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Pathways Intern- Environmental Protection Specialist

Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a Student Internship position under the Pathways Internship Program.  
To qualify for this Internship, you MUST be a continuing student enrolled or accepted for enrollment for the current/upcoming semesters for the duration of the internship as a condition of employment, taking at least a half-time course load. You will be required to provide documentation to support eligibility. Students may be employed throughout the academic year. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/25/2018 to 09/29/2018
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$36,213 to - $86,305 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05 - 11
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Seattle, WA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - Excepted Service Appointment for an initial period expected to last for more than 1-year.
Work schedule
Part-time - Full Time / Part Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Drug test
No
Announcement number
FTA.R10-2018-0001
Control number
511981300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. This position is part of the Pathways Program and is open to current students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a qualifying educational institution and enrolled at least half-time. Additional information can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

Duties

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The Student Trainee (Environmental Protection Specialist) Pathways Intern will:

  • Guide the FTA regional offices and grant applicants in fulfilling their NEPA and NEPA-related responsibilities for proposed transit projects and transportation plans by providing guidance and advice on procedural and technical matters, by performing FTA reviews of complex impact assessments and analyses, and by preparing return correspondence on project-related environmental issues directed to FTA headquarters.
  • Take a leading role in implementing agency-wide regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines related to the analysis and mitigation of the environmental and community impacts of proposed transit projects and transportation plans, including assessment of impacts in the following areas: land use, displacement of businesses and residences, noise and vibration, air quality, wetlands and water quality, ecologically sensitive areas and endangered species, historic and archeological resources, parklands, contaminated soil or property, safety and security, secondary development, and community disruption.
  • Review congressional and departmental legislative proposals and regulatory proposals related to environmental issues, and prepares the written recommendations and comments of the office.  Meet with staff of other Federal agencies to discuss these proposals, comments, and recommendations.  Prepare oral or written briefing material and decision documents for use by senior officials.  Assists FTA legal staff in preparing briefs and consulting on litigation related to the environment.
  • Guide the preparation of guidance documents and memoranda, website material, and training courses on environmental analysis methods and procedures for transit project development and transportation planning, for use by environmental and transportation planners throughout the country.
  • Perform other assigned activities of the office related to its environmental responsibilities, such as developing and managing environmental research and oversight projects, and developing the office's program plans and budgets. 

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program that is designed to attract students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions to work in agencies and explore careers while still in school.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must meet the qualification standards of the position
  • You must be at least 16 years of age
  • You must complete a background investigation
  • This position is NOT telework eligible; intern must work onsite
  • Review Required Documents section as documents are required by closing date
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP:  Must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be  registered for the Selective Service.
  • INTERNSHIP: Must meet the requirements for the Internship Program.
  • PROOF OF ENROLLMENT: Must be enrolled at least half time at a qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate at least half-time.
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:  Must complete a background investigation.
  • DECLARATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT: Selectee is required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine suitability for federal employment.
  • STUDENT STATUS: You must maintain status as a current student while on this appointment.
  • DEGREE:  Must be related to the position.
  • WORK SCHEDULE: Intern should be able to work at least 20 hours per week, depending on academic schedule, and preferably full-time during the summer.  This is position is not eligible for telework.
  • PHYSICAL LOCATION: Intern will be required to work onsite. 
  • TRIAL PERIOD: The intern is in a trial period throughout the entire Pathways Internship appointment.  

You must sign a Pathways Internship Program Participant Agreement; furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and provide verification of academic status (transcript) at the end of each academic term.

Qualifications

This position has an education requirement. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required prior to a final offer of employment.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the education requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

GS-5:  Completion of four academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor’s degree or four academic years of pre-professional study

GS-7:  Completion of one academic year of graduate level education; OR bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement as defined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook; OR five academic years of pre-professional study. 

GS-9:  Completion of 2 academic years of graduate level education, or a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.  This must be fully supported by transcripts that you provide with your application.

Superior Academic Achievement- In the upper one-third of graduating class; OR a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0, as recorded on official transcript, or based on courses completed during final 2 years of curriculum; OR a GPA of 3.5 or higher out of 4.0, based on average of required courses completed in major or required courses in major completed during the final 2 years of curriculum.
 
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - click here. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
 
For the definition of a qualifying educational institution, please use the following link:  click here 
Eligibility:  Applicants must meet the definition of a Student, click here for additional information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/

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

Grade qualifications must be met prior to start date.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 

Education

You must be a student currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited college or university:

  • Enrollment must be at least half-time course load as defined by the education institution (typically six hours or equivalent for undergraduate and three hours or equivalent for graduate).
  • Maintain good academic standing, generally, at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA for undergraduate programs and a 3.0 GPA for graduate programs, on a 4.0 grading scale.

For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

For a list of accredited institutions, please visit:  http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Additional information

This is an Excepted Service appointment. As a part of the Pathways Internship Program, the appointment may be extended until the selectee's projected graduation date, plus 120 days.  Upon graduation, depending on the qualifications and the Agency’s need the student intern may be converted without a break in service to a term (time-limited) or permanent appointment, to a position that has a career ladder target up to the GS-12, provided they are a US citizen who has worked at least 640 hours in an appropriate program and has received a favorable recommendation from the supervisor for retention. There is no guarantee of a permanent position following this internship.  Selectee is on a trial period while on a Pathways Internship appointment. 

This is an Excepted Service Appointment for an initial period expected to last for more than 1-year.   

If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.  Interns may work full-time during the summer and a flexible part-time work schedule during the school year (based on agency needs) while continuing their education.
 
You will be in a trial period throughout your entire Pathways Internship appointment. If selected by management, you are required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Telework: Ad Hoc - Employees may be eligible to telework after a six-month trial period.

EEO STATEMENT:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

Announcement may be used to fill similar positions with 90 days.

 

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. 

Once you complete and submit your application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the job.  Qualified students will be referred to the hiring manager in unranked order by veteran preference status:  (1) Preference eligible having a compensable, service-connected disability of 10 percent or more; (2) all other candidates eligible for 10-point veteran preference; (3) candidates eligible for 5-point veteran preference; and (4) candidates not eligible for veteran preference.
 
You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application or supporting documentation is incomplete.  Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or adverse action after hiring.


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