Meteorologist

Duties

The individual selected for this position will serve as Outlook/Mesoscale Forecaster and will…

• Perform a wide range of assignments of considerable difficulty and complexity in forecasting, techniques development or climatology.
• Determine forecast guidance requirements, working with echelons at all levels to evaluate and improve guidance packages. Make recommendations on improvements.
• Perform a continuous weather watch of the continental United States, which includes extensive examination of the diagnostic environment and numerical weather model guidance.
• Issue Convective Outlooks for Days 1-8 and Mesoscale Discussions for short term hazardous weather for severe convection and winter weather.
• Perform internal and external forecast collaboration and work closely with the Lead Forecaster and other shift forecasters to ensure product consistency.
• Lead or participate in studies and developmental projects designed to validate and/or incorporate new science, technology, and techniques into SPC operations and products.

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 applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be minimally qualified. You MUST meet the following basic education requirement.

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.

There is a prerequisite or requisite 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 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-13 grade level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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:

• Conducting a continuous weather watch which involves interpretation of satellite imagery, Doppler Radar, numerical weather prediction models and other diagnostic meteorological and hydrological information for the issuance of all forecast products.
• Validating and/or incorporating new science, technology and techniques into Storm Prediction Center operations and products.
• Conducting expert-level analyses of complex weather patterns or developing advanced techniques within a meteorological specialty area.
• Communicating orally and in writing to enhance collaboration and work across organizational boundaries.