Meteorologist

Full Job Description

This position is a Meteorologist, GS-1340-11/12 working in Missoula, MT for the US Wildland Fire Service. This position is also open to the public under announcement R6-26-12895740-WA-DE.

You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. Only experience and education obtained by 03/18/2026 will be considered.

In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification.

Basic Requirement: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience OR combination in order to be found minimally qualified.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements. 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: 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.

Minimum Qualification [GS-11] In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the Federal service.

Example specialized experience may include: (1) Produces and delivers meteorological products and briefings that provide operational guidance for decision-making in fire management or safety-critical operations, while operating effectively as part of a team with diverse interagency partners and audiences; (2) Monitors fire environment systems and data networks, ensuring operational integrity, reliability, and compliance with national standards and agency protocols; (3) Participates in interagency coordination during high-impact weather events, providing policy guidance and technical expertise on fire weather programs, equipment, and operational procedures; (4) Applies advanced meteorological techniques and analytical tools to assess weather conditions and deliver actionable intelligence for public safety and resource management, while providing technical briefings, training sessions, and fire weather courses, serving as a liaison with partner agencies, and managing weather-related web content to support operational readiness.

Minimum Qualification [GS-12] 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 in the Federal service.

Example specialized experience may include: (1) Produces and delivers meteorological products and briefings that provide operational guidance for decision-making in fire management or safety-critical operations, while operating effectively as part of a team with diverse interagency partners and audiences; (2) Oversees fire environment systems and data networks, ensuring operational integrity, reliability, and compliance with national standards and agency protocols; (3) Leads interagency coordination during high-impact weather events, providing policy guidance and technical expertise on fire weather programs, equipment, and operational procedures; (4) Applies advanced meteorological techniques and analytical tools to assess weather conditions and deliver actionable intelligence for public safety and resource management; and (5) Develops and delivers technical briefings, training sessions, and fire weather courses while serving as a liaison with agencies and managing weather-related web content to support operational readiness.

OR A combination of education and experience as described above which together equals 100% of the requirement.

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.

Time In Grade Requirement: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the JOA. Specifically, i. Area of Consideration. ii.

Time-in-grade (TIG) requirements as specified in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. iii. Time after competitive appointment as specified in 5 CFR 330.502. iv.

Qualification requirements outlined in OPM's Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions or for Federal Wage System (FWS), wage grade positions, applicants are evaluated using the OPM Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations and the job element examining method Your SF-50 will be used to confirm you meet all requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.

The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA),P.L.

114-47, allows certain individuals who currently or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies (U.S.

Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation) to compete under merit promotion procedures.

Note: You MUST submit ALL SF-50s and performance information for each period of temporary/term employment that qualifies for LMWFA.

Performance documentation can be obtained by contacting the supervisors for the positions you served in during your 24 months.

If they did not complete performance appraisals ask them to provide a statement of performance for each period of service.

The statement must specify the dates for each employment period and your level of performance (dates should match the dates on the SF-50s). Major Duties:

As a Meteorologist your duties will include but are not limited to the following: Develops interagency program direction for fire weather products, smoke dispersion forecasts and services and monitoring systems sufficient to establish baseline information to improve fire weather and smoke management programs.

Monitors and advises federal and state wildland fire agencies on quality control activities for the express purpose of ensuring the integrity of all weather observations provided by and for the wildland fire agencies including wildland fire agency owned automated weather stations.

Conducts analyses to determine adequacy of skill and knowledge levels of wildland fire users and identifies shortages.

Integrates all available meteorological data available, synoptic and meso-scale levels, to analyze, assess, and forecast weather pertinent to smoke dispersion.

Reviews and determines adherence to regulations and instructions included in operational plans, monitors the condition,adequacy and viability of weather data collection equipment, systems, and personnel.