This Public Notice Flyer will fill several Environmental Protection Specialist positions in the Department of Commerce (DOC), Office of Economic Development Administration (EDA), under the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-272) to support implementation of the FY2025 Disaster Supplemental Program and other EDA programs.
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-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ Applicants must possess one year 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 competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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; 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. To qualify at the GS-13 level: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-012 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as the following: Serving as a technical expert in any of the following; environmental compliance, environmental legislation, environmental impact statements, NEPA compliance, grants, providing environmental assistance to staff and recipients of grant funds. Serving as agency's principal advisor on environmental matters. Providing direction, training, and/or guidance on a continuing basis to regional and/or field staff in the implementation of the agency's environmental program. Coordinating proposed projects with appropriate federal and/or state regulatory agencies as necessary.
As an Environmental Protection Specialist, you will: Implement EDA procedures for compliance with environmental legislation and regulations which affect the Agency's program activities. Prepare written evaluations or assessments of all agency program involvements to determine the significance of their environmental impacts. Collaborate with agency planning staff and recipients of planning grants for the purpose of assisting them to incorporate environmental considerations and factors in the planning process. Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and advisor to the Regional Director or other EDA executives on environmental matters; and provide technical advice and guidance to recipients of grant funds for the purpose of incorporating environmental considerations and factors into proposed studies. Review and comment on draft environmental components of studies and on environmental impact statements. Provide direction, training and guidance on a continuing basis to regional and field staff in the implementation of the Agency's Environmental Program. Decide appropriate level of environmental review: Categorical Exclusion (CatEx), Record of Environmental Consideration (REC), Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Conduct compliance reviews for non-construction projects.