Summary
This position is part of the WAPA Headquarters. As a Natural Resources Specialist, you will serve as an agency subject matter expert (SME) in
environmental requirements, planning, and review.
**This is not a remote position. The selectee will be required to be physically present at one of the duty location(s) identified.**
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S., Military Spouse Eligibles, Veterans
Duties
As a Natural Resources Specialist, some of your duties will include:
- Provides WAPA-wide policy development, oversight, and guidance for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and general support for the Endangered Species Act; Migratory Bird Treaty Act; National Historic Preservation Act; Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; multiple state environmental quality regulations; and Executive Orders. If not already, will become an SME on DOE and WAPA environmental policy.
- Leads and participates in large, complex special projects, joint interagency special projects and meetings that involve multiple Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, and the public as WAPA's representative on projects of regional or national significance.
- Directs and completes review of other agencies' environmental assessments, impact statements, compliance plans, and other environmental documents. Oversees and prepares comments on adequacy and accuracy, with recommendations for modifications where necessary. Places particular attention on how the actions of other agencies may impact WAPA's programs and facilities. Is called upon to articulate WAPA's position on these issues to other agencies.
- Serves as chairman or as a member of technical proposal evaluation committees on particularly complex projects and acts as project manager or contracting officer's representative (COR) in the administration of contracts, ensuring the contractor's work is adequate and meets WAPA's and DOE requirements.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- Travel of up to 5 to 10% annually is required; with overnight travel of 2-10 days per month on average.
- The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a state driver's license.
- The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
- The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- THIS POSITION IS IN THE BARGAINING UNIT: 1151
Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.
Applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the 0401 Series as described below:
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 in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. The experience need not have been in the federal government.
Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band. This experience includes all the following:
- Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, executive orders, or policies related to environmental planning or historic preservation such as, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, or other related laws and requirements to ensure agency compliance.
- Leading, directing, or supporting the preparation of environmental documents such as Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, Categorical Exclusions, mitigation plans, and Records of Decision.
- Providing technical guidance, advising on federal policy, laws, regulations, and directives related to the NEPA process and completing outreach activities with other Federal or State organizations, tribes, or the public.
"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work is physically undemanding in the office, but the position will require varying amounts of overnight travel estimated at 2 to 10 nights per month. Occasional outdoor field work or monitoring may be required, during which extra hours may be worked and rough terrain encountered. The work is often characterized by problem-solving, tight deadlines, and controversy which may be somewhat stressful.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work is typically performed in an office setting with occasional field work required which may expose the employee to adverse weather or high temperatures. Computer work may be required in the field depending on the project, resulting in the need to remotely connect with the main network at the designated duty station. This position requires a valid driver's license.
Education
This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.
Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
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.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
- Compliance
- Influencing/Negotiating
- Project Management
Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (06/25/2024) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12444829
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:
- Your RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
- Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement.Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
- Veterans' Preference documentation,if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
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
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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 need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.
You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.
You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
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