SummaryThis announcement is for multiple Environmental Protection Specialist positions in the Office of Project Development and Environmental Review in the FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty. The incumbent will provide policy direction and guidance to FHWA divisions, State DOTs and local partners for NEPA and related environmental laws, and technical assistance.
This job is open to - Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees. - Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Clarification from the agencyFHWA-wide employees with competitive status only.
VideosDutiesAs a Environmental Protection Specialist, you will:
- Perform as a senior-level Environmental Protection Specialist responsible for policies, programs, and technical advice to improve transportation and environmental planning and NEPA principles and processes.
- Lead national level interagency and inter-organizational efforts and activities and programs, policies and projects to advance integrated transportation and resource agency planning.
- Evaluate and advise on how to secure compliance with environmental laws, and programs through permitting, audits, self-assessments and corrective measures.
- Serve as a consultant and expert advisor to FHWA headquarters, executives, field offices, State highway departments, city officials, and other local State and Federal agencies. Represent FHWA on interagency committees responsible for activities directed toward improving mitigation and adaptation strategies.
- Prepare and direct the preparation of reports, correspondence, briefing papers, graphic presentations and recommendations for action by officials of FHWA and the Office of the Secretary of Transportation.
The ideal candidates for these positions are well-qualified professionals with extensive experience in environmental analysis, providing innovative recommendations for advancing projects and programs. They have experience establishing and maintaining effective cooperative working relationships with key individuals in and outside the Federal government. They have expertise in transportation planning and environmental issues, specifically pertaining to cutting-edge, complex initiatives and research to accelerate transportation project development.
Requirements Conditions of Employment - 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.
- 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 and a service agreement may be required.
- PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
- TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
- TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework. The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency's telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
QualificationsTo 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 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:
- Experience applying NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) regulatory requirements.
- Experience applying planning or environmental requirements of transportation related Federal laws, government regulations, and Executive Orders.
- Experience working with transportation and environmental research management and coordination activities.
- Experience assessing issues and/or recommending remedies for environmental activities related to project development, planning and environmental linkages, sustainability, and interagency coordination.
To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:
- Experience applying new techniques and methods to evaluate transportation projects or system alternatives.
- Experience providing technical advice on the national level interagency/inter-organizational efforts and activities related to transportation planning, travel demand, land use, and air quality in the context of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
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:
Policy Development
Program Management/Development/Coordination
Technical Knowledge
Communication
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.EducationThis job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional informationThe 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, FairChanceA[redacted]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation
This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.PLEASE NOTE: This announcement is being advertised under FHWA's Remote Work and ADL Program. The selectee will work from an approved location under FHWA Remote work (most often the selectee's home) or ADL program (approved available location).
Alternative Duty Locations (ADL) listed in this announcement are subject to change based on space availability.
Salary will be determined by the locality pay for the selectees approved worksite location. Salaries for all areas are available on the OPM website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule.
Under the ADL program, relocation assistance is not available to applicants residing in any one of the ADL locations. Relocation is available for applicants located outside of the advertised duty locations. Employees who are not eligible for relocation because they reside in one of the advertised locations may apply for positions in other advertised duty locations; however, if selected, they must move themselves to the locations at their own expense.
Additional specifics regarding the ADL Program are located on StaffNet under August 2016 Alternate Duty Location Program Guide found at http://intra.fhwa.dot.gov/had/adl/index.htm and additional specifics regarding Remote Work program can be found at http://staffnet.fhwa.dot.gov/hr/worklife/telecom/remote_work_program_guidance.05112017.pdf
- 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.
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 EvaluatedYou 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 other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.
Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this 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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.- 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.
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. - Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
RESUME: Your resume MUST contain specific information used to make a qualification determination that includes 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. Formatted resumes may be uploaded later in the application process.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).
FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance