USAFA Weather Forecaster II

Responsibilities

• Weather support at USAFA is a unique and very challenging endeavor.
• Supports the fourth busiest airfield in DoD, the youngest pilots in the Air Force, an NCAA Division I institution, and activities and events associated with a military academy.
• Forecasters can expect to be frequently challenged by impactful weather events on highly weather sensitive glider, parachute and powered flight operations, often with poorly performing model guidance.
• Favored candidates will possess well developed abductive reasoning skills, can readily integrate probabilistic concepts and analyses into forecast processes.
• Experience with mountain meteorology is preferred.
• Subject matter expert in the areas of collecting, analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting meteorological and climatological data to predict weather impacts on client unit missions, activities, personnel and equipment in a fast paced, high product volume environment.
• Produces timely, accurate, and cogent weather products, often under pressure, while adhering to rigid deadlines without assistance or supervision.
• During garrison and/or off-station support, the forecaster must effectively communicate actionable recommendations and advice regarding highly changeable weather impacts to client unit leadership for any geographical area at any time utilizing extensive METWATCH techniques.
• Develops and applies meteorological techniques and tools that directly support and improve weather station operations.
• Disseminates meteorological information to include, but not limited to, weather warnings, watches and advisories, mission weather products and observations.
• Performs on-the-spot quality control on all-weather products to ensure compliance with accuracy, timeliness and policy requirements.
• Performs public speaking in the form of mass briefings, teaching modules to lay audiences, and radio broadcasts of weather information.
• Out-of-station visits are provided to client units as a means of integrating weather personnel into supported agency processes and procedures.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Air Force Weather Stations.
• Must have graduated from Air Force Weather forecasting program.
• Minimum 3 years leading operational weather teams.
• Experience with policy reviews, program audits, quality control.
• Must be able to effectively communicate with senior military leadership in a formal brief type setting.

Desired Qualifications

• BS in Organizational Leadership or Organizational Management or a suitable substitute preferred.
• Highly skilled in weather product analysis.
• Highly effective communicator and public speaker.
• Highly skilled at independent decision making.
• Proficient with Air Force weather dissemination systems.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products, skill with Excel a plus.