Hydrologist/Meteorologist

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 may be filled with series 1315 (Hydrology) / 1340 (Meteorology). Each series requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience or a substitution of education for experience (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements: To qualify for the 1315 series: A. Degree: physical or natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. OR B. Combination of education and experience — course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. OR To qualify for the 1340 series: 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: 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 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. 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. Specialized experience: To qualify at the GS-05 level: Applicants that meet the Basic Education Requirement to qualify at the GS-05 level. To qualify at the GS-07 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: – Providing hydrometeorological support services. OR EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education in Hydrology, Meteorology, Atmospheric Science or in a directly related field. OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Demonstrated by a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below: – A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study; – A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study; – Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college; – Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. OR COMBINATION: A combination of related graduate-level education and specialized experience as described above. To qualify at the GS-09 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: – Assisting with the analysis of hydrometeorological data; and – Supporting hydrometeorological or hydrologic forecasts for issuance. OR EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher graduate-level education leading to a Master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree in Hydrology, Meteorology, Atmospheric Science. or other related discipline. OR COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of one year is qualifying for combination. To qualify at the GS-11: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:: – Assisting with the analysis of hydrometeorological or hydrologic models; and – Preparing hydrometeorological or hydrologic forecasts for issuance. OR EDUCATION: 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Hydrology, Meteorology, Atmospheric Science, or other related discipline. OR COMBINATION: A combination of education and experience as described above. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of two years is qualifying at this level. To qualify at the GS-12: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess at least one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: – Assisting in the development of hydrometeorological or hydrologic modeling and analysis procedures; and – Devising, formulating and issuing hydrometeorological or hydrologic forecasts.
This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Centers with one vacancy located in Slidell, LA. This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-25-12590906-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.