PDF versionJob Summary
This position is located in the National Weather Service (NWS),National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) with two vacancies in Palmer, AK.
Major Duties
As a Watchstander, you will be performing the following duties:
- Monitor local, national, and international seismic and oceanographic networks.
- Improve tsunami forecasting capabilities through testing and utilizing new and existing forecast methods to improve operational forecast.
- Use observations, calculations, and interpretation of real-time geophysical, oceanographic, and geographic data to locate an earthquake and determine potential tsunami generation for tsunami warning.
- Provide participants of the Tsunami Warning System on national and international level with seismic/tsunamic data, message dissemination, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service (NWS) policy.
- Improve seismic and oceanographic analysis for tsunami-source identification by researching applied seismology with a focus on original geophysical theories and conceptual models.
These duties are described at the full performance level of GS-13, the GS-12 is developmental leading to such performance.
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 EDUCATION: BASIC
To qualify for the 1313 series:BASIC REQUIREMENTS:This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:A. Degree:that included at least 30 semester hours in mathematics (including calculus) and the physical sciences (geophysics, physics, engineering, geology, astronomy, meteorology, electronics, etc.).ORB. Combination of education and experience:courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.- OR -To qualify for the 1360 series:BASIC REQUIREMENTS:This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:A. Degree:major study of at least 24 semester hours in oceanography or a related discipline such as physics, meteorology, geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geology, or biology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of oceanography, physics, geophysics, chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, computer science, and engineering sciences.ORB. Combination of education and experience:course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.Note: Applicants who qualify on the basis of major study in biology or geology must have had at least 6 semester hours in the major directly concerned with marine science or 6 semester hours in oceanography; applicants who qualify on the basis of other physical sciences or engineering must have had differential and integral calculus and at least 6 semester hours in physics.- OR -To qualify for the 1301 series:BASIC REQUIREMENTS:This position requires applicants to meet a Basic Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of specialized experience in order to be found minimally qualified. You MUST meet one of the following basic education requirements:A. Degree:physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.ORB. Combination of education and experience:education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, 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-12 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicant must also 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: Conducting analysis of observational data sets, earthquake seismology, oceanographic analysis, or hydro-dynamic modeling. To qualify at the GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicant must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Analyzing and assessing observational data sets, earthquake seismology, oceanographic analysis, or hydro-dynamic modeling; and
Calculating and interpreting geophysical or oceanographic data.
Pay Range
$83,121.00 - $128,492.00