Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S., Military Spouse Eligibles, Veterans

As a Natural Resources Specialist, some of your duties will include:

• Provides WAPA-wide policy development, oversight, and guidance for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and general support for the Endangered Species Act; Migratory Bird Treaty Act; National Historic Preservation Act; Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; multiple state environmental quality regulations; and Executive Orders. If not already, will become an SME on DOE and WAPA environmental policy.
• Leads and participates in large, complex special projects, joint interagency special projects and meetings that involve multiple Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes, and the public as WAPA's representative on projects of regional or national significance.
• Directs and completes review of other agencies' environmental assessments, impact statements, compliance plans, and other environmental documents. Oversees and prepares comments on adequacy and accuracy, with recommendations for modifications where necessary. Places particular attention on how the actions of other agencies may impact WAPA's programs and facilities. Is called upon to articulate WAPA's position on these issues to other agencies.
• Serves as chairman or as a member of technical proposal evaluation committees on particularly complex projects and acts as project manager or contracting officer's representative (COR) in the administration of contracts, ensuring the contractor's work is adequate and meets WAPA's and DOE requirements.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Travel of up to 5 to 10% annually is required; with overnight travel of 2-10 days per month on average.
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a state driver's license.
• The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
• The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• THIS POSITION IS IN THE BARGAINING UNIT: 1151

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

Applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the 0401 Series as described below:

Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. The experience need not have been in the federal government.

Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band. This experience includes all the following:

• Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, executive orders, or policies related to environmental planning or historic preservation such as, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, or other related laws and requirements to ensure agency compliance.
• Leading, directing, or supporting the preparation of environmental documents such as Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, Categorical Exclusions, mitigation plans, and Records of Decision.
• Providing technical guidance, advising on federal policy, laws, regulations, and directives related to the NEPA process and completing outreach activities with other Federal or State organizations, tribes, or the public.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work is physically undemanding in the office, but the position will require varying amounts of overnight travel estimated at 2 to 10 nights per month. Occasional outdoor field work or monitoring may be required, during which extra hours may be worked and rough terrain encountered. The work is often characterized by problem-solving, tight deadlines, and controversy which may be somewhat stressful.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work is typically performed in an office setting with occasional field work required which may expose the employee to adverse weather or high temperatures. Computer work may be required in the field depending on the project, resulting in the need to remotely connect with the main network at the designated duty station. This position requires a valid driver's license.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Compliance
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Project Management

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (06/25/2024) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12444829