Natural Resource Specialist (Environmental Compliance Specialist)

Summary The closing date of this announcement has been updated. New Closing date is 12/14/2023. This position is apart of the State Office Staff of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA. The incumbent serves as Environmental Compliance Specialist and has statewide responsibility for ensuring compliance of NRCS activities with environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Responsibilities Develops and recommends state policies and procedures to govern compliance with environmental laws and project permitting requirements. Coordinates any annual reporting necessary to document Environmental Compliance activities. Researches, develops, and recommends changes or adjustments to typical Environmental Compliance procedures to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of agency efforts to get projects installed. Works with the SCE in correlating data for preparing budgets and budget estimates for watershed and rehabilitation planning. Works within a team concept to develop and implement ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the products and/or services provided to internal and external customers. Conducts necessary quality assurance reviews of watershed plans and planning documents performed by project sponsors or other non-NRCS service providers. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g. one year at the GS-9 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level; one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). Basic Education Requirement: Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, Natural Resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR Combination of Education and Experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered for the GS-12 level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience requires the knowledge of principles, concepts and theories sufficient to perform administrative duties, such as controlling, preserving, and/or evaluating a Natural Resource or Natural Resources function, such as conservation, forest, rangeland, fisheries, and wildlife. Examples of specialized experience include: Applying laws and regulations to develop conservation planning alternatives; Preparing resource and biological assessments or environmental impact statements for conservation programs; Certifying compliance with regulatory conservation requirements; and Preparing written technical materials on environmental and conservation compliance. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/. 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. Education You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary and is usually performed while seated at a desk, but does require occasional trips to field, often to proposed project sites. Field work requires regular and recurring physical exertion to travel to project sites and perform necessary work functions. Work Environment: Much of the employee's work is in an office setting, but the job requires the employee to travel, and to work outdoors some of the time. Office work involves a considerable amount of time at a computer console, PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following: If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted. If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline. This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8-hour workday, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.