Environmental Protection Specialist Job

Vacancy No. IM-1541-GLCA-24-12387335-DE Department National Park Service
Salary $72,553.00 to $94,317.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/19/2024 Close Date 5/3/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Page, AZKane County, UT


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in the External Affairs Division.

  • This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

Duties

  • Manage all aspects of compliance processes and environmental documentation for the park.
  • Evaluate proposed projects, plans, and programs for potential environmental effects and ensure compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
  • Keep supervisor fully briefed and provide timely oral and written consultations to park managers on environmental compliance.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary team reviews of projects, plans, and programs to develop environmental compliance documentation.
  • Provides or coordinates with other specialists in obtaining technical and policy analysis of complex external proposals potentially affecting parks and other areas of NPS jurisdiction and prepares comments on National Park Service position.
Project Descriptions:

Provide a Sustainable Visitor Access Ramp in Hite District - Drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have reduced inflows into Lake Powell, and lower water levels have exposed reservoir sediments and created river conditions in upper reaches of the lake. This has caused impacts to river access areas throughout the park, including the ramp in the Hite District, where maintenance has become a challenge, and dynamic river conditions have created inconsistent and sometimes unsafe access conditions. Consequently, the ramp and limited facilities (food and fuel) are currently closed, with the next closest river access 40 miles downstream at Bullfrog/Halls Crossing. Compliance support is needed for a project to provide reliable, safe access to the Colorado River near Hite.

Rehabilitate Critical Utility Systems at Wahweap and Lone Rock - Water and wastewater systems are critical to maintaining the water quality of Lake Powell and the surrounding environment. The multiple water distribution and wastewater collection systems within the park were constructed more than 40 years ago and are beginning to become a major maintenance issue for the park. Sections of pipe have been replaced, and water wells have experienced extensive corrosion. Further, water meters do not provide adequate information to assist with leak detection, which has become an issue given the aging infrastructure. Compliance support is needed for a project to replace and improve these critical utility systems in the Wahweap and Lone Rock developed areas, making them more efficient and cost effective.

Reconstruct Mid-Lake Essential Services - Dangling Rope Marina and related structures, which provided essential services at a mid-lake location, were removed in 2022 due to significant storm damage and low water levels. The marina was relied upon as the only place to access essential services between Wahweap and Bullfrog/Halls Crossing Marinas, and offered boaters a fueling dock, minor boat repair services, a ranger station, restrooms, a boat pump-out station, and emergency communications. A mid-lake fueling station allowed visitors to have enough fuel to reach more remote locations of Glen Canyon and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Compliance support is needed for a project to reconstruct a mid-lake marina that would provide essential services to visitors.

Relocate and Rehabilitate Rainbow Bridge Floating Walkways and Anchor System - Visitors, concessioners, and park partners are currently experiencing variable access to Rainbow Bridge National Monument due to historically low water levels on Lake Powell. The Rainbow Bridge Marina has been relocated to the main channel of Lake Powell so that it does not get trapped in the canyon as water levels drop, and other challenges have emerged on newly exposed land areas, including hazards and uneven surfaces. Compliance support is needed for a project to provide a safe and secure place for boaters to dock and walk along floating walkways to an appropriate place to access the shore at Rainbow Bridge. Anchoring systems will also be made adjustable to allow for future fluctuating water levels.



Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists.
  • You may be required to work, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
  • You will be required to complete a one-year trial period.
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home occassionally. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/03/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: (1) applying concepts and methods of environmental protection work; (2) interpreting plans and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws, regulations, policies, and guidance for land and resource management programs; (3) providing advice to other National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) practitioners and park or regional leadership regarding the application of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) laws regulations, policies, and guidance to environmental compliance activities; (4) reviewing environmental documents, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, to ensure legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable laws and regulations; (5) working with public land resource values, issues, or controversies; and using computerized database systems to track projects, conduct public involvement, and analyze data. You must include hours per week worked.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral Degree or at least three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in environmental science or a directly related field, or LL.M in environmental law that includes coursework which is directly related to the work of this position which demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. You must include transcripts.

-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take graduate education in excess of the amount 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education (18 semester hours is equal to one year of graduate education). Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example, six (6) months of the specialized experience described (50% of the experience requirement), and 45 semester hours (9 semester hours beyond the first two years) of directly related graduate level college study as defined above in an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education) equals 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary in an office environment but requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces, recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching reaching, or similar activities.

Working Conditions: The majority of the work is performed in an office setting with some travel to attend meetings, conferences and workshops, or for field inspections. The work can involve moderate risks, discomforts, and unpleasantness such as exposure to dust, hot and dry weather extremes; and flights in small aircraft, including helicopters.



The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Bullfrog - Kane County, Utah is a small, remote, in-park community of approximately 300 residents during the summer and 100 residents in the winter. Amenities include a marina, marina store and gas docks, seasonal lodge and restaurant, gas station/convenience store and garage, an urgent care clinic, and a K-12 school. Teacher/student ratio is 1 teacher per 2-5 students. Full-service communities are in Green River, Utah (113 miles) and Price, Utah (143 miles) which has a small hospital and dentists. Major services are available in Cortez, Durango, and Grand Junction, Colorado, or Page, Arizona, all 3 to 5 hours away via all-weather highways. The Bullfrog area encompasses beautiful red-rock canyon country. Bullfrog is the main access point to Lake Powell in the Uplake District and visitation is heavy in the summer. Summer temperatures run to the low 100's and winter temperatures are in the 30's with sunshine most days of the year. Recreation runs the spectrum of outdoor activities with backpacking, canyoneering, skiing (water and snow), boating, whitewater sports, hunting and fishing all within a few hours' drive and some within walking distance of the housing area. This is an active outdoor community, and social events are common.

Wahweap - Page, Arizona is located on the Arizona-Utah border. Page overlooks beautiful Lake Powell which offers a variety of water sports including boating, fishing, and river running on the Colorado River above and below Lake Powell. The surrounding land is beautiful red rock country perfect for hiking, hunting, and backcountry activities. Page is at the hub of the Grand Circle which contains America's largest concentration of national parks and monuments, such as, Grand Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the Flagstaff Area Monuments. Page offers normal small community amenities such as an airport, shopping, medical and dental facilities, schools K-12, and college courses available through the local Community College. The elevation is 4300 feet with high-desert sunny days, cool nights, and low humidity. Home purchases are available in the area. Government housing may be available by a bid process.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Oral Communication
  • Public Planning
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/03/2024:

  1. Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, dates specified in month and year format, and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade.
  2. Complete All Required Assessments.
  3. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as:
    • Veterans Preference Documentation:
      • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
      • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
      • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
  4. College transcripts, if qualifying based on education.
  5. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 80 on the rating criteria for this position.
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/03/2024. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES.

  1. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account.
  2. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application."
  3. Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS.
  4. Select documents you want included in this application.
  5. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed.
  6. Select if you want to include your demographic information.
  7. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site."
  8. Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application.
  9. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown.
    • Upload any missing required documents or optional documents.
  10. Review and Submit Application.
  11. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position.
  12. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement.
    • To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.
    • Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Agency contact information

Carina Nicholas

Address

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
PO Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040-1507
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received you will receive acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.