Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Environment Branch for Renewable Energy in Sterling, VA.

This position is being advertised as both location negotiable after selection and with a duty station(s) of Sterling, Virginia with the option of telework. If applying to "negotiable after selection", this means that your duty station will be based off your home address and you will be a full-time remote worker. If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval.

At the full performance level, GS-13 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1) Coordinating activities related to visual impacts with multidisciplinary teams of bureau scientists in the preparation and review of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EAs,) and other environmental compliance documents, as well as having input into planning and leasing activities.
2) Representing BOEM to lessees on the preparation of visual simulations and Seascape, Landscape, and Visual Impact Assessments (SLVIAs.)
3) Participating in updating existing and draft new visual resource policies and procedures that integrate advanced technology, modern research methods and new/novel principles for visual simulations, Seascape, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (SLVIAs), resource characterization, and impact analyses.
4) Collaborating and coordinating with other agencies to develop consistent data standards, guidance and policies related to visual resource impact assessment and develop cross-jurisdictional methods of objective determination of visual values, impacts, and mitigations within shared view sheds.
5) Developing procedures and guidance related to visual resources, scenic landscapes/seascapes, recreation and tourism resources, or similar areas for other Branch staff and subject matter experts.
6) Representing BOEM at professional meetings, consultations, Intergovernmental Task Forces and committees involving Federal, State, or private agencies and individuals where expertise of subject matter isrequired.

BOEM has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Incumbent generally works in an office environment with normal furnishings and surroundings. There are no unusual physical demands except for possible lengthy travel relating to assignments. Travel may require working indoors during public meetings and may require multiple hours of standing. When traveling, the incumbent may be working and walking outdoors with temperatures ranging from low single digit to over 90° Fahrenheit under sunny or rainy conditions in natural, rural, suburban and urban environments.

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment. Appointments to this position, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not to exceed 3 years with the possibility of extension up to a total of no more than 4 years.

Salary Information
GS-12: $86,962 - $128,956 per annum
GS-13: $103,409 - $153,354 per annum
First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as BOEM-MMEE-24-CM-122(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. 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/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series/grade to which you are applying.

(1) Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below:

A. Degree: landscape architecture or landscape design.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience:for each year short of graduation, the applicant must have had 1 year of experience under professional leadership and guidance of such character and diversity as to be a satisfactory substitute for the required education. This experience must have included original landscape design.

(2) Specialized Experience

GS-12
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1) Preparing or reviewing visual impact assessments in Environmental Assessments and/or Environmental Impact Statements under NEPA;
2) Coordinating with and reviewing the work of environmental subject matter experts or an interdisciplinary team; AND
3) Providing expertise on visual impacts to landscapes, cultural resources, historic properties, aesthetic experiences, recreation, and tourism.
MUST MEET ALL

GS-13
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1) Preparing or reviewing visual impact assessments in Environmental Assessments and/or Environmental Impact Statements under NEPA;
2) Coordinating with and reviewing the work of environmental subject matter experts or an interdisciplinary team;
3) Providing expertise on visual impacts to landscapes, cultural resources, historic properties, aesthetic experiences, recreation, and tourism; AND
4) Serving as a technical expert providing information to management and leadership on Visual Impact Assessments (VIAs) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
MUST MEET ALL

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants selected for interviews may be asked to participate in a writing exercise or submit a writing sample as part of the interview process.

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, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "Platinum", "Gold", and "Silver". However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "Platinum" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

• Landscape Architecture: Skill in applying concepts, theories, and practices used in the planning, design, construction, and adaptation of outdoor features, taking into consideration recreation planning, requirements, aesthetic value, and compatibility with other developments and resources.
• Project Management: Skill in effectively and independently managing complex and/or controversial projects including scheduling and prioritizing multiple tasks and providing guidance and instructions to a team of multi-disciplinary scientists.
• Regulations and Guidance: Skill in applying and interpreting environmental laws and implementing regulations, including NHPA, NEPA, FAST-41, and Council on Environmental Quality, Department, and Bureau regulations, associated with environmental review of offshore renewable energy activities.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12552201

NOTE: After the closing date of the vacancy announcement, you will receive narrative technical questions via email (2 questions for those applying to the GS-12 and 3 questions for those applying to the GS-13 or to both grade levels). These questions were developed by subject-matter experts. You will be required to respond to all narrative questions, addressing each question separately within 48 hours. Please give a complete and detailed answer for each question. Do not enter "Refer to Resume" to explain your answer. Applications directing the reader to search within the application or to "See Resume" or failure to submit a narrative for each response in the given timeframe will be considered incomplete and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Your responses to the questions will be evaluated by a subject matter expert. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for removing you from further consideration. Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).