Duties
As a Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, you will:
- Manage supervisory and non-supervisory professional interdisciplinary staff in the development of clear and effective environmental policies, procedures, and techniques, as well as guidance and other support, including training, for regional staff responsible for the environmental process as applied to various transit projects. Work directly with individual employees to achieve a productive work environment. Monitor and evaluate the performance of assigned employees.
- Assure, within budget and staffing limitations, the effective development and soundness of FTA’s system of environmental compliance and advises FTA leadership regarding system needs. Identify opportunities for process improvements, including tool development.
- Lead national-level interagency or interdepartmental working groups on legislative proposals, policy, regulatory, and/or operational issues relating to the environment and transportation. Represent FTA in meetings with federal, state, tribal, and local partners, industry partners, and the public.
- Serve as the principal advisor, providing direct expert technical advice to the TPE Associate Administrator (AA), Deputy Associate Administrator (DAA) and staff on all matters relating to environmental policy and programs. Represent the AA and DAA; speaks authoritatively for him or her in meetings with project sponsors, State and local governments, industry and professional associations, private organizations and academic institutions concerning environmental policy and programs.
- Direct management of human and physical resources, including personnel management, organization, staffing, EEO affirmative action, training, performance appraisal, performance management and recognition system, employee awards and recognition, travel, supplies, equipment, services, printing, and publication.
The ideal candidate for this position is a senior-level career professional who is experienced in applying the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws and regulations to surface transportation projects. Experience managing a team of environmental professionals is desired. Background working with a range of regulations is preferable, such as the FTA Environmental Regulations (part 771); National Historic Preservation Act; Endangered Species Act; Section 4(f) Requirements and Clean Air Act, as amended. Candidates must have the skill and experience working collaboratively and productively with individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences; organizational and management skills; and the ability to handle multiple, competing priorities, issues, and projects simultaneously.
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/SME will be used to fill this position.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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: You may 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).
- SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: New supervisors must complete a 1-year probationary period (unless already completed).
Qualifications
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.
To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include:
- Experience complying with and overseeing implementation of the Federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Section 4(f) requirements and other relevant laws, regulations, executive orders, and case law for surface transportation projects receiving Federal funding assistance.
- Experience in analyzing environmental compliance needs from the standpoint of the Federal transportation environmental review process and formulating appropriate responses to those needs on an individual or programmatic basis through clear communications or development of innovative tools.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in developing, implementing, and administering an environmental compliance system for transportation projects and related undertakings, including legislation development, rulemaking, policy-making, and guidance development.
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:
- Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.
- Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
- Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
- Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
- Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
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.
Additional information
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations 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 the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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.
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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.
Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy 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.
Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.
For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
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 USA Jobs 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.