This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU), with vacancies in each listed location. CWSUs provide weather support to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Route Traffic Control Centers and other FAA air traffic entities in the centers area of responsibility.
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 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: Six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics;* Six semester hours of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale); Three semester hours of physical meteorology; and 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 for 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: Providing meteorological support for aviation operations; and Disseminating significant weather information, including potentially hazardous weather conditions to officials.
As a Meteorologist, you will perform the following duties: The working title for this position is General Forecaster. As a General Forecaster, provide meteorological consultation and advice to managers and air traffic controllers, and terminal facilities concerning forecast or actual adverse weather conditions which affect air traffic operations or aircraft safety over any portion of the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) area. Work closely with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials having responsibilities and/or interest in aviation safety for the National Airspace System (NAS) for the ARTCC area. On short notice, coordinate with the appropriate forecast office and the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) to obtain updated aviation forecasts with suddenly changing weather conditions. Provide detailed briefings of current and forecast weather several times a day for ARTCC personnel, terminal approach control personnel and Control Tower personnel concerning meteorological phenomena affecting the system in which briefings are both scheduled and on demand. Learn more about NWS and its mission here: https://www.noaa.gov/www.noaa.gov/regional-collaboration-network/regional-videos. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 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. The work is generally sedentary, although there is considerable moving about and standing about the work area. To establish and maintain competence in specific type aviation forecasts, the meteorologist works a few days each year in training capacity preparing forecast and equivalent advice in the nearest WFO.