Environmental Protection Specialist

Duties

This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. The National Park Service retains the right to extend the duration of this appointment after selection and/or appointment, based on changes to the regulation governing the number of years term appointments may last. This change, which may be made at the agency’s sole discretion and without further competition, shall not be construed or interpreted as the granting of a right to a selectee or employee to such an extension. No extension to a term appointment shall be granted to a selectee/employee to an amount of time that exceeds the maximum number of years authorized under any present or current regulation, unless such regulation expressly allows such action.

This position is expected to last a total of two (2) years.

MAJOR DUTIES for this position are but are not limited to the following examples:

• Assists in the preparation, internal review, and the public involvement and review process for assigned environmental compliance documents and reports findings to supervisor with recommendations. This position may also be concerned with environmental cleanup and the environmental condition of properties at the park. The incumbent reviews and monitors less complex situations involving other responsible parties in their environmental cleanup actions for compliance with Federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies. The incumbent is required to have knowledge of restoration principles applicable to duties in several functional areas, including natural and cultural resource preservation and historic compliance, environmental restoration and cleanup, and landscape architecture.
• Evaluates National Park Service project work for potential environmental effects and ensures compliance with applicable policies and regulations. Ensures documents are technically adequate and conform to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Places Act (NHPA), wilderness regulations, and National Park Service regulations, policies, and guidelines.
• Participates in investigations in determining the relevancy, nature, and scope of information required to identify, evaluate, and recommend alternative management strategies and attendant impacts. Basic information includes but is not limited to socioeconomic patterns, regional and local air quality, identification of air quality related values, resource sensitivity and significance, NPS management objectives, planning and management constraints, topography, flora, fauna, climate, existing uses and facilities, legal land status, cooperating agency objectives and public preferences.
• Advises and keeps supervisor informed of sensitive issues and National Park Service concerns regarding external proposals. Participates in policy development, development of recommendations, and implementation of proposed actions associated with environmental impact studies and special projects.
• Assists in developing public involvement strategies and facilitating public meetings and workshops.

RequirementsConditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver’s license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver’s license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver’s licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver’s license.
• You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• You will be required to complete a one-year trial period.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 4 nights per month. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-01/09/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least ONE of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement:

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: analysis of environmental, natural and/or cultural conditions; assisting in developing specified portions of categorical exclusions or environmental assessments in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); applying laws, regulations and guidelines pertaining to protecting natural and cultural resources; assisting in drafting, editing, revising, and issuing environmental compliance documents; communicating resource information to groups or individuals in a clear, concise, and professional manner; establishing and maintaining effective working relations with project managers and an interdisciplinary team to meet environmental program goals and objectives. ** You must meet a minimum of 2 of the examples listed above. **You must include hours per week worked.
-OR-

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a Masters or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B or J.D., if related. You must include transcripts.
-OR-

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, first take combination of education and experience as described above. Divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of completed graduate education beyond the first year by 18 (or 27 for quarter hours). Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts AND your resume with number of hours per week worked.

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.Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your 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.