Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary This position serves as an Environmental Protection Specialist for the Office of Airports (ARP), Southern Region in support of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Responsibilities FV-G Duties: Performs a mixture of basic and routine (but progressively more difficult) assignments under the close direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader or more experienced technical specialist. Assists other employees or acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team. Applies basic technical knowledge and limited experience to accomplish assignments. Assists more experienced EPS's in data gathering for NEPA and other federal environmental laws for airport development and planning projects. These services include, but are not limited to: tracking the environmental analysis, agency consultation, public involvement and preparation of environmental documents in accordance with NEPA and FAA requirements. These include Categorical Exclusions (CATEX), Environmental Assessments (EA), Findings of No Significant Impacts FONSI), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Records of Decisions (ROD). FV-H Duties: Applies experience and detailed technical knowledge to plan and accomplish assignments. Assists more experienced EPS's with reviewing Airport Noise Compatibility Studies prepared pursuant to 14 CFR Part 150. Provides input to Planners, Engineers, and airport sponsors in the development of Airport Capital Improvement Plans and Master Plans to ensure compliance with NEPA and other environmental laws. Provides input to Part 139 inspectors and other lines of business to minimize environmental impacts while promoting airport/aviation safety. This includes participation in the development and review of Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Management Plans. Assists with the review of Scopes of Work payment requests and related project documents. Reviews grant applications, payment requests and other grant-related documents. Determines eligibility of work on projects involving environmental studies or assessments. Prepares correspondence for review by more experienced EPS's including Congressional correspondence, briefing papers, approval letters and guidance to sponsors associated with all aspects of airport development. Demonstrates some independence in planning time and using assigned resources to accomplish assignments and small projects. FV-I Duties: Provides technical input and guidance to Planners, Engineers, and airport sponsors in the development of Airport Capital Improvement Plans and Master Plans to ensure compliance with NEPA and other environmental laws. Provides technical input and guidance to Part 139 inspectors and other lines of business to minimize environmental impacts while promoting airport/aviation safety. This includes participation in the development and review of Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Management Plans. Contacts are internal and external. May act as a key technical point of contact for assigned activities. Reviews and approves Scopes of Work, payment requests, grant applications and related project documents. Determines eligibility of work on projects involving environmental studies or assessments. Reviews and prepares correspondence including Congressional correspondence, briefing papers, approval letters and guidance to sponsors associated with all aspects of airport development. Participates in national teams to review current policy and guidance. Identifies and informs management of problems that require their attention. Often develops and recommends techniques to address problem situations. Resolves all but unique technical problems without the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Work is reviewed periodically, typically at major milestones and at completion, for technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and 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 be at least equivalent to the next lower grade or band level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. To qualify for this position at the FV-G band, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-F band (FG/GS-4). To qualify for this position at the FV-H band, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-G band (FG/GS-5/9). