Environmental Protection Specialist (Open Until Filled) Job in El Paso, TX

Vacancy No. DEST-12414489-24-LP Department International Boundary and Water Commission: United States and Mexico
Salary $59,966.00 to $94,317.00 Grade 9 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/21/2024 Close Date 7/31/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
El Paso, TX


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

Serves as an Environmental Protection Specialist for the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC). The position directly supports the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Clean Rivers Program (CRP) for the Rio Grande Basin. Data collection activities for the CRP are limited to the main stem of the Rio Grande and its tributaries and water shed within the state of Texas.


Duties

  • Reviews compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements to include the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SOWA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations, Executive Orders, and pertinent case law.
  • Assists in the collection of information on implementation efforts and events designed to improve water quality.
  • Engages in environmental management studies.
  • Conducts field investigations and participates actively with other government agencies in collecting and interpreting basic natural resource data.
  • Performs watershed assessment activities.
  • Attends public and special interest group meetings.
The initial cut-off for consideration is June 03, 2024; applications received by this date will have the first opportunity for review. Applications received after this date will be given consideration only if there is a need for further review.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
  • Status Candidates Only: You must meet one or more criteria in the Area of Consideration section.
  • You obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation..
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must possess and maintain a valid U.S. Motor Vehicle Driver License, without impeding restrictions, that a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory has issued.
  • Direct deposit of federal pay is required.
  • You must complete and successfully pass the DHS required E-Verify employment verification check.
  • You must successfully complete a pre-employment medical examination.
  • You must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 pounds unassisted such as office items and supplies; and sustain periods of bending, stooping, and reaching.
  • You will work in, on, or near water and will be required to wear a personal floatation device.
  • You may be required to work overtime.
  • You may be required to travel for official business with overnight stay up to 15% of the time.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov).

Qualifications

Qualifications must be met by June 03, 2024.

Minimum Qualification Requirement - To qualify for the GG-09 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GG/GS-07 level in the Federal service or equivalent pay systems.

Examples of Specialized experience: assisting with performing watershed assessment activities; engaging in environmental management studies; participating in critical reviews of environmental documents developed and submitted by other agencies or private interests; and attending public and special interest group meetings and making informal presentations.
OR
2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.
OR
A combination of graduate education experience described above.

To qualify for the GG-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GG-09 level in the Federal service or equivalent pay systems.

Examples of Specialized experience: performing watershed assessment activities; engaging in environmental management studies; participating in critical reviews of environmental documents developed and submitted by other agencies or private interests; and attending public and special interest group meetings and making formal presentations,
OR
3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree,
OR
A combination of graduate education experience described above.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications

Time in Grade (TIG):Current and former Federal employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible under Merit Promotion procedures. An SF-50 must be provided that verifies eligibility as stated in the Area of Consideration section.

Your resume must have complete information: Please ensure your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.

Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Education

When there is a positive education requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, transcripts (unofficial) are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement or substitution.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the 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. For further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

  • If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (member-4 copy preferred) or other proof of eligibility that shows the dates you were on active duty and your character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are claiming Disabled Veterans' preference you must also submit documentation of disability (i.e. VA Disability Verification Letter) and the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference." For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov ).
  • The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated in well-qualified by scoring 85 or higher on the assessment for this vacancy. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
  • The hiring agency may use this announcement to fill similar positions that become vacant in the near future.

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a qualifications review will be conducted. Resumes and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify eligibility and determine qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your rating will be based on the responses to the assessment questionnaire and the information provided in your resume. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. This could cause you to lose consideration for this position.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on your entire application and the extent to which you demonstrate the following competencies and/or knowledge, skills, and abilities:

  • Data Collection
  • Data Management
  • Environmental Management

Required Documents

All applicants are required to submit the following documents as part of the application package:

  • Resume: Your resume MUST state complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package will be rendered disqualified, and you may no longer be considered for this position.
  • Completed on-line occupational questionnaire.
  • Driver License: This position requires a valid U.S. driver license, without impeding restrictions, issued by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, you MUST submit a copy of your driver license, failure to do so will disqualify you and you will no longer be considered for this position.
  • College transcripts (if applicable): You MUST ensure you submit a copy of your transcripts; if you fail to submit a copy of your transcripts, your application will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Proof of eligibility for Status Candidates as described under the Area of Consideration section:
  • Merit Promotion/Current or former federal civilian employees MUST submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the job title, series, grade, position occupied, and tenure to verify eligibility for merit promotion appointment. If you fail to submit a copy of your SF-50, your application will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
  • Time in Grade Restriction: Current or former federal civilian employees MUST submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action(s), indicating the job title, series, grade, position occupied, and tenure that demonstrates a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level in the federal GG/GS pay system or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. If you fail to submit a copy of your SF-50, your application will be rendered disqualified, and you will no longer be considered for this position.
  • Veteran applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): You must submit a copy of your DD-214 that states the nature of discharge (member 4 copy preferred). To be eligible, a veteran must be honorably separated, and have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service, or be a preference eligible.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) / Interagency Career Transition Plan (ICTAP) (if applicable): In addition to your Resume and complete Occupational Questionnaire you MUST submit:
  • 1) proof that you are a displaced federal employee, e.g., Reduction in Force (RIF) letter, Separation Notice, etc.; and
  • 2) an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the title, series, grade, position occupied, tenure, and duty location; and
  • 3) your most recent employee performance evaluation.
All Applicants Claiming Veterans' Preference should include the following documents as part of the application package:
  • All Veterans: DD-214 (Member 4 copy is preferred), which includes character of service, or for Active-Duty Service Members a certification which includes service dates, type of separation, and character of service. A "certification" is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active-duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
  • Disabled Veterans: VA Disability Letter (with percentage of disability) OR document of disability determination from a branch of the armed forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability rating and completed SF-15.
  • Derived Preference: The spouse, widow/widower, or mother of a veteran may be eligible to claim veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it. To do so, you must submit an SF-15 www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and the documentation required by that form Veterans' Preference: For more information and/or to determine if you are eligible for Veterans' Preference, please visit www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx (for veterans) or www.fedshirevets.gov/job/familypref/index.aspx (for family members). Below is a website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214 online: www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ and the documentation required by that form.

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.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on June 03, 2024, to receive first consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12414489

Agency contact information

USIBWC HRO

Address

United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission
4191 N. Mesa Street
El Paso, TX 79902
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.
You will receive status notifications through Application Manager or via email within 4-6 weeks.


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