Duties

Summary

The Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) is staffed by marine forecasters, atmospheric and ocean forecast developers, and computer specialists operating under rigid time constraints to meet scheduled deadlines. OPC is the principal focus of operational ocean, weather, and sea state (wave) functions within the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) affecting the safety of life and property at sea and enhancing economic opportunity.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Director, Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) is a recognized expert in marine operational oceanography and meteorology with full oversight of the following:

1. Provides marine data, forecast, and warning services for the general public, the private sector and all branches of the U.S. Government including Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Transportation (DOT) and similar services are provided under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization to the international community for the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and eastern North pacific regions.

2. Supervises the research aspects of the OPC which focuses on the development and implementation of improved data, forecast, and analysis applications research programs that require interaction with scientists from all over the United States and the world.

3. Leads operational implementation of new technologies and techniques for enhancing National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) ocean products and services, with the knowledge required at an expert level for marine forecasting and tsunami warnings.

4. Implements the communication of OPC products to users and acts as the representative of NCEP in dealing with the establishment of cooperative agreements or memorandums of agreement/understanding as necessary or required.

5. Serves as a member of the NCEP management team, is responsible for carrying out the mission of the organization in the most economical manner possible while ensuring consistency with operational and application development responsibilities, and makes recommendations to the Director of NCEP concerning the modification of programs or parts of programs associated with marine data, products, and services.

6. Deals directly with international and other federal (including DoD), state, county, and local governmental agencies on matters of mutual concern and is responsible for establishing working relationships with these agencies. Also, deals with organizations and individuals in the private sector in a similar fashion.

7. Plans and assigns work to be accomplished by subordinates after taking into consideration the capabilities of employees, task difficulty, requirements of the work being assigned, and resource avai1ability, develops job performance standards and assists employees in achieving an acceptable level of performance, evaluates the performance of subordinates, and reviews evaluations of performance submitted by subordinate supervisors.

8. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees. Provides or makes recommendations for the provision of such training.

9. Hears and resolves complaints not resolved at a lower level, handles disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands, and recommends action in serious disciplinary cases.

10. The incumbent must be sensitive to the goals and objectives of supervised employees and be able to communicate to them the goals and objectives of the agency. Also, the incumbent must participate in the EEO program and be cooperative in carrying out action items in the NCEP Affirmative Action Plan.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Incumbent may be subject to geographic mobility.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Newly appointed SES members must serve a 1 year probationary period.
• Position is subject to pre-employment background investigation.
• Public Financial Disclosure (OGE-278 filing within 30 days is required).
• Position is subject to random drug testing.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, you must provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability; and that is directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) listed under "How You Will Be Evaluated." Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the Federal service or its equivalent with state or local government, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must possess all of the mandatory Executive Core Qualifications and Professional/Technical Qualifications listed below and the educational requirement. These qualifications would typically be acquired through education, experience, and training which reflect progressive development and achievement in managing a comprehensive business program in a complex organization. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. Applicants must meet all of the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

SES Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

ECQ 1 - Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

NOTE: Responses to ECQs must not exceed 10 pages typed in 12-point font.

Professional/Technical Core Qualifications (PTQs):

PTQ 1 - Understanding of and demonstrated experience with the scientific and technical principles underlying marine atmospheric and ocean analysis and forecast activities and associated research and development.

PTQ 2 - Experience demonstrating the ability to direct an organization responsible for operational ocean and marine weather analysis and prediction of national and international scope.

PTQ 3 - Demonstrated ability to establish marine program/policy goals and the structure and process necessary to implement the organization's mission and strategic vision.

NOTE: Responses to PTQs must not exceed 2 pages per PTQ, for a total of 6 pages.

For detailed guidance on ECQs, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Office of Personnel Management's Guide to Executive Qualifications at http://www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp

Example of ECQ statements are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Education

BASIC 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.

OR

B. 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.

Additional information

Background Investigation: This position is designated as Secret and requires that a background investigation be conducted and favorably adjudicated in order to establish security eligibility.

