Department: Department of the Interior
Location(s): Missoula, Montana
Salary Range: $74678 - $116362 Per Year
Job Summary: This Meteorologist position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GS-1340-11/12 working in Missoula, MT. This position is also open to status candidates under announcement R6-26-12900004-WA-MP. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.
Major Duties:
Qualifications: 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-09 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. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
How to Apply: Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) that have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, promotion potential and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP/ICTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well-qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well-qualified if they fall within the Well or Best Qualified categories on the rating criteria for this position.
Application Deadline: 2026-03-18