This position is in the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA), located in Washington, DC. You will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist, managing environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and related environmental laws.This vacancy is also being announced for status applicants (ST) under Job Announcement Number: STB-23-11754672-ST-CM.
Summary
This position is in the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA), located in Washington, DC. You will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist, managing environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and related environmental laws.This vacancy is also being announced for status applicants (ST) under Job Announcement Number: STB-23-11754672-ST-CM.
The duties of the position at the GS-11 grade level consist of the following:
The individual will provide assistance ensuring the agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related environmental laws and managing environmental and historic reviews for freight rail projects.
The duties of the position at the higher grade levels consist of the following:
Ensures the agency's compliance with NEPA and related environmental laws and regulations.
Applies the agency's implementing regulations and federal statutes and guidelines to environmental and historic preservation analysis.
Manages complex environmental and historic preservation reviews, using tools and databases such as Excel and Arc GIS.
Reviews and verifies the general accuracy of environmental data prepared by third-party contractors and others.
Drafts and edits environmental documents such as environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
Communicates effectively both orally and in writing, complying with the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
Prepares environmental and cultural resource correspondence in response to public and agency inquiries.
All qualification requirements must be met at the time of submission. Please Note: Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.
Probationary Period: One-year probationary period may be required.
Required to participate in the direct deposit program.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/
Background Suitability Investigation: Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.
Qualifications
GS-11
To be qualified for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level of Federal service such as experience assisting in an agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); assisting in managing environmental reviews under NEPA; and writing various documents such as environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
OR
Ph.D. or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.
Please ensure you upload transcripts if you are using education to substitute experience at the GS-11 grade level (See Required Documents section of this job announcement).
Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position typically in or directly related to the Environmental Protection Specialist and is equivalent to the work performed at the next lower grade level.
GS-12
To be qualified for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level of Federal service such as experience assisting in an agency's compliance with NEPA and related environmental laws; assisting in the management of environmental reviews; and writing various documents such as environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level.
GS-13
To be qualified for this position at theGS-13 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level of Federal service such as managing environmental reviews under NEPA and related environmental laws; preparing and reviewing environmental documents, and experience working with Federal, State, and/or other organizations to resolve complex environmental issues/problems. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level.
GS-14
To be qualified for this position at the GS-14 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level of Federal service such as managing complex environmental reviews under NEPA and related environmental laws, preparing and reviewing environmental documents and coordinating with government agencies or organizations on environmental assessments or environmental impact statements. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 grade level.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as follow:
Environmental Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines
Written Communication
Technical Competence
*Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (i.e Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. 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 job announcement has been revised to modify the specialized experience for the GS-14 grade level.
Education
To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level you must have completed the following educational requirements.
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
OR
3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree
OR
A combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Refer to the Required Document section regarding all materials submission.
As mentioned previously, in the Qualifications section, there are no educational substitutions at the GS-12, 13, or 14 levels.
Additional information
For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months, years, and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration. Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation.
This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.
This position is eligible for telework in accordance with STB's telework policy.
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. In addition, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you.
We offer: Flexible Work Schedule options: Two flexible work schedules, the Flexitour Option and the Compressed Work Schedule. Employees on the Flexitour may schedule fixed arrival and departure times around established core hours and work 8 hours plus a 30-minute unpaid lunch period. Employees on the Compressed Work Schedule may work 8 9-hour work days and one 8-hour day (plus the 30-minute unpaid lunch period) in each biweekly pay period and receive one scheduled day off; OR may work 4 10-hour days (plus the 30-minute unpaid lunch period) with one week day off each week;
Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building; and
A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job.
The Category Rating Process does not add veteran's preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veteran's preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Category Rating Procedures: Applicants who apply under "All US Citizens" eligibility and do not have eligibility under Merit or Noncompetitive status, will be placed in one of the following categories:
Best-Qualified: Applicants who demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, as determined by the job analysis.