Financial Disclosure: This position is covered under the Ethics in Government Act, which requires comprehensive financial disclosures from employees. The appointee will be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278), within 30 days after his/her appointment, and then annually thereafter.

Qualifications Approval and Probationary Period: Persons newly selected for career appointment to the Senior Executive Service must have their executive core qualifications approved by an Office of Personnel Management Qualifications Review Board and will be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Mobility: Individuals selected for Senior Executive Service positions may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required by P.L. 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Drug Testing: Applicants tentatively selected for employment in any position are subject to designated and/or random pre-employment and employment urinalysis. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment and/or removed from employment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

False Statements: If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired, you may be fired after you begin work, or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

Please DO NOT put your SSN on pages within your application package. Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

Selective Service: Male applicants born after 12/31/1959, who are required to register with the Selective Service under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, must be registered (or must have registered at the time they were required to do so) in order to be eligible for appointment. For more information, visit the SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM web site at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm .

Veterans' preference: Is not applicable to positions in the Senior Executive Service.

The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Shonnell Todd, the servicing Human Resources Specialist, either by e-mail at shonnell.todd@noaa.gov or by telephone at 301-628-1844. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users may contact us via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants are required to submit a narrative statement for each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) listed and each Professional/Technical Qualification (PTQ). If you are currently serving under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and had your ECQs certified by OPM, then you only need to address each PTQ, and you do not need to submit an ECQ narrative.

All other applicants are required to respond to all ECQs and PTQs, addressing each ECQ and PTQ separately. Please give a complete and detailed answer for each qualification. Please keep in mind each ECQ and PTQ are unique qualifications. Therefore, duplicate responses are not sufficient in determining if you meet that specific qualification.

Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" are considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Failure to submit a narrative statement or address any of the ECQs and/or PTQs is also considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. As a result, you will be rated as "INCOMPLETE".

How you will be evaluated:

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

•Best Qualified

•Well Qualified

•Qualified

The servicing Human Resources Specialist will forward all minimally qualified applicants to be evaluated by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) rating panel of senior managers to determine the degree to which they possess the executive core and professional/technical qualifications, and best qualified candidates may undergo an interview and a reference check. The ERB rating panel will make recommendations on best qualified candidates to the appointing authority. Applicants will be evaluated on the quality and extent of their total accomplishments, experience, the ECQs, and the PTQs.
To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

1. Resume

2. Transcripts (Official or Unofficial) from the institution's registrar; dean or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation which confirms completion of requirement for the required degree.

If you have completed any part of your education outside of the U.S., you must submit the evaluation of your foreign education that has been prepared by an accredited organization. Please refer to http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html for more information.

3. For current Senior Executives or individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your career appointment status in the SES.

4. For current Federal employees: You are encouraged to submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that documents your current tenure, position title, series and grade level.

5. If you successfully completed the SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM, please provide a copy of your certificate. All required documentation must be provided on or by the closing date of the vacancy (if applicable).

6. ECQ narrative responses should be attached under "Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)".

7. PTQ narrative responses should be attached under "Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs)".

Applicants who fail to submit requested documents and answer the mandatory questions WILL NOT receive consideration for this position. Application will result in an "Incomplete" rating.

If you are unable to upload documents, you may fax your documents using the instructions below. Please fax with the appropriate cover sheet. Please refer to the fax cover sheet for the fax number. Each document must be dialed and faxed in separately as each sheet includes an identification number, which ensures your document is processed correctly.

FAXING INSTRUCTIONS: Please fax legible documents using the appropriate cover sheet. Documents may be faxed at any time during the open period of this announcement by going to http://www.usajobs.opm.gov

1. Log into MYUSAJOBS

2. Click on "Applications"

3. Locate the vacancy you applied to

4. Under "Applicant Status" column, click on "More Information"

5. Select "View/Generate Fax Cover Sheet" and click "Continue"

Do not submit any additional information that is not required: Extraneous materials such as award certificates will not be considered.

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.