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Pathways Recent Graduate Environmental Protection Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Agriculture, Rural Development
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in a State Office throughout Rural Development. The position has promotion
potential to GS-0028-12.

This is not a remote position. Incumbent will be expected to report to duty at one of the locations listed on the announcement.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/27/2022 to 11/15/2022
Salary
$47,097 - $61,227 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Albia, IA
Atlantic, IA
Des Moines, IA
Humboldt, IA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Recent graduates
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
PATH-IA-11693600-2023-KR
Control number
685844700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.

Duties

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  • The incumbent performs a variety of duties involving developing, reviewing, analyzing, monitoring, coordinating, and evaluating routine environmental programs or projects.
  • Reviews studies, reports or other project related documents and completes documentation in support of the environmental impact analysis.
  • Participates in field office audits to determine compliance with RD environmental policies and procedures. Recommends necessary changes and provides routine technical assistance.
  • Drafts letters, procedural guidance, internal or state specific criteria and guidelines and maintains training information and guidance documents on web sites.
  • Gathers and analyzes environmental information and data and identifies and solves problems of procedural nature.
  • Attends meetings, conferences, webinars, training events, etc.
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National at the time of conversion.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • Successful completion of one-year trial period
  • Direct Deposit ? Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements;

Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or

Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met.

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows:

For the GS- 9 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: knowledge of the established principles, concepts, and methods of environmental protection program work; practical knowledge of one or more environmental sciences or related fields (e.g., biology, ecology, chemistry, hydrology, radiation physics, environmental law, real property functions, or statistics),sufficient to assess and correlate environmental data. Ability/skill in data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information on environmental activities; solving problems pertaining to environmental protection; and applying the knowledge of statutes, regulations, and precedent decisions governing environmental operations to plan, implement, or monitor environmental programs and services OR master's or equivalent degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B or J.D. if related.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0028 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Recent Graduate appointments are intended to last for 1 year. Recent Graduates who satisfactorily complete all the USDA Recent Graduates Program requirements may be non-competitively converted to a Term or Permanent appointment in the competitive service. Conversion is not guaranteed. Recent Graduates converted to Term appointments may later be non-competitively converted to a Permanent competitive service position.

Upon successful completion of the Recent Graduate Program requirements in accordance with 5 CFR 362.205 (qualifications, one year continuous work experience, satisfactory performance, mandatory training completion, etc.) you may be non-competitively converted to a term, career­ conditional or career appointment within 120 days to an:

Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-0028-09/11/12 career ladder position. The full performance level (FPL) of the position to which converted may be up to the GS-12 level.

NOTE: An agency is not required to convert any individual in a Pathways position, to a position in the competitive service, whether upon completion of degree requirements or otherwise. Conversion to a competitive service position is not an entitlement.

This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

How you will be evaluated

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


Evaluation of applications will be based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Environmental Regulation and Policy
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11693600

Agriculture, Rural Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Agency serves rural communities throughout the country by investing in their communities through housing and utility infrastructure, by increasing economic opportunity, and by improving the quality of life for all rural Americans. Rural Development provides over 40 loan and grant programs in the Rural Housing and Community Facilities Services, Rural Business and Cooperative Services, and Rural Utilities Service. Rural Development supports a positive work environment and promotes diversity and inclusion for nearly 5,000 employees.

Rural Development is a dynamic organization recruiting for employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those in rural communities and will enjoy working in a fast paced and results driven organization. Our commitment is to expand economic opportunity and quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs to support essential public facilities and services such as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Rural Development offers a friendly and professional working environment and such excellent benefits as: a generous salary, alternative work schedules, paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, retirement and supplemental savings plan, a wide array of health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, flexible spending accounts, and long-term care insurance.

Agency contact information

Kayla Rodriguez
Phone
202-720-0815
Email
Kayla.Rodriguez2@usda.gov
Address
Rural Development
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250
US

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