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 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 currently occupying a GS-1340 series position with the Department of Commerce DO NOT need to submit transcripts. All other applicants MUST submit transcripts as outlined above.
Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level. 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 equivalent to the GS-05. 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 equivalent to the GS-07. Specialized experience at this level includes practical meteorological experience performed under moderate supervision in the following areas: * Professional work experience assessing the current and forecast 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 qualification requirements for this position click here: Qualifications.
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 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 scored occupational questionnaire 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.
- Ability to communicate orally.
- Ability to communicate in writing.
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
To preview questions please click here.