National Avalanche Specialist

United-States-Forest-Service; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Forest Service, located within the National Avalanche Center, seeks a National Avalanche Specialist to lead complex projects across the avalanche program and provide technical guidance. Location is negotiable after selection.

The role requires expert knowledge of snow avalanches, avalanche mitigation, and forecasting, plus experience managing complex avalanche-related operations. Contact Scott Haas for more information.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirement: 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science or education equivalent.
• Selective Factors: expert knowledge of snow avalanches, avalanche mitigation, and avalanche forecasting.
• Experience required: managing complex avalanche-related operations.
• TIME IN GRADE: TIG requirements apply for current federal employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-priority, special projects related to all aspects of the Forest Service's avalanche program.
• Provide technical guidance for avalanche program activities including education, outreach, and coordination with field observers or partner organizations.

Education

24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science (mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, electronics)

Job description

This position is located at a Forest Service office. Location is negotiable after selection.

The incumbent works as a National Avalanche Specialist with the Forest Service National Avalanche Center. This position has responsibilities for leading complex, high priority, special projects related to all aspects of the Forest Service's avalanche program.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Scott Haas at [phone] or [e-mail]. In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

In addition to meeting the Specialized Experience requirement, you must also meet the Selection Placement Factors listed below.

Basic Requirement:

GS-1301 Series

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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

For the GS-12:

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following:

• Analyzing and interpreting snowpack, weather, and avalanche data to assess avalanche hazards and prepare or issue avalanche forecasts, advisories, or warnings;
• Conducting field-based avalanche assessments, including evaluating snow stability and snowpack conditions and applying avalanche forecasting, snow science, and hazard mitigation principles in backcountry avalanche terrain; and/or
• Providing technical guidance for an avalanche program, including activities such as avalanche education or training, public outreach, coordination with field observers or partner organizations, or communicating avalanche hazard and safety information to the public.

Selective Factors (Screen out Elements):

Demonstrate expert level knowledge of snow avalanches, avalanche mitigation work, and avalanche forecasting.

AND

Experience managing complex avalanche related operations.

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:

If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.