Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the USDA, Rural Development, Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Office of the Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs (WEP), Environmental and Historic Preservation Division. The primary function of this staff is to provide professional assistance and technical expertise in the areas of the environmental and ecological sciences and environmental impact analyses for all RUS program actions. USDA Employees: Please refer to the Next Steps section.

Duties

• At the discretion of the Director, the incumbent is assigned and takes responsibility for those projects of unusual complexity and of extraordinary environmental sensitivity.
• Prepares or reviews and analyzes proposal specific environmental impact analyses and documentation prepared and submitted by agency applicants and borrowers or their consultants for proposals.
• Provides expert advice and assistance for all program and proposal related impact analyses; planning, coordinating, and facilitating interagency or public meetings.
• Consults with a variety of regulatory or resource agency and tribal officials or the public and with a high degree of skill resolves or negotiates outstanding issues of a complex or sensitive ecological or political nature.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. Specialized Experience For GS-13 Grade Level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience evaluating environmental programs for compliance with federal and state requirements; developing Natural Resource Management Inventories and monitoring the implementation of these policies. Keeping informed of litigations involving the National Environmental Policy Act to assure programs and procedures are consistent and legal. Conducting environmental audits and management surveys; provide guidance and training on interpretation and administration of environmental requirements and policies. Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0028 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Requirements

You must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. The U.S. Government utilizes Trusted Workforce 2.0 to implement Continuous Vetting (CV) as a-whole-of government approach to personnel security. If selected for this position, you will be subject to continuous automated record checks of criminal, financial, and public record databases throughout your period of eligibility or employment, replacing traditional periodic reinvestigations. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period depending on your appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Grade: GS 13. . Telework eligible. Apply by 2026-11-12 on USAJOBS.