Environmental Protection Specialist - DIRECT HIRE

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Many', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

As an Environmental Protection Specialist, you will: 

• Evaluate environmental documents—including Categorical Exclusions (CEs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs), and Records of Decision (RODs)—for legal sufficiency and compliance with 23 CFR 771.
• Serve as the primary FTA Region 1 representative in interagency consultations with federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory bodies (e.g., EPA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State Historic Preservation Officers, and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers).
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Executive Orders and directives related to NEPA, National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the US DOT Act, FTA NEPA regulations and standard operating procedures, and the FTA project development process.
• Conduct pre-award environmental reviews and field assessments to identify potential environmental hazards, noise/vibration issues, air quality impacts, or cultural resource conflicts early in project design.
• Facilitate meetings with FTA recipients, manage a diverse workload with competing deadlines, identify and implement best management practices.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams, coordinate with resource agencies, and mediate competing stakeholder interests.
• Give presentations in professional settings, convey technical topics to non-technical audiences, and articulate complex policy positions to agency decision-makers.

The Ideal Candidate for this position is a mid-career employee with experience implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and/or other environmental laws, regulations, or policy for transit projects.

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/SME will be used to fill this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• 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.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the Grade 12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include:

• Experience working with project sponsors/recipients, local and state agencies, and other federal agencies in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws and regulations, including Section 4(f), as they relate to transit/transportation projects, AND
• Experience applying environmental statutes, laws, regulations, and guidelines related to analyzing environmental impacts, protecting the environment, and preparing environmental documents for transit/transportation projects, AND
• Experience in reviewing and analyzing environmental impacts that occur with transit/transportation projects in compliance with NEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section4(f), and in mitigating
  those impacts, AND
• Experience collaborating and communicating with internal and external subject matter specialists (such as planners and engineers) to ensure project compliance with NEPA; preparing written correspondence, reports, and memos for technical assistance or policy guidance; and presenting technical data to diverse stakeholders.

To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience performing project development activities and working with project sponsors/recipients, local and state agencies, and other federal agencies in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws and regulations, including Section 4(f), as they relate to transit/transportation projects, AND
• Experience applying environmental statutes, laws, regulations, guidelines, and the federal environmental review processes in compliance with NEPA, including the Clean Air Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, Section 4(f) of the DOT Act, and other environmental laws, regulations, and policies, as they relate to federal environmental requirements in preparing environmental documents for transit/transportation projects, AND
• Experience in managing, preparing, reviewing, and providing technical assistance for transit/ transportation projects that require any level of NEPA review (i.e., categorical exclusion, environmental assessment and/or an environmental impact statement) from beginning to conclusion and including mitigation and all consultation, such as with the State Historic Preservation Officer, USFWS, USACE, and Federally recognized tribes, AND
• Experience working and communicating effectively (orally and in writing) with internal and external subject matter specialties (e.g., planning and engineering) to ensure program and project compliance with NEPA and other environmental requirements; preparing correspondence, reports and memos for consultation, technical assistance and policy guidance; leading group meetings/conferences; and conveying technical information to stakeholders.

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:

• Stakeholder Management - Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome (positive or negative).  
• Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance. 
• Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise. 
• Problem Solving and Communication – Strong ability to recognize possible conflicts during environmental reviews, public meetings/hearings or regulatory/policy development and propose strategies for solution. Strong ability to interpret and translate the rules and regulations into sound, legally adequate compliance documents that anticipate and respond to concerns and potential challenges. Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience. Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
• Project Management - Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to apply the principles, methods, and tools for scheduling, coordinating and managing NEPA document preparation and review as an integral part of project development and management, including monitoring and evaluating scope of work, quality assurance, timelines, and contractor performance. Comprehensive knowledge of how transportation projects are planned, managed, implemented, and coordinated with the public.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: Please be clear and specific when describing your experience, as HR evaluates applications strictly on the facts provided and will not make assumptions. To receive full credit, your narrative responses must be written in paragraph format and explicitly match your resume. Begin each response by listing the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full- or part-time status, average weekly hours, and federal series/grade (if applicable). Within the body of the paragraph, clearly describe your specific duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes. HR will cross-check these details against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every claim and timeframe, the experience will not be considered for credit, which may result in an ineligible determination.

For this announcement, applications will be reviewed to determine if the applicant meets the basic qualifications for this position. The applications of individuals who meet the basic qualifications will be assessed to validate that the applicant possesses the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) at the level of proficiency needed to perform the job successfully. Applicants who are found to possess the necessary KSAs to perform the job may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

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

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