 2 years of progressively higher graduate level education leading to such a degree.

OR

COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience as described above.
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 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Gathering and providing information to be used to provide assistance with meteorological forecasts;
  • Providing directed assistance with Meteorological research studies to incorporate new sciences, techniques or technologies; and,
  • Assisting higher specialists with Impact Based Decision Support by gathering meteorological information or providing visual representations to present information.
OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a 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 graduate 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 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:
  • Gathering, evaluating and presenting information to provide meteorological forecasts;
  • Performing Meteorological research studies in assigned areas to assist with overall improvement, incorporation, or implementation of new techniques, sciences or technologies in order to improve forecast support; and,
  • Assisting senior staff with development of Impact Based Decision Support concerns with providing recommendations, training or identifying areas to enhance performance.

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.

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.

Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation

Transcripts
If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

Additional information

CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority 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.

The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

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. 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:

Customer Service, Decision Support, and Meteorology

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. Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

Category rating will be used in the ranking and selection process for this position. The quality categories are Gold, Silver, and Bronze. You will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position. If you are eligible, your on-line responses to the application questions will determine your placement in the appropriate quality category described above. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible and/or not qualified.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12480687

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