Duties

In this position as a Environmental Protection Specialist GS 0028 11/12, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Performs duties relative to all facets of environmental protection projects and programs.
• Serve as a Senior Environmental Protection Specialist with responsibility for managing the Organizations environmental compliance and protection projects and activities.
• Serve as a senior advisor to management officials on program issues concerning environmental protection and compliance.
• Serve as a primary contact for the Agency in relation to environmental compliance and protection.
• Devise new methods and techniques to produce effective results or implement advances in such areas as pollution prevention, resource allocation, risk assessment, or quality assurance; establishing criteria for administering or evaluating environmental programs.
• Develop policy guidance and procedural material for use by the Agency.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test
• Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
• Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.
• All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received.
• Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.
• By applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for other similar positions.
• Occasional travel may be required based on the position requirements and mission needs as determined by the Office.
• As required by E.O. 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee?s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law.
• If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before appointment or onboarding with the component.
• The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret/SCI.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
You qualify for the GS 11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, OR equivalent public or private sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

1. Performing analytical duties associated with the sampling, data collection, analysis, planning, evaluation, reviewing environmental technical reports, policies and procedures;
2. Using analytical techniques to established environmental protection procedures;
3. Performing site inspections; AND
4. Writing reports; articulating or writing the recommended corrective/mitigation action or procedures for environmental compliance, etc.

OR

Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree directly related to the work of the position or LL.M. if related or a combination of specialized experience as described in A and education as described in B that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level.

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you MUST submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Specialized Experience:
GS 12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, OR equivalent public or private sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as:

1. Providing subject matter expertise to review, evaluate, negotiate, and problem solving services sufficient to solve specific environmental problems, projects, programs; prepare and conduct briefings, lead group conferences, and write reports and letters;
2. Analyzing hazardous waste and pollutants in the atmosphere, water, and soil to include underground tanks sufficient to identify training needs and develop, establish, and implement required environmental training programs; experience in compliance with Executive Orders affecting environmental programs; AND
3. Coordinating complex environmental projects involving water quality, toxic substances management and air quality management.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for the GS-12 grade level

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by 02/09/2022, the closing date, of this announcement.

Time-in-Grade
Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade band in the federal service. The time-in-grade requirement must be met by 02/09/2022. Current or former federal employees, must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 Form, Notice of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current/highest grade. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, with-in grade increases. NOTE: Performance award, Realignment, and Detail SF-50s are not acceptable. Additionally, the SF-50 should show competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. (NOTE: You may need to submit more than one SF-50 to comply.)

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage.

Additional information

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Employee Benefits."

Promotion Potential: GS-12

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of employment for this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. The type of investigation and security clearance level will be made in accordance with the position requirements as determined by the selecting office.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans , Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers , and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities.