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Sustainability Program Specialist

General Services Administration
Public Buildings Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As a Sustainability Program Specialist, you will work on building and sustainability programs, coupled with practical experience and knowledge of energy, water, and waste reduction
related projects and operations.

Location of position: Public Buildings Service, Facilities Management Division, in Region 7.

Duty location to be determined at selection.

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/09/2022 to 11/22/2022
Salary
$54,727 to - $99,230 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Locations
Little Rock, AR
FEW vacancies
New Orleans, LA
FEW vacancies
Albuquerque, NM
FEW vacancies
Oklahoma City, OK
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel as needed.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
23PBSA175LRMP
Control number
688236200

Duties

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Sustainability Responsibilities:

  • Contributes to the development of sustainability policy and provides input to region policy. As assigned, assists higher level specialists in the coordination of sustainability initiatives including providing advice and developing, implementing, monitoring, and overseeing sustainability programs and projects for the regional owned and leased portfolio.
  • Assists with monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of a broad range of facility and building services programs and services for: efficiency and compliance with governing laws, local, state and federal codes, compliance with state-of-the-art building and professional design/construction standards, and organizational operating practices.

Laws and Regulations:

  • Stays abreast and implements current Federal, State, and public/local laws, regulations, Executive Orders and other operating guidelines established by the Federal government and the GSA national office and uses this knowledge in administering Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) strategies.
  • Assists with the implementation of Public Laws, Executive orders, and other Federal and agency policy memoranda pertaining to the GSA sustainability programs, developing strategies for implementation through policy analysis, as well as integration of other business line goals, objectives business needs, and Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) strategies.

Education, Partnerships, and Outreach:

  • Assists with identifying and supporting sustainability and other energy & water reduction related training for all regional personnel.
  • Build, maintain, and expand critical relationships and partnerships with tenant agency stakeholders to enhance collaboration and adoption of sustainable practices in Federal facilities.

Research and Partnerships:

  • Maintains ongoing liaison with leadership, GSA personnel, customer agencies, energy programs, sustainability experts, private industry and contractor personnel for the purpose of exchanging current data regarding energy, sustainability, USGBC and other professional organizations' guidance and new laws, regulations, and agency guidance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 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 or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here

The GS-9 salary range starts at $54,727 per year. 

The GS-11 salary range starts at $66,214 per year.

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify for GS-09:

You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is assisting with application of sustainability practices for an organization in areas such as energy, water, waste diversion and greenhouse gas reduction through direct work experience in sustainability related programs and initiatives. 

OR

Education may be substituted for specialized experience: Have a master's (or equivalent graduate degree such as LL.B. or J.D. as specified in qualification standards or individual occupational requirements),or 2 academic years of progressively higher level graduate education; and/or at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal service.

OR

Have a combination of graduate education and specialized experience that when combined together meet the qualification requirements of this position.

To qualify for the GS-11, you must have one of the following:

  • At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is applying, implementing, and advising on sustainability practices for an organization in areas such as energy, water, waste diversion and greenhouse gas reduction through direct work experience in sustainability related programs and initiatives, or
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or
  • 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or
  • LL.M., if related

Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

We are also accepting applications from all U.S. Citizens and Nationals under Vacancy Announcement #23PBSA176LRDE. You must apply separately to each announcement to be considered for both.
Bargaining Unit Status:
- This position is eligible for the bargaining unit

If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

·       Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government

·       Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee

·       Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement as needed; through other means; or not at all.  

GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: 
  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.
Our commitment is: 
  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and
  • Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your overall possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Your responses to these questions must be supported by your resume or your score may be lowered.  

  • Knowledge of principles and techniques of administering and managing high performance green buildings, green building programs, green leasing and associated plans in order to address significant environmental aspects for buildings such as energy, water, waste management, resource conservation and sustainable materials selection.
  • Knowledge of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system for the design, construction and operation of green buildings in order to conduct the LEED process and/or document LEED Points to certify buildings within the USGBC systems, track LEED certifications within the system and conducts research and analysis inside the system.
  • Knowledge of Federal laws and regulations, environmental standards, Executive orders, legislation, regulation, and agency directives and guidelines pertaining to sustainability, building industry (such as LEED, NSF-140 (Sustainability Assessment for Carpet), Cradle2Cradle, etc.), in order to provide sound and authoritative technical guidance on all issues related to sustainability.
  • Ability to conduct professional studies to make recommendations to improve and validate existing programs, operating procedures, work methods and policies to enhance the excellence of and compliance with state-of-the-art design and construction excellence and environmental considerations, impacting Federal facilities under the stewardship of the General Services Administration.
  • Skill and demonstrated success in marketing and managing project budgets and schedules.
  • Knowledge of conducting investigations and studies to formulate and present special reports and formal briefings concerning the status and adequacy of Agency design and construction projects in the LEED and sustainability areas; evaluate, advise on, and incorporate latest developments in the design and construction of office and public buildings into Agency LEED, sustainability and green building policy requirements and program objectives for design and construction activities.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan(ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority.


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