Environmental Protection Specialist

• Duties

Help

Duties

Summary

Due to the Pandemic, and individual states with different phases of reopening, the selectee's report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time as employees are allowed to report to the workplace. The person selected may telework up to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full time, until it is safe to relocate.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Serves as an Environmental Protection Specialist in the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Associate Administrator for Airports, Office of Airport Planning and Programming, Airport Planning and Environmental Division. Serves as a lead subject matter expert on environmental laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and practices for airport development.

Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced technical specialist. Acts as principal technical specialist or as a project manager or team leader for large work activities. Provides oversight and guidance on compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal environmental laws and regulations, including serving as a senior FAA Headquarters representative on NEPA teams for major airport development projects; and review of Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental lmpact Statements (ElS), and other environmental documentation for major airport development projects.

Applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge applicable to his/her discipline, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to solve complex problems and develop improved technical processes or systems. Considers the objectives of the major subdivision and LOB/SO when developing, integrating, and implementing solutions to diverse, complex problems. Analyzes complex technical, policy, or procedural issues related to the environmental aspects of airport development proposals. Helps identify and evaluate alternative solutions that meet Federal requirements and local needs. Advises Office of Airports field offices on best practices to prepare high-quality NEPA documentation, ElSs and EAs within established budgets and schedules, and addressing the requirements of other environmental laws and regulations.

Develops and provides guidance for Office of Airports field offices and the airport industry on a variety of environmental subject areas, including the requirements of NEPA and other environmental laws and regulations. Provides guidance on laws, regulations, policy, or guidance related to special environmental programs such as aircraft noise around airports and mitigating noise effects on local populations, historic preservation, threatened and endangered species, water quality and wetlands, air quality and emissions reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy, recycling, reuse and waste reduction, climate adaptation and resilience, or sustainable development. Also provides advice to Office of Airports leadership on substantive and procedural environmental issues in these areas.

Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as a senior technical point of contact on projects, programs and other work activities. Communicates results to all levels internally (within an LOB/SO or across LOB's/SO's) and externally. Plays a lead role in drafting, reviewing, and editing reports or contractual documents for final approval prior to external distribution. Presents briefings to obtain consensus/approval on policies. Conducts external coordination on significant environmental matters with airport sponsors, and aviation and airport stakeholders, including airport consultants, aviation and airport industry associations, community representatives, and members of the public. Leads intra- and interagency coordination on environmental issues for airport development projects. Coordinates with other Departments and Agencies, and FAA Lines of Business and offices as required.

Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Develops plans, techniques, and policies to address current or anticipated problems and issues. Works with management to solve problems.

Travel Required

25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

NA

• Job family (Series)

0028 Environmental Protection Specialist

• Requirements

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience is defined as:

Experience serving as a technical expert and directly involved in processes related to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); serving as a liaison with multiple agencies at the Local, State, and Federal levels; synthesizing complex environmental information from a variety of sources for inclusion into documents readily understood by the public. AND

Experience writing environmental impact statement(s), environmental assessment(s), and categorical exclusions.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

• Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR:

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following has been determined to be a selective factor for this position. This means possession of this criterion is part of the minimum qualifications and is essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position. Applicants who do not possess this criterion are ineligible for further consideration.

• SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: Experience preparing environmental impact analysis and documentation required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations, including work on at least one Environmental Impact Statement.

IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA), and Other Factors answers. Your answers and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answers that you selected are appropriate.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Preview Job Questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.