Duties

• Responsible for developing and carrying out major portions of the environmental program associated with Federal navigation dredging projects delegated to the Water Resources Division.
• Prepares Environmental Assessments and Biological Assessments on navigable water construction, dredging, and/or filling projects.
• Maintains liaison, coordinates, and acts as the Branch environmental consultant between Federal, State, and Local government agencies.
• Prepares Sampling and Analysis Plans, Leads Field Sampling Investigations, Evaluates and interprets chemical and ecotoxicological data for compliance with Clean Water Act and Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA).
• Performs air quality analyses to determine compliance with air quality general conformity applicability requirements for water resource projects.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Pursuant to EO 14043, all Federal employees, regardless of duty location or work arrangement, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entrance on duty, subject to exceptions as required by law.
• If selected, the agency will provide information regarding what documentation is needed and how to request any legally required exceptions from this requirement.
• Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
• Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Interchange Agreement
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

Basic Requirement for Environment Scientist:

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes Prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments and Endangered Species Act (ESA) biological assessments on moderate and complex navigation and water resource projects. Prepares and implements dredged material sampling and analysis plans and field investigations. Review and analyze dredged material chemical and ecotoxicological testing results for compliance with regulatory standards and criteria. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Specialized Experience GS-12: Prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments and Endangered Species Act (ESA) biological assessments on moderate and complex navigation and water resource projects. Prepares and implements dredged material sampling and analysis plans and field investigations. Review and analyze dredged material chemical and ecotoxicological testing results for compliance with regulatory standards and criteria. Prepares air quality conformity applicability analyses for water resources projects. Prepares performance work statements, costs estimate, quality assurance surveillance plans, and price negotiation memos in support of Contracting Branch for acquisition of environmental services. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service GS-11 or above.

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Environmental Law and Regulatory Compliance
• Environmental Planning
• Technical Competence

Time in Grade Requirement GS-11: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).

Time in Grade Requirement GS-12: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Two year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• This is a Career Program (CP) 18 - Engineers and Scientists position position
• You may claim military spouse preference (MSP).
• If a MSP applicant is determined best qualified and selected, placement must be at the full performance level for priority consideration.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website .
• If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within a designated time frame identified by the organization. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency's telework policy.
• This is a developmental position to the GS12. You may be selected at the GS-11, or GS-12. Promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed. You may be eligible for non-competitive promotion to the target position upon meeting time-in-grade restrictions and the following requirements:

(1) Incumbent demonstrates ability to perform at target grade level;
(2) Higher level work exists at target grade level;
(3) Increased responsibilities are assigned;
(4) Supervisor recommends promotion;
(5) Incumbent completes all required training and conditions of employment, and;
(6) Incumbent completes all regulatory requirements for career ladder promotions.