This position is part of the WAPA-UGP-Upper Great Plains. As an Environmental Protection Specialist (NEPA Coordinator), you will act as a NEPA Compliance and Document Management Coordinator, Environmental Protection Specialist (NEP A Coordinator). You will plan, implement, advise, and participate in Upper Great Plains environmental protection operations and activities. **THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION. YOU MUST REPORT TO ONE OF THE DUTY LOCATIONS LISTED IN THE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT**
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. 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. To qualify for the GS-11:Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. This experience includes ALL the following: Providing advice on natural resources management and protection, regulatory compliance, and project review and planning. Interpreting environmental protection regulations for endangered species, cultural, environmental justice, clean air, clean water, and other requirements for programs and activities. Preparing environmental impact statements (EIS), environmental assessments (EA), supplemental analyses (SA), categorical exclusions (CX), and other documentation to implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Three (3) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR A combination of education and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position. To qualify for the GS-12: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. This experience includes ALL the following: Applying environmental laws and regulations to develop and administer environmental planning, compliance, and quality assurance programs. Evaluating proposed and alternative actions, alternative mitigation measures, and recommends appropriate environmental impact mitigation strategies Preparing environmental impact statements (EIS), environmental assessments (EA), supplemental analyses (SA), categorical exclusions (CX), and other documentation to implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. "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. Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work is primarily sedentary but may require visits to the field to conduct studies, which may involve some climbing, walking, stooping, etc. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed primarily in an office setting with occasional field trips to project sites. Fieldwork may expose the employee to adverse weather, high temperatures, rugged terrain and walking.
As an Environmental Protection Specialist (NEPA Coordinator), some of your duties will include but are not limited to: Serve as project manager for environmental planning activities within the Western Area Power Administration, Upper Great Plains region. Serve as the Department of Energy's NEPA Document Manager and completes project administrative records. As part of NEPA compliance for regional construction and maintenance activities, and interconnect requests, prepares or reviews environmental impact statements (EIS) and environmental assessments (EA), and Categorical Exclusions (CX) Advise management about assigned environmental quality, preservation, and enhancement activities. Collaborate with State, local, Tribal, and other Federal government agencies, private industry, contractors, and public to ensure compliance with environmental standards and requirements. THIS IS A DEVELOPMENTAL POSITION WITH THE FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL AT THE GS-12. Selection may be made at the GS-11 or GS-12.