Environmental Protection Specialist - Direct Hire Job in Location Negotiable After Selection

Vacancy No. DOT-2025-0008 Department Department of Transportation - Agency Wide
Salary $46,696.00 to $74,250.00 Grade 07 to 09
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/29/2024 Close Date 12/30/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Location Negotiable After Selection


Summary

You will serve as a Environmental Protection Specialist performing administrative or program work relating to environmental protection programs, e.g., programs to protect or improve environmental quality, control pollution, remedy environmental damage, or ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

This job is open to

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. Bargaining unit participation varies by agency and position.

Duties

As an Environmental Protection Specialist you will:

  • Work with higher-graded environmental protection specialists integrating environmental considerations into their decision-making processes, preparing environmental documentation regarding proposed actions, maintaining ongoing programs to protect and restore environmental resources, fulfilling numerous environmental reporting requirements, etc.
  • Assist in developing, analyzing, evaluating, and modifying environmental programs, policies, and procedures. Exercise judgment and perspective in applying a knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices relating to environmental protection programs as they concern problems of organizing, planning, funding, and controlling environmental activities.
  • Evaluate and recommend action on permit applications for projects that involve routine changes. Assist in conducting site inspections and gather information on conditions and potential mitigation measures; conduct public interest reviews; coordinate activities with other Federal and State agencies; and recommend issuance or denial of permits.
  • Support activities of the Department or OA that may include providing technical assistance to states on core transportation matters to include administering grants and loans, and assessing project readiness of modal application for DOT grant programs.
  • Monitor developments in environmental policy and support modal teams performing operating, financial, and policy analyses to assess strategic options for the continued provisions of modal transportation services in the United States.

The ideal candidate is an individual who is seeking challenging assignments that will develop his/her knowledge of, and skill in applying, fundamental transportation laws, principles, systems, policies, methods, and practices; as well develop the incumbent's analytical and research techniques pertaining to environmental protection programs.

Requirements

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.
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position may involve travel. A government contractor-issued travel card may be issued and must be retained for official business only.
  • TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be approved for occasional telework. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor, and if applicable, approval of additional officials.  You are required to report to the office on a regular basis since this is not a full-time telework position, or approved as a remote work position.

Qualifications

To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details.  You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience and/or education in your resume and/or uploaded transcripts or you may be deemed ineligible. 

For the GS-07: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements.

 On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-05 grade levelwhich included:

  • Experience using standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information on environmental activities or quality, and to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature. This experience can be gained by assisting higher graded employees with this work.

On Education, you must have:

  • 1 year of graduate-level education towards a master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR a Bachelors degree with Superior Academic Achievement*.
  • Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

*Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. (In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.)

  1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

For the GS-09: You qualify for this grade level if you meet one of the following experience and/or education requirements.

On Experience, at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, which included:

  • Experience applying established principles, concepts, and methods of environmental protection program work to perform a variety of duties involving the management, coordination, monitoring, oversight, or evaluation of routine programs, projects, or activities. This experience can be gained by assisting higher graded employees with this work.

On Education, you must have:

  • 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree.
  • Or, you can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

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 area:

  1. Environmental Assessment - Comprehensive Knowledge of the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act; US DOT Transportation Act, Section 4(f); Title 23, Environmental regulations; Clean Air Act as amended and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.

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.

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

This announcement establishes an open continuous period for this series/grade. We will perform interim reviews of all applications as positions become vacant.  You must meet all eligible requirements at the time of consideration. 

Duty locations will vary.  The difference in the salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2023/general-schedule/

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

If you are hired for this position; you will not receive additional consideration from this announcement.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will referred to the hiring manager.

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.

TELEWORK INFO: https://www.telework.gov/guidance-legislation

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.

Given our continuing need for professionals in this field, we will routinely review applications and refer candidates for potential interviews multiple times during the open period of the announcement. 

When an applicant list is requested, all applications received by that request date will be reviewed to determine if the basic qualifications for this position, and grades applied to, are met.  Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official(s) for further review and consideration. From that point on the selecting official determines all aspects of the hiring process. If they wish to contact you for an interview or for selection, they will do so directly. Equal consideration will be given to all applications received.

Note that applications received under a direct hire public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection. Also, management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.

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.  Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support the noted grade specific specialized experience and your answers.  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.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

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. 

TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED if you are using education to qualify for either grade. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. 

  • Official transcript(s) will still be required if you are selected for the position. 
  • Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition. 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 80) 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.

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 USAJobs 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.

How to Apply

You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than midnight Eastern Time 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

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office
Address
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Your application status will be updated online when applicable and you will be notified by email.

A final email will be generated when the vacancy closes. Note that there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed under this vacancy, it depends on when and how often the selecting official(s) request to use this public notice.


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