The Department of Transportation is seeking Environmental Protections Specialists. In this role, you will be responsible for analyzing and interpreting the implications of Federal, state, and local environmental regulations for government and other agencies. The work is principally focused on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but also involves other environmental compliance regulations and Executive Orders (e.g., Endangered Species Act, and Environmental Justice, etc.).
Summary
The Department of Transportation is seeking Environmental Protections Specialists. In this role, you will be responsible for analyzing and interpreting the implications of Federal, state, and local environmental regulations for government and other agencies. The work is principally focused on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but also involves other environmental compliance regulations and Executive Orders (e.g., Endangered Species Act, and Environmental Justice, etc.).
As a Environmental Protection Specialist, you will:
Serve as a senior Advisor in an Office Administration’s Division Office on policy, laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and directives related to NEPA and Office Administration’s project development processes. Advise stakeholders and Federal and State partner agencies on Federal responsibilities and the requirements of NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and Operating Administration’s regulations, policies, and guidance.
Leads and advises stakeholders and partner agencies on integrating a variety of complex environmental and transportation planning processes and on other approaches to improve the linkages between planning and human and natural environmental issues. Ensures environmental laws are addressed and integrated into the NEPA decision-making process. Ensures the appropriate NEPA classification of a project, i.e., Categorical Exclusion (CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Keep current as to recent or emerging changes and new leadership initiatives on environmental issues that affect the development of projects in order to provide expertise to the Division Office, the State DOT, and other State agencies.
Provide feedback on environmental documents and studies that are complex and usually controversial. Collaborate with and advise stakeholders, Federal and State partner agencies, team members and other stakeholders of special environmental concerns, such as those related to environmental justice, community impact assessments, wetlands, cultural resources, biological resources, ecosystems, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes and brownfields, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, air and water quality, and other highly sensitive environmental areas.
Provide guidance and leads or co-chairs discussion among stakeholders to develop unique solutions that minimize cumulative and indirect impacts resulting from proposed projects and/or actions.
Provide expertise in the preparation of a variety of complex Notices of Intent, Findings of No Significant Impact, Records of Decision, and Section 4(f) Determinations as necessary to complete the environmental process for complex and unusual transportation projects or actions. Coordinate legal sufficiency reviews with OA’s legal counsel when required. Ensure adequate documentation is included in the NEPA document for the project. Attend public meetings and hearings for proposed projects, as necessary
Provide technical authority and expertise to stakeholders on a wide variety of information that should be considered when analyzing environmental impacts or conditions and elements of highly and unusual transportation projects.
The ideal candidate for this position will have experience in analyzing and interpreting the potential environmental impacts from Federal and state infrastructure projects and other activities, as well as leading a team performing environmental review for these projects and activities. The work is principally focused on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental compliance regulations and Executive Orders (e.g., National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Justice, etc). This position focuses on management and application of environmental policies and analyses to identify and mitigate the potential impacts of transportation projects; although projects outside DOT are likely. The candidate will lead a team that prepares analyses for an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for complex or multi-faceted projects. This Environmental Protection Specialist is responsible for completing and managing environmental analyses; environmental regulatory and compliance evaluations; risk assessments; assessments of past environmental practices; implementation of environmental regulations and policy, requiring interpretation of laws, orders, regulations, and agency guidance; and technical direction and guidance to other specialists responsible for environmental review. The projects are significant in scope and dollar value.
You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration.
You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection.
DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
REMOTE WORK: If selected for a remote work position, you must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency standards from the approved work location within the Contiguous United States and sign a remote work agreement.
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 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13 and it must include:
Experience preparing environmental documentation (e.g., Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and Record of Decision) for transportation infrastructure projects in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental regulations and orders (e.g. National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Justice, etc.) and coordinating with government agencies, stakeholders, and organizations on EAs or EISs.
AND
Experience planning, leading, and managing multiple full life-cycle (from planning through design and construction) environmental-related projects including: scoping the required work; developing detailed project work plans; identifying, tracking, and completing project schedules, deliverables, and budgets; developing business development strategies; preparing and delivering formal and informal presentations; meeting project milestones, and finalizing project close-out reports.
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:
Mastery level knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and guidance related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; mastery knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of one or more functions related to rulemaking and regulations, compliance and enforcement, environmental considerations and documentation, or program administration and oversight; and an expert knowledge in Federal, State, and local laws and regulations; and OA’s project development and decision-making processes, and documentation and reporting requirements to serve as a technical authority, to sufficiently provide expertise on highly and unusual project-related environmental matters and to make decisions and recommendations in the environmental process of the Operating Administration’s Program.
Comprehensive knowledge of other environmental laws to include pertinent sections of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, archaeology, noise impacts, Presidential Executive Orders, and other Federal environmental laws and requirements such as those related to Context Sensitivity, environmental justice, and socio-economic and land use, environmental or condition and element impacts in order to ensure transportation project requirements are met and to advise on and facilitate solutions to issues.
Knowledge of transportation performance management which includes understanding the basic elements of transportation performance management, its use in driving better results, and how it relates to or differs from transportation industry concepts of performance measurement and asset management including identifying measures and/or indicators through risk-based and data-driven procedures.
Knowledge and use of a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to project development to coordinate with appropriate staff. Coordinates with appropriate Division Office staff to assist in the environmental review process and effectively assist in studies and analyses in the development of projects.
Skill in working cooperatively with Federal and State resource and regulatory agencies, Federal and local officials, federally recognized Tribal Governments, stakeholders, grantees, interest groups, and the general public.
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
PLEASE NOTE:
This position is also posted Open to Government wide applicants. The announcement number is DOT-2022-0621.
COVID VACCINATION: If selected, you will be required to provide information regarding your COVID-19 vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
*PLEASE NOTE: This is an open continuous, not to exceed one-year, vacancy. We will review applications as needed and refer the top candidates for potential interviews during the open period of the announcement. Duty locations will vary. The difference in salary is determined by the locality pay in each location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
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.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.
To compete with U.S. Citizens: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.
All applicants: Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package. If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.
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.
RESUME - All applicants must provide a resume created within USA Jobs Resume Builder, that shows relevant experience, education and support the required specialized experience. Formatted resumes can by uploaded later in the application process.
VETERANS: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
If applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214 (member-4 copy), which verifies your military service dates, reason for separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) 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.
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 USAJobs 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:
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.
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Next steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com. (Select "My USAJOBS" and click "Applications"). As needed, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by your application date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. This vacancy is advertised under category rating and the appropriate veteran's preference will be applied. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is closed, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
RESUME - All applicants must provide a resume created within USA Jobs Resume Builder, that shows relevant experience, education and support the required specialized experience. Formatted resumes can by uploaded later in the application process.
VETERANS: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.
If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
If applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214 (member-4 copy), which verifies your military service dates, reason for separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.
NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.
DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85) 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.
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 USAJobs 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:
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.
You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 (EST) on the closing date of the announcement.
To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting.
Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire.
You may review your saved application(s) at https://my.usajobs.gov.
If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States
Next steps
You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com. (Select "My USAJOBS" and click "Applications"). As needed, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by your application date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. This vacancy is advertised under category rating and the appropriate veteran's preference will be applied. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is closed, we will notify all applicants of their final status.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
