State of Maryland

A Meteorologist Senior is the advanced level of meteorological work in support of the State’s ozone forecasting effort or other environmental goals.  Employees in this classification serves as a project chiefs or senior scientists and are responsible for determining the types of investigations needed to accomplish desired objectives in air quality analysis and forecasting, and for determining which modeling platform should be developed to test, review, verify and evaluate the effectiveness of air quality control strategies.  Employees in this classification may supervise lower-level Meteorologists or other technical staff.

Employees in this classification receives general supervision from an environmental program manager or other higher level administrator.  Employees may be required to work day or evening hours which may include holidays and weekends.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Meteorologist Senior is differentiated from Meteorologist III in that the Meteorologist Senior performs the advanced level of meteorological work functioning as either project chiefs or as senior scientists responsible for all meteorological determinations within the department and may supervise lower-level Meteorologist while the Meteorologist III performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Conducts and manages surveys of meteorological and air quality data, including ozone violation data, for modeling and forecasting purposes;

Directs the analysis of air quality and modeling data;

Projects changes in air pollution based on weather trends and emissions levels that reflect changes in population, building development, transportation patterns and fuel use;

Makes recommendations regarding air pollution control strategies;

Provides technical assistance and information concerning air quality analysis, forecasting, and air quality control strategy development to other governmental agencies, special interest groups, and the general public;

Prepares testimony and participates in public hearings;

Develops program policies and formulates proposals for new air quality regulations and laws;

May select problems for research and conduct such research by devising hypotheses, determining investigative techniques and formulating plans for investigations where scientific phenomena are not fully known or understood;

May prepare and present scientific reports on special research projects and studies;

May supervise lower-level air quality meteorologists or other technical staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and concepts of meso and synoptic scale meteorology;

Knowledge of physics and meteorological engineering;

Knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and turbulence as they affect the dispersion of airborne pollutants;

Knowledge of the effects of air pollutants on the environment and public health;

Knowledge of the principals and practices of meteorological modeling;

Knowledge of statistical analysis,

Knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations governing air quality control;

Skill in using standard meteorological equipment;

Skill in using instruments to measure air pollution;

Skill in using computer hardware and software for meteorological and air quality monitoring, for retrieving, transmitting, analyzing and adapting data and for generating reports;

Ability to use maps, graphics and meteorological models to forecast weather conditions and ozone formation;

Ability to review, evaluate, implement and apply meteorological models and interpret output from meteorological models;

Ability to prepare and present technical reports and testimony on meteorological and air quality matters;

Ability to perform complex research projects;

Ability to train technical staff.

Education:   A Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology or atmospheric physics from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Three years of experience as a Meteorologist conducting air quality research and forecasting and running meteorological models to test, verify and evaluate the effectiveness of air quality control strategies.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master of Science degree in meteorology or atmospheric physics from an accredited college or university for one year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Medical Laboratory classifications or Medical Laboratory specialty codes in the Medical Technologist field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions or each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.