Hydrologist / Meteorologist

Hydrologist / Meteorologist

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Norton, Massachusetts

Salary Range: $56584 - $130488 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS), River Forecast Centers (RFC) with one vacancy in Norton, MA.

Major Duties:

• As a Hydrologist/Meteorologist, you will perform the following duties: As a Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support (HAS) Forecaster, use operational hydrometeorological expertise in conjunction with advanced processing techniques, data sources and equipment (including WSR-88D) to analyze and assimilate real-time hydrometeorological data. Serve as a functional bridge between the River Forecast Center (RFC) and operations at all Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) in the RFC area. Produce forecast and guidance products for the RFC area of responsibility, including analyzing the potential for future flooding and the effects of observed precipitation and other hydrometeorological phenomena on river flows. Assimilate and quality control of hydrometeorological forecasts for input to the RFC operational forecast system. NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the GS-12; the GS-07, GS-09 and GS-11 are developmental leading to such performance. 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. Occasional travel is required. (10%) Work is primarily sedentary. However, long arduous work periods may be required when flood conditions threaten or occur. During flood events the duty may result in extended periods of stressful activity. Shift work nominally covering 16-hour operations may move to 24-hour operations during flood events or seasonal periods of flood threat. During flood events, the office may extend hours and require 24-hour operations and staffing. During periods of threatening weather or rapidly changing weather conditions, the increase in workload and the necessity for forecast and information updates requires periods of acute mental alertness and produces considerable mental stress. Adverse weather conditions often require the incumbent to work longer than the usual shift, adding to mental and physical stress.

Qualifications: 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-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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 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: EDUCATION: 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. 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 at the GS-07 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-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Using hydro-meteorological data to monitor current conditions or provide assistance in forecast preparation for weather, water or climate hazards. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education 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 OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. To qualify at the GS-09 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-07 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Using hydro-meteorological data to monitor a geographic area and assist in the preparation or issuance of warnings, advisories, outlooks or general forecasts for weather, water or climate hazards. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a directly related field or 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. To qualify at the GS-11 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-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Assisting with the analysis of precipitation data; and Preparing hydrometeorological forecasts for issuance. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in in a directly related field or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with 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: Utilizing precipitation data to produce river forecasts; and Formulating and issuing hydrometeorological forecasts.

How to Apply: Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the blue "Apply Online" button. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen. Address the eligibility questions as well as the application questionnaire containing questions and/or task statements that address the knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies for this vacancy. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk

Application Deadline: 2025-11-18