Department: Department of the Interior
Location(s): Portland, Oregon
Salary Range: $114684 - $149091 Per Year
Job Summary: This position is a Meteorologist, GS-1340-13 working in Washington, District of Columbia for the US Wildland Fire Service. This position is also open to the public under announcement R1-26-12942362-WA-DE. 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 the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below: To qualify for this position. you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements: 1.) Basic Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below: 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. OR B. Combination of education and experience: course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 2.) Specialized Experience: Minimum Qualifications GS-13: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Example specialized experience may include: a) managing interagency fire weather networks, ensuring data quality, operational reliability, and compliance with fire weather standards. b) providing expert consultation and geographic level guidance on fire weather systems, policies, and Predictive Services operations. c) conducting operational forecasting and producing complex, data-integrated fire weather and climatological products for decision support. d) leading technology transfer, developing applied research partnerships, and providing advanced meteorology and fire weather training to interagency personnel. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by 05/19/2026. 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. Eligibility and Qualification Requirements: Applicants must meet both eligibility and qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement. 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. Current SF-50 (non-award), or equivalent Notification of Personnel Action if you are a current or former Federal employee: Your SF-50 (non-award) must show tenure code 1 or 2 in block 24, and position occupied code 1 (competitive service) in block 34. If you have previously held a higher grade than the grade/position you currently occupy, you must submit a copy of the last non-award SF-50 you received for that position. Note: Federal employees who have reinstatement eligibility please review the How to Apply for Reinstatement page for all required documents. If you have any questions regarding which SF-50's to submit, it is highly recommended that you contact the person listed on this vacancy announcement before the closing date.
How to Apply: Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. You may qualify for more than one eligibility, so please choose carefully. If you respond that you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria, you will not be considered for this position under this announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12942363. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 05/19/2026, 11:59pm Eastern Time to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. NOTE: INSUFFICIENT OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION FROM AN APPLICANT COULD RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please refer to the contact information listed at the bottom of the announcement. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 85 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.
Application Deadline: 2026-05-19