Clarification from the agency

Only U.S. Citizens are eligible to apply.

The Environmental Protection Specialist position is located in the Artesia Administration Division (AAD), Mission and Readiness Support Directorate (MRSD), FLETC, Artesia, NM.

Being an Environmental Protection Specialist makes you a valuable member of the FLETC team and mission. The selected individual will serve as the environmental team lead for the FLETC-Artesia Training Delivery Point, responsible for assisting AAD leadership in the management of daily aspects of FLETC's environmental program. Typical assignments include:

• Formulating plans (both short-term and long-term), developing, directing, coordinating, managing, and evaluating the requirements of a large-scale Environmental Management Program in support of facilities management and training.
• Conducting detailed environmental compliance inspections in law enforcement training areas that includes, but is not limited to, counterterrorism, live fire shoot house, basic and advanced firearms, advanced and basic explosives, high speed pursuit vehicles, high speed waterborne vessels, garage areas, hazardous waste storage areas and more.
• Leading the preparation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) evaluations and preparing and/or reviewing impact analysis documentation on proposed actions to be carried out at the FLETC.
• Leading the conduct of formal and informal environmental compliance audits, analyzing audit data, and evaluating FLETC facilities and/or activities on a continuing basis to identify and correct deficiencies and to continuously improve compliance.
• Assisting in the development and update of FLETC’s Environmental Work Plan, including projecting future needs and budgetary impacts.
• Initiating, coordinating, preparing, and/or reviewing environmental studies, investigations, and reports.
• Representing the FLETC in meetings with DHS personnel as well as with federal and state regulatory agencies pertaining to high profile environmental requirements and issues.
• Attending professional meetings and conferences on behalf of the FLETC.

Conditions of employment

• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• You will be required to undergo initial and random drug testing for illegal drug use. Employment is contingent upon favorable results.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must possess, or be able to acquire within one year of selection the certifications/licenses as listed in the qualifications section of the job announcement.
• You must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• You will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of starting your federal employment and annually thereafter as long as you occupy a position that requires financial disclosure reporting.
• This position is funded solely by Congress; therefore, you will neither report to work nor will you be paid during a government shutdown.
• Position is designated as Emergency Essential. You will be required to sustain FLETC’s operations in the event of a localized situation, such as inclement weather, interruptions to power, or dismissal or closure of DHS operations.

Qualifications

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service directing, evaluating, and formulating plans and policies for a large scale, complex environmental and safety/occupational health program that encompasses environmental protection related to noise hazards and lead exposure hazards, motor vehicle maintenance/repair facilities, and hazardous materials storage/management including explosives and/or construction.   

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps and AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, and 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.

The Office of Personnel Management must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must possess, or be able to acquire within one year of selection, and maintain the following certifications/licenses:

• Hazardous Waste Management Certification;
• Hazardous Materials Handling Certification DOT 49 CFR (Nos. 1 and 2 are annual requirements for manifest signature authority and hazardous waste handling);
• Hazardous Waste Operations Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Certification (Annual training for spill response emergencies); and
• ISO 14001 Lead Environmental Auditor Training/Certification

DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for suitability as a condition of placement into this position. This will include a credit check after a tentative job offer is given, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Continued employment is contingent upon favorable adjudication of periodic reinvestigations.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement within the same geographical area.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring.  These authorities are subject to change.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use a job questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and training demonstrate the following competencies needed to perform this job:

• Expert knowledge of environmental management/program principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques.
• Skill administering environmental programs in support of facility operations, maintenance and management. 
• Mature and broad knowledge of federal environmental rules, laws, and regulations as well as presidential environmental executive orders.
• Skill in auditing/evaluating work processes and environmental programs.
• Knowledge and ability to evaluate actions under the purview of the National Environmental Policy Act and integrate those evaluations into the decision-making process of FLETC leadership.
• Ability to advise component officials and personnel at all levels on various aspects of environmental program compliance and stewardship.
• Knowledge and ability to review and interpret important agency/component policies and programs and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
• Ability to document and report complex mission related requirements and integrate lawmaking or rulemaking processes sufficient to make decisions or recommendations to leadership in support of the law enforcement training mission.
• Ability to tactfully represent the agency and resolve problems of major significance to component environmental programs.
• Ability to expertly articulate component environmental requirements and develop environmental management solutions that support the mission.

Your responses to the job questionnaire will place you into one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.

2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans’ preference.