Interdisciplinary Natural Resources Specialist/Physical Scientist Job

Vacancy No. 20240924-14609-000503-CE-DH Department U.S. Coast Guard
Salary $108,245.00 to $140,713.00 Grade 12 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/30/2024 Close Date 11/8/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Los Angeles, CAOakland, CASan Diego, CAPortland, OR


Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U. S. Coast Guard, Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center (SILC), Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Oakland, Oakland, CA.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens. This position will be filled through Direct Hiring Authority (DHA). All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for further consideration. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating, Veterans Preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

Acting as a subject matter expert (SME) for a wide range of environmental programs throughout the CEU Area of Responsibility (AOR). Program/project initiatives include general and specific compliance with applicable federal, state, and/or local laws pertaining to cultural and natural resources; clean air, water and wastewater, hazardous materials and hazardous waste management, toxic substances and pesticides management, petroleum, oils, lubricants (POL) and storage tank management, solid waste management, as well as environmental planning and compliance management plans/environmental management systems. This involves management of a diverse portfolio involving a mix of owned, leased, temporary and permanent shore facilities spread over a wide geographic area with multiple sites and varied environmental issues.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

  • Preparing environmental reviews of civil engineering projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including Environmental Assessments. Determining the appropriate level of documentation for specific projects. Conducting NEPA reviews in close coordination with design teams, contract officers, and field unit personnel, to ensure planning documents and construction and maintenance projects can be conducted on schedule.
  • Preparing permit packages for upland and in-water construction at Coast Guard units in support of NEPA reviews, to include Clean Water Act Section 401/404 permits; Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultations; Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Harassment Authorizations; Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determinations; and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultations, addressing environmental impacts, conservation measures, and mitigation requirements.
  • Serving as project manager/contracting officer's representative (COR) for environmental projects, such as Environmental Assessments and Biological Assessments. Developing scopes of work (SOWs) and cost estimates; evaluating proposals and reviewing technical qualifications; managing contractor schedules; reviewing deliverables; approving invoices; and tracking budgets. Ensuring project data/detail is entered and maintained in approved database of record. Leading/participating in meetings, conference calls, and similar discussions with designers, unit staff, command, contractors, and regulators.
  • Developing and assisting with the development of a wide variety of planning documents (e.g. project planning proposals, project planning reports, master plans, regional strategic plans, vessel homeport studies, Coast Guard mission changes and expansion, exercise development/documentation) ensuring environmental aspects, considerations and issues of concern are identified and appropriately and properly accounted for and documented.
  • Providing environmental program technical support, guidance, and assistance to design team and project execution personnel, asset managers, planners, real property professionals, support staff and other professionals.
  • Providing authoritative guidance, advice, technical assistance, training & professional development and general environmental program support to CG units and personnel.
  • Monitoring developments in or changes in environmental laws, regulations, executive orders and Departmental policies to determine Coast Guard requirements for compliance; assisting with development of implementation strategies, plans, processes and procedures.
  • Maintaining environmental program data in designated databases(s).
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) certification.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Coast Guard issued NEPA Warrant.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Key Requirements:

  1. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  2. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
  3. A one-year probationary period may be required.
  4. Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  5. This is not a Bargaining Unit position.
  6. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license and safe driving record.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified.

Transcripts must be submitted with your application package.

You MUST meet the following requirements:

Basic Requirements for Physical Sciences Series, 1301:

Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Basic Requirements for General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series, 0401:

Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Additional Requirements for both job series: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service performing the following types of tasks on a regular and recurring basis:

GS-12 - Applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Specialized experience must include the following:

  • Applying environmental standards, methods, and practices to assure full implementation of the NEPA and other environmental laws, regulations or policy.
  • Reviewing environmental documents for accuracy and compliance with federal law and policy.
  • Preparing environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, biological studies and other related documents.
  • Evaluating potential environmental impacts that could result from construction or engineering projects /designs.
  • Preparing scopes of work and cost estimates for environmental studies; and managing environmental projects.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

National Service Experience (i.e., 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.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here

NOTE: You must submit an educational transcript in order to be considered for the position.

Additional information

Any Offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

E-Verify: DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Fair Chance Act: The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to tony.ozuna@uscg.mil.
Suitability Statement: If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
Special Employment Consideration: The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Relocation Incentive may be authorized: Selectee(s) for this position who are current federal employees on permanent appointments and will be moving outside of the current commuting area of their current position to accept this position are authorized to receive a one-time relocation incentive of 25% of the salary including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12-month service agreement. The employee must establish a residence in the new geographic area prior to payment.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.

More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact tony.ozuna@uscg.mil. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation

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.

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.

We will review your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the questionnaire will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Basis for Rating: Direct Hire Authority (DHA) is open to all U.S. Citizens. The category rating, veterans preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Required Documents

  • Your resume - showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/date/year to month/date/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
  • Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12560163
  • Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

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 begin your online application, click "Apply Online" to create a USAJOBS account and follow the prompts or log in to your existing account. Your application packet must include a completed assessment questionnaire, a resume, and any applicable and or required supporting documentation. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional information. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. We encourage you to apply online.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. The address below is for inquiries only. You may apply more than once, but the most recent application is the only one that will be used. You must submit your resume, your online questionnaire, and any supporting documents by 11:59 PM eastern standard time on 11/08/2024.

High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume and/or supporting documents may impact you or eliminate you from consideration.

It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

  • If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Antonio Ozuna at tony.ozuna@uscg.mil to obtain an alternative application.

Agency contact information

Antonio Ozuna
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

NOTE: Selectee(s) must be available to report to duty within 120 calendar days of the closing date of the announcement.

Salary for Locations:
Oakland, CA

  • $108,245.00 PA - $140,713.00 PA
San Diego, CA
  • $99,044.00 PA - $128,752.00 PA
Los Angeles, CA
  • $101,121.00 PA - $131,452.00 PA
Portland, OR
  • $93,543.00 PA - $121,601.00 PA
Seattle, WA
$97,376.00 PA - $126,585.00 PA

Recruitment Incentive
Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent position are authorized to receive a one-time recruitment incentive of 25% of the salary, including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12-month service agreement. "Newly appointed" refers to the first appointment (regardless of tenure) as an employee of the Federal Government, an appointment following a break in service of at least 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government, or, in certain cases, an appointment following a break in service of less than 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government. See additional Information

"Newly appointed" refers to the first appointment (regardless of tenure) as an employee of the Federal Government, an appointment following a break in service of at least 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government, or, in certain cases, an appointment following a break in service of less than 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government.

Additional Locations


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


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