Serves as a senior Natural Resources Specialist perparing complex environmental compliance documents regarding efforts associated with enlarging Shasta Dam.
-Assembles, coordinates and oversees interdisciplinary teams in the preparation and processing of environmental impact statements, assessments and commitment plans, environmental portions of planning reports and other environmental documents prepared by the Mid-Pacific Region.
-Arranges, defines and coordinates work between cooperating Federal agencies.
-Conducts workshops, hearings, meetings and interacts with public interest groups, water districts, individuals and representatives of Federal, State and local governments regarding all aspects of preparing and processing environmental documents.
-Reviews and provides comments on environmental impact statements and other environmental documents prepared by the Region and other agencies for compliance with policy directives and compliance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and other environmental statutes, executive orders, regulations, and procedures.
-Reviews planning and other internal and external reports and data dealing with environmental problems and their solutions to ensure environmental policy is articulated properly.
-Studies and monitors new developing issues in the environmental field that may have potential impact on Reclamation programs in the Mid-Pacific Region.
-Acts in a liaison capacity with other technical segments of the Regional Office, with natural resources specialists, and personnel in the project offices on environmental matters affected by various planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance phases and research efforts.
-Participates as a member of special committees, task forces and groups that are formed to address projects of a special or controversial nature to represent Regional environmental policy positions.
-Prepares contracts for assigned investigations.

Conditions of employment

• Position subject to a background investigation.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective factors, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirement:
Applicants must meet the Basic Education Qualification Requirements listed below:
A. A degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position;
OR
B. A combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major, as shown in above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, applicants must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

In addition to meeting Basic Education, applicants must have specialized experience or additional education as defined below:
GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service.

Definition of Specialized Experience: To meet specialized experience, your resume must describe experience that demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities as follows:

GS-12: Preparing environmental documents to meet the requirements of NEPA, CWA, and ESA; evaluating the impact of proposed projects and other activities that may result in potential effects on environmental resources; and determining, establishing, and applying biological facts, principles, methods, techniques, and procedures to the production and/or management of environmental resources, or within facilities and systems that have been constructed for their benefit and public use. These examples are not all inclusive.

Experience that would not normally be part of an applicant's position may be creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager or human resources director, SF-52, or similar documentation).

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and transcript(s) to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 60 minutes. Applicants determined best-qualified will be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants will be further evaluated on the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) through their resume and responses to the online questions.
1. Knowledge of the biological characteristics, conditions and interrelationships of aquatic and terrestrial biota, and of wildlife resources and ecological principles to evaluate resource and water management projects and provide appropriate environmental impact assessments and analyses.
2. Knowledge of the implementation requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and agency regulations, policies, and procedures to prepare environmental documents and provide guidance and information to others.
3. Knowledge of and skill in applying a wide range of concepts, principles, practices, and methodology of biological and environmental sciences to evaluate resource and water management projects and provide appropriate environmental impact assessments and analyses.
4. Knowledge of and skill in oral, written and group communication to clearly explain and describe issues, problems, solutions, and to organize and present strategies and proposals involving diverse agencies, interests and backgrounds.
5. Ability to serve as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative.

Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. Applicants rating themselves higher than is apparent in their description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR that copy vacancy announcement posting information verbatim into resume OR whose resume/application is incomplete may be removed from employment consideration.
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