KEY REQUIREMENTS



• U.S. Citizen. Suitable for Federal employment.
• Must be able to work weekends/Holidays/rotating shifts.
• Registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• Qualification requirements must be met by closing date.

The individual selected for this position will serve as an intern; working rotating shifts and participating in the full range of WFO programs and functions to acquire on-the-job experience necessary for advancement. The forecast program includes: * Training in hydrometeorological forecasts including public, aviation, fire weather, flood, and marine forecasts products.

* Participating in the watch/warning program and assists in issuing severe weather and flood related products.

* Providing public service and other briefings as required.

* Receiving instructions in the interpretation of the WSR-88D products and provide oversight and operate radar to ascertain the types of echoes, and associated hydrometeorological parameters including macroscale, mesoscale, and microscale features.

* Participating in the observation program, including upper air and surface programs. * Operating AWIPS and other communication systems to interpret and analyze model and other data sets.

* Preparing various hydrometeorological observations, and assist with preparation of forecasts, and warning products for distribution to customers and other users.

* Operating NOAA Weather Radio and other dissemination systems.

Qualification requirements in 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 OPM's website at: Qualifications.

Basic requirements: 1340, METEOROLOGIST SERIES: There is a Positive Educational Requirement applicants to GS-1340 positions must meet.

Degree: meteorology, atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included: 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. - Six semester hours of physics, with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions.
• Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations.
• 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 Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT REQUIRES TRANSCRIPTS.

* You must provide all transcripts from all degrees received (unofficial copies are acceptable) by the closing date of this announcement. Individuals who are selected must be prepared to provide official transcripts.

* 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.

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.

For the GS-5 level: Applicants must meet the basic education requirement. There is no specialized experience requirement.

For the GS-7 level: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, candidates for the GS-07 level must possess at least one year specialized experience. Specialized experience at this level includes practical meteorology experience performed under supervision in one or more of the following areas: Entry-level trainee, or professional work experience assessing the current and forecast state of the atmosphere. Interpreting effects of surface and upper-air atmospheric conditions and other meteorological phenomena; Observing and recording atmospheric and hydrological conditions; Operating meteorological equipment and interrogating data, including radar data; Operating communications systems used to disseminate information.

*You may also qualify: at the GS-7 level with 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement (upper third of the graduating class in the college, university; 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript; 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum).

For the GS-09 level: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, candidates for the GS-9 level must possess at least one year of specialized experience. Specialized experience at this level includes practical meteorological experience performed under moderate supervision in the following areas: Professional work experience assessing the current state of the atmosphere based upon scientific processes that integrate information from meteorological and hydrological data. Adapting existing forecast products to localized areas. Data acquisition and analysis to support forecast and warning development. Providing weather briefings to partners and customers. Assisting with public outreach activities.

*You may also qualify: At GS-9 level with 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

NOTE: Your resume must clearly document specialized experience and support your responses to the vacancy questions.

For more information about the qualifications requirements for this position: Click Here.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

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 three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze."  However, your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the self-assessment questions, 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.

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 eligibles 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. 

The assessment tool will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response: 

• Knowledge of theoretical meteorology, including dynamics of the atmosphere, mesoscale meteorology, weather analysis and prediction. 
• Ability to use meteorological techniques and equipment with close supervision. 
• Ability to communicate orally. 

This is a developmental position which leads to the full performance position. As the employee progresses in knowledge and skill, more difficult and responsible assignments will be made.

For more information on category rating, please go to: Category Rating.

NOAA offers a comprehensive benefits package. Explore the benefits offered to most Federal employees at Benefits.

OTHER INFORMATION:

ICTAP candidates will be eligible 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: http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp

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 the National Guard Bureau of 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 last performance appraisal including your rating; and

4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

The following links provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities:
* VRA * 30% or more disabled veteran * Persons with disabilities * ICTAP

Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at USAJOBS. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at USAJOBS and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue. If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or phone at 866.656.6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 am, to 7:00 p.m. ET. For instructions on submitting your application in another format please contact the HR Personnel listed in this announcement.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

A complete application consists of the following: 

* Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.  Your resume must indicate your citizenship and if you are registered for Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59.  Your resume should also list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week.  For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s).  Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s). 

* Veterans' Preference documentation. Please indicate on your resume the type of veterans' preference you are claiming and provide the appropriate supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.) to validate your claim. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please go to: Veterans.

* Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).

* Education.  If this position requires proof of higher education, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information:  name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.  Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.  Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.

Note: You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. You must provide all the required documents by the closing date of the announcement or you may lose consideration for this vacancy.

* Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website at http://www.2.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/diploma-mills.html?exp=6

Qualifications. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.  Failure to provide such documentation by the closing date of the announcement will result in lost consideration.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

You will be notified of your application status through UASJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at: USAJOBS and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:

1. Application Received or Application Incomplete;

2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;

3. Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Ineligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official)' and

4. Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).