Lead Meteorologist

Duties

The individual selected for this position will…

• Serve as a Senior Forecaster with the responsibilities of a shift leader coordinating WFO staff efforts along with providing direction, guidance, instructions, and assistance to the shift staff.
• Be responsible for the quality and timeliness of all warning and forecast products prepared and issued by the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) shift staff.
• Conduct a weather watch which involves interpretation of Doppler radar data, satellite imagery, and the analysis of other meteorological and hydrologic data.
• Provide weather advice and guidance to emergency managers at the local and state levels during severe and hazardous weather situations.
• Handle general office administrative matters which may occur on shift.

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position requires applicant to meet a Basic 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:

EDUCATION:

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.

-OR-

Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown 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-13 grade level:

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

• Analyzing and assessing the current and forecast weather situation(s) at both the synoptic and mesoscale levels.
• Devising and formulating warning, and advisory for hydrologic service products.
• Delivering presentations, conducting damage assessments and subsequent media briefings.
• Collaborating with a wide variety of government and other officials.