Environmental Protection Specialist - Direct Hire

You will be responsible for assuring that environmental programs, studies, and/or documents comply with appropriate environmental policy acts, regulations and laws. You will also provide guidance and technical expertise to State Departments of Transportation, State and local transportation partners, Tribal Governments, Federal resource and regulatory agencies, and/or internal FHWA offices.

Duties will vary depending on office and position. As an Environmental Protection Specialist within FHWA, you will:

• Serve as an advisor on FHWA environmental policy, laws, regulations.
• Advise FHWA stakeholders and Federal and State partner agencies on Federal environmental responsibilities and FHWA regulations, policies, and guidance.
• Collaborate with and advise stakeholders of special environmental concerns.
• Conduct program and/or process reviews to ensure that Federal requirements and environmental commitments are achieved.
• Identify and determine relevant interagency technical/policy issues warranting coordination.
• Provide technical assistance to resolve program and project-specific issues.

The ideal candidate is an employee with experience implementing environmental laws, regulations, or policy and effective communication skills.  Lead duties may be assigned based on position/selection.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-05 it must include:

• Experience gathering data and reviewing technical information on environmental activities to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature.

To qualify for the GS-07 on Education alone, you must have:

At least 1 year of graduate-level education OR superior academic achievement.

**Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

• 1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses
• 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate level education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-07 it must include:

• Experience performing duties involving the management, coordination, monitoring, oversight, or evaluation of environmental protection programs, projects, or activities; AND
• Experience gathering data and reviewing technical information on environmental activities to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature.

To qualify for the GS-09 on Education alone, you must have:

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or have been awarded a master's or equivalent graduate degree.

You can also qualify based on a combination of graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include:

• Experience applying environmental standards, methods, and practices to assure full implementation of environmental laws, regulations, and policies; AND
• Experience preparing and reviewing environmental documents.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include:

• Experience applying environmental standards, methods, and practices to assure full implementation of environmental laws, regulations, and policies; AND
• Experience preparing and reviewing environmental documents; AND
• Experience working with other Federal, State, and/or other organizations in accordance with environmental requirements.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

• Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
• Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
• Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

For all types of consideration, 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

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply to the GS-11 if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

All other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.