New Storm Prediction Center (SPC) director named
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 11:47pm EDT
New Storm Prediction Center Director named, hired from within the National Weather Service agency.
Taken from the National Weather Service Facebook page:
Dr. Russell Schneider named as new Storm Prediction Center director. Schneider spent his entire career at the National Weather Service. He began at NCEP’s Environmental Modeling Center before becoming the first science and operations officer at the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. He has been the science support …branch chief at SPC in Norman, Okla., since 1997. Author and co-author of numerous professional publications, Schneider also served as an associate editor of the American Meteorological Society Journal “Weather and Forecasting” for more than a decade.
Dr. Schneider is filling the current vacant position, which is actually being held by Interim Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini after the previous director Joe Schaefer retired during this past winter after serving as Director since 1995.
Here is a Washington Post Article on previous director Schaefer: Saving lives in “Tornado Alley” through state-of-the art weather forecasting and warning systems
This is some information that was posted when the position was open for applications:
Info provided by Preventionweb.com
• Source(s):National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Closing date: 8 Mar 2010
• Salary: 119,554.00 – 179,700.00 USD /year
• Location:United States of America (Norman)
Job description
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is the National Weather Service (NWS) Center of Expertise for forecasting mid-latitude, mesoscale hazardous weather. The SPC issues both short lead time highly perishable products on an as-needed basis and more conventional scheduled products for longer forecast periods.
The SPC Director provides general supervision of all SPC programs and personnel and has the responsibility for SPC activities including technical oversight and leadership to all Weather Service Centers and Offices which are concerned with storm prediction. The SPC Director also:
1. Provides technical leadership and supervision for operational implementation of new technology and techniques for improving products and services in the SPC;
2. Oversees the evolution of SPC products and services;
3. Supervises the research aspects of the SPC, which focus on the development and implementation of improved data, forecast, and analysis applications and which require interaction with scientists from all over the United States and the world;
4. Acts as the representative in dealing with the procurement of facilities, services, and materials in Norman.
5. Arranges for the installation and maintenance of communications between SPC and other agencies with interests in SPC functions.
6. Arranges and implements the communication of SPC products to users.
7. Serves as the leader of the SPC management team and is responsible for carrying out the mission of the organization in the most economical manner possible while ensuring efficient discharge of operational responsibilities.
8. Deals directly with federal, 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.
9. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees. Provides or makes recommendations for the provision of such training.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Oversees all matters related to the technical program of the SPC, the interface with the NWS field office, the public, the mass media, and the scientific community.
Qualifications and Evaluations
Qualifications required:
You must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform. Typically we would find this experience in work within this field or a field that is closely related.
Specialized Education:
You must show successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering, physical science, life science, or mathematics.
Degree in meteorology, atmospheric science or other natural science major that included at least 24 semester hours in meteorology/atmospheric sciences or a combination of education and experience, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
You will be evaluated on the following executive core qualifications (ECQ):
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.
Leadership Competencies:
1. Creativity and Innovation Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
2. External Awareness Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders’ views; is aware of the organization’s impact on the external environment.
3. Flexibility Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
4. Resilience Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
5. Strategic Thinking Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.
6. Vision Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.
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.
Leadership Competencies:
1. Conflict Management Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
2. Leveraging Diversity Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
3. Developing Others (New) Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
4. Team Building Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.
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.
Leadership Competencies:
1. Accountability Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
2. Customer Service Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
3. Decisiveness Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
4. Entrepreneurship Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
5. Problem Solving Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
6. Technical Credibility Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
ECQ 4 – Business acument
This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
Leadership Competencies:
1. Financial Management Understands the organization’s financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
2. Human Capital Management Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.
3. Technology Management Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.
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.
Leadership Competencies:
1. Partnering Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
2. Political Savvy Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
3. Influencing/Negotiating Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
Fundamental Competencies
These competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications.
Competencies:
1. Interpersonal Skills Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
2. Oral Communication Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
3. Integrity/Honesty Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
4. Written Communication Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
5. Continual Learning Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
6. Public Service Motivation Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.
Professional/Technical Qualifications:
1. Professional knowledge and experience in a variety of scientific techniques associated with weather forecasting (e.g., data acquisition, prognosis, analysis, program refinements and dissemination). Knowledge and experience which demonstrates a clear understanding of NWS forecast and warning services of hazardous weather and the scientific principles associated with mid-latitude mesoscale meteorology.
2. Experience which demonstrates a familiarity with scientific methods with demonstrated research capabilities and the ability to direct and lead the research of others. Experience with National hazardous weather programs as related to the planning and development of projects in weather conditions associated with the ignition and spread of wild fires.
3. Experience which demonstrates the ability to direct large-scale operational and research programs/projects. Ability to establish program/policy goals, processes, infrastructure, and evaluation mechanisms necessary to implement the organization’s mission and strategic vision.
You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.In order to qualify for this position, you must possess a Secret security clearance. You will be required to make occasional travel.
Contract type
ES-1301-00/00, full-time permanent.