Highly-Qualified: Applicants who demonstrate acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: Applicants who demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, as determined by the job analysis.
**Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category. 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.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Well-qualified means you must be within the Best and Highly Qualified categories; meet medical, suitability, and minimum educational and experience requirements; all selective factors where applicable and appropriate quality ranking factor levels; be physically qualified, with reasonable accommodation where appropriate, to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying condition(s) that OPM has approved for the position; and be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Information about ICTAP is on OPM's website at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy.
Resume should include the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
Questionnaire: You are required to respond to questions.
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as proof of meeting the basic requirements for the series if you are applying for the GS - 11 grade level using education. The transcripts need not be official but must show that you meet the stated education requirements.
Official transcript(s) will be required if you are selected for the position.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
2. Responses to questionnaire.
3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package.
These documents may include, but are not limited to:
Veterans documentation: All veterans MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit a SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal; and
Transcripts if you are using education to substitute or if position has a positive education requirement.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted before the announcement closes. The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date. To begin your online application:
You must:
-Create a login.gov account (If you don't already have one, you only need to do this once.)
-Enter an email address during the account set up - use the same email address you used for USAJOBS (your primary or secondary email address).
-Create a new password.-Have a working phone number (mobile or landline) near you (login.gov will send you a security code.)
-Finish setting up your login.gov account.
Once you've finished setting up your login.gov account, you'll go back to USAJOBS to finish the process. Double check your USAJOBS Profile to make sure all of your information is accurate. You must use your login.gov email address, password, and security code every time you want to sign into USAJOBS.
Follow the prompts in USAJOBS to take the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See "Required Documents" section for more details.
Note: We recommend you don't use a .gov, .mil or .edu email address. Instead, use a personal (non-government) email address when you create your login.gov account. Please do not use an email address you share with someone else.
** For any issues signing into login.gov, go to https://login.gov/contact
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20423
US
Next steps
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation.
All best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and a possible interview. All applicants will be notified of their status by email throughout the process.
As stated in the Marketing Message section above. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The resumes will be reviewed every 21 days (1st review January 17, 2023). The vacancy will close once positions are filled or by the closing date (May 19, 2023) of the announcement, whichever comes first.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy.
Resume should include the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
Questionnaire: You are required to respond to questions.
TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED as proof of meeting the basic requirements for the series if you are applying for the GS - 11 grade level using education. The transcripts need not be official but must show that you meet the stated education requirements.
Official transcript(s) will be required if you are selected for the position.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.
Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if part time. Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
2. Responses to questionnaire.
3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package.
These documents may include, but are not limited to:
Veterans documentation: All veterans MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit a SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal; and
Transcripts if you are using education to substitute or if position has a positive education requirement.
Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
The complete application package must be submitted before the announcement closes. The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on the announcement's closing date. To begin your online application:
You must:
-Create a login.gov account (If you don't already have one, you only need to do this once.)
-Enter an email address during the account set up - use the same email address you used for USAJOBS (your primary or secondary email address).
-Create a new password.-Have a working phone number (mobile or landline) near you (login.gov will send you a security code.)
-Finish setting up your login.gov account.
Once you've finished setting up your login.gov account, you'll go back to USAJOBS to finish the process. Double check your USAJOBS Profile to make sure all of your information is accurate. You must use your login.gov email address, password, and security code every time you want to sign into USAJOBS.
Follow the prompts in USAJOBS to take the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See "Required Documents" section for more details.
Note: We recommend you don't use a .gov, .mil or .edu email address. Instead, use a personal (non-government) email address when you create your login.gov account. Please do not use an email address you share with someone else.
** For any issues signing into login.gov, go to https://login.gov/contact
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20423
US
Next steps
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation.
All best qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and a possible interview. All applicants will be notified of their status by email throughout the process.
As stated in the Marketing Message section above. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The resumes will be reviewed every 21 days (1st review January 17, 2023). The vacancy will close once positions are filled or by the closing date (May 19, 2023) of the announcement, whichever comes first.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
