Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Operations Division of the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)). The OSC serves as a critical bridge between the Department of War (DoW) and private capital markets, working to mobilize and scale private investment in critical technologies and supply chains important to national security. Responsibilities Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Serves as the principal advisor and agency-wide authority on environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and NEPA administration for OSC, establishing and implementing the strategic framework for environmental risk management and due diligence. Formulates, updates, and implements enterprise-level environmental protection policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and comprehensive environmental review guidelines in strict accordance with NEPA, CEQ regulations, and DoW policies. Reviews commercial projects and investment transactions for localized and regional environmental risks, utilizing deep technical expertise across multiple disciplines, including minerals and geology (mining/extraction impacts), air and water quality (industrial emissions/discharges), cultural resources (historic properties and tribal consultations), and biological resources (endangered species and critical habitats). Directs and coordinates Environmental & Historic Preservation (EHP) compliance activities, providing strategic counsel to transaction teams and applicants on compliance with NEPA, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and other relevant environmental regulations for physical infrastructure projects. Leads, directs, and coordinates environmental work performed by third-party technical consultants and engineering contractors, defining detailed statements of work, establishing deliverables, managing task orders, and performing rigorous technical quality reviews. Serves as OSC's primary liaison to external regulatory bodies, including the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office, State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and other federal agencies, representing OSC in technical compliance meetings and interagency reviews. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. You may qualify at the NH-4 (GS 14/15) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-3 (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability in: Leading, managing, or coordinating environmental reviews under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal requirements. Identifying, evaluating, and mitigating environmental risks in complex, high-impact industrial, physical, or mining projects, showing technical depth in one or more of the following areas: Minerals and Geology; Air and Water Quality Compliance; Cultural Resources; or Biological Resources. Coordinating environmental reviews, aligning permitting timelines, and resolving complex technical disputes among commercial applicants, project developers, state agencies, and federal authorities. 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. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. DOW PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures: Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Additional Information Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. / Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. 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 that to the Human Resources Office. Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative. Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.