Meteorologist
What you'd do
This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, (OCE) in Washington, DC. The position will reside within the World Agricultural and is responsible for monitoring and analyzing global weather developments to assess implications for crop yields and production.
Major duties
Conducts background studies on crop-physiology weather relationships for assigned foreign agricultural areas and USDA commodity analysts. Works with GIS specialist and geographer. Coordinates weather and meteorological data requirements with CPC weather analysts to obtain the proper weather data parameters and formats required for crop-weather assessment. Coordinates with other USDA agencies and government-sponsored research groups to develop implementation of quantitative crop assessment techniques. Develops new products, processes, and procedures that result in an improvement in the quality and content of operational products such as the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin. Serves on various USDA commodity estimate committees as one of WAOB’s agricultural weather experts and provides weather-related crop production input to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand report. Serves as an International Editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, responsible for assembling the International Section and coordinating the production schedule with the Managing Editor and production staff with CPC. Represents OCE/WAOB at interagency task force meetings and briefings as a principal international crop-weather expert and leads WAOB’s effort to compile a more comprehensive regional-level crop production data base through extensive contacts.
What you need to qualify
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Basic Requirements: 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. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience: For the GS-12: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Detailed knowledge of crop production regions worldwide, including seasonal development stages and relationships between local weather and climate conditions and expected crop yields. Experience using appropriate analytic techniques to make crop production and yield forecasts based on meteorological data and remote-sensed information on vegetation health. Experience communicating technical meteorological and hydrologic information to senior government officials and other non-technical audiences, partners, or customers. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Before you apply
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