Duties

Summary

FRA is committed to fostering a diverse, highly skilled workforce capable of meeting or exceeding our strategic goals with efficiency, innovation, and a constant focus on better serving our customers.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has major responsibility to implement this vision through passenger and freight rail programs.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the full performance level of an Environmental Protection Specialist, you will:

• Provide technical assistance regarding compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to external stakeholders such as states, local governments, Amtrak and other railroad companies, and other entities seeking financial assistance from FRA under grant programs and the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program or requiring other approvals from FRA.
• Advise applicants, grantees, and project sponsors, both orally and in writing, in the design of passenger and freight rail projects with regard to historic preservation considerations by reviewing project documentation, including scopes of work, design plans, and materials specifications. Review and provide comments on submittals from applicants, grantees, and project sponsors to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Assist FRA staff with performing environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws to ensure that FRA's environmental policy and compliance obligations are satisfied in the planning, development, and implementation of intercity passenger and freight rail projects and programs.
• Assist in the development, updating, and/or delivery of guidance and training for FRA stakeholders related to historic preservation considerations and FRA's responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Assist with tracking and reporting of Section 106 compliance at the project level on a quarterly, annual, and/or as-needed basis.

The ideal candidate for this position is an individual who meets the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (as published in 36 CFR Part 61) in Historic Architecture and/or Architectural History. The ideal candidate also has experience applying the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and evaluating properties for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Experience in applying or demonstrated knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act with regard to federally-assisted projects is preferred, including experience preparing or reviewing Section 106 compliance documents such as NRHP eligibility determinations, assessment of effects reports, Memoranda of Agreement, and cultural resources sections of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Review Required Documents Section as documents are required by closing date
• Announcement also advertised U.S. Citizens: FRA.RPD-2019-0012.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
• TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.

Qualifications

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

• Experience contributing to the preparation of documentation necessary for complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Experience applying the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Experience evaluating buildings and structures for historic significance.

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

• At least 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 on 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 providing technical advice and/or training regarding compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act or the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Experience evaluating buildings and structures for historic significance.
• Experience creating or preparing Section 106 compliance documents; such as National Register of Historic Places eligibility determinations, cultural resources identification reports, assessment of effects reports, Memoranda of Agreement, Programmatic Agreements, cultural resources sections of NEPA documents, etc.
• Experience reviewing NEPA documents including Categorical Exclusions and Environmental Assessments.

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 on 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 leading routine consultations pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, including reviewing and/or preparing Section 106 compliance documents such as National Register of Historic Places eligibility determinations, cultural resources identification reports, assessment of effects reports, Memoranda of Agreement, Programmatic Agreements, cultural resources sections of NEPA documents, etc. for federally-assisted projects.
• Experience identifying and evaluating the historic significance of historic engineering structures and transportation infrastructure (e.g., bridges, tunnels, stations/depots), evaluating project impacts to such properties, and making recommendations regarding how potential adverse impacts could be avoided, minimized and/or mitigated.
• Experience developing guidance and providing training to external and internal stakeholders regarding Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Experience reviewing NEPA documents including Categorical Exclusions and Environmental Assessments, and integrating Section 106 and NEPA compliance requirements.

You cannot qualify on education at the level, you must have experience.

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/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply 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.




Education

Additional information

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A 4 YEAR TERM APPOINTMENT.

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition .

EEO STATEMENT: The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

This vacancy may be used by any DOT agency to fill similar positions within 90 days.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package. If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

ALL Applicants must provide a resume that fully supports the required specialized experience and was created within USA Jobs Resume Builder and respond to the vacancy questions by the closing date of the vacancy.

The following is a list of documents that are only required based on the type of position and consideration for which you are applying.

TRANSCRIPTS - Transcripts are REQUIRED if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements.

• If you have previously held a government position in the same series as this position, you may be able to provide an SF-50 showing that you have already qualified and worked in the federal service in this series.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and will be forwarded to the selecting official as support in consideration of your application in the evaluation process. To receive due weight, you must submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).

VETERANS: Your last DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility. It need not be official.

• If you are applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214.
• If you are claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
• If you are applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) ( https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa ), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214, which verifies your military service dates, reason for separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.

STATUS APPLICANTS: If seeking eligibility consideration as status/agency/DOT employee, you must provide proof of eligibility in the form of an SF-50. Your SF-50 must verify the highest grade held competitively, full performance level of position, and eligibility as a status applicant. Please do not submit an Award SF-50, as these are often incomplete and do not verify grade or status eligibility.

NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 85 or falling in the Gold Category) and provide all of the following documents:

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system. You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.