Summary
Position is in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Environmental Program Management (RRD 30). You will serve as a Environmental Protection Specialist in one of three Divisions in RRD 30. RRD 30 oversees implementation of environmental laws and regulations, advises on environmental policy, including climate and sustainability initiatives, and ensures integration of project development with environmental work, in support of rail stakeholders.
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen.
Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.
This is a bargaining unit position covered by Union AFGE Local 1084.
Duties
As a Environmental Protection Specialist, you will:
- Lead complex environmental reviews and/or policy development under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental requirements to advance FRA project development and financial assistance programs.
- Provide expert guidance on NEPA, NHPA, ESA, Tribal Government-to-Government consultations and/or other environmental laws and policies Provide technical assistance to states, railroads and other entities planning rail projects or services, administering grants and loans to Amtrak and other railroads or State and local governments.
- Develop effective guidance, procedures, training and policies for various environmental subject areas to improve the delivery of FRA programs.
- Represent FRA in meetings, site visits, and public hearings with federal, state, tribal, and local partners, private industry partners, and the public.
This position could be located in the following Divisions within the Office of Environmental Program Management:
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Coordination and Strategy Staff (RRD 30.1)
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Policy Division (RRD 31)
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Review Division (RRD 32)
The specific duties of the position that will be filled through this announcement differ depending on the Division and may include:
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Coordination and Strategy Staff (RRD 30.1) - Serve as the principal advisory group and provide senior-level technical assistance, strategy, and support for the Office Director and Deputy Director, along with other RRD-30 staff. Responsibilities in the areas of data and analytics, communications, performance measures and reporting, SOP implementation and coordination amongst division and with other Offices.
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Policy Division (RRD 31) - Oversees environmental policy development, which includes 3 teams: (i) human & natural environmental policy; (ii) NEPA policy and (iii) real estate and realty matters. Responsibilities include the development and implementation of environmental policy, procedures, guidance, regulations, and reporting. Provides expert technical assistance in a range of environmental subject matters including but not limited to tribal coordination, air quality, noise, vibration, endangered species, wildlife, wetlands, water quality, climate, resiliency, and sustainability.
- Office of Environmental Program Management, Environmental Review Division (RRD 32) - Oversees environmental project review for compliance with NEPA and other environmental laws and regulations for rail projects, organized into 3 teams: (i) Amtrak/Northeast Corridor (NEC); (ii) Major Projects; and (iii) National. Responsibilities include leading complex and/or controversial environmental reviews.
The ideal candidate for this position is a senior-level career professional who is experienced in applying National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and related laws and regulations to infrastructure projects. A background working with a range of regulations is preferable, such as the National Historic Preservation Act; Endangered Species Act; U.S. Department of Transportation Act, Section 4(f); Title 23, Environmental Regulations; Clean Air Act as amended; and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. Candidates must have the skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences; organizational and management skills; and the ability to handle multiple, competing priorities, issues, and projects simultaneously.
PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (3 month) vacancy announcement. The first referral of eligible applicants will be 2 weeks from the opening date. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications on an as needed basis.
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
- Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
- Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
- Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
- GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
- REMOTE WORK: This position may be eligible for remote work, which does not require reporting to the agency worksite location on a regular basis. If selected for a remote work location, you will be required to sign a remote work agreement detailing agency remote work policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
- TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:
- Experience providing leadership, coordination, and support for environmental and/or cultural resources programs related to infrastructure projects.
- Experience managing and evaluating the effectiveness of a variety of environmental and/or cultural resources policies related to implementing infrastructure projects.
- Experience as a subject matter expert representing an organization working with grantees, state and local governments, and/or community groups to effectively implement federal environmental and/or cultural resource regulations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
- Environmental Program - Comprehensive Knowledge of the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act; Endangered Species Act; Tribal Consultation and Executive Order 13175; US DOT Transportation Act, Section 4(f); Title 23, Environmental regulations; Clean Air Act as amended and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.
- Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
- Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
- Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations and organizational needs
For all types of consideration, 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.
For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements. Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.
Applicants will not be rated or ranked. Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.
Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy. Formatted resumes can be uploaded when you arrive at the DOT application system. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/build/
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) and provide all of the following documents:
- your most recent performance appraisal,
- the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
- your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.
Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration.
For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USA Jobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
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.
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
- To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
- Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
- You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov
Next steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
|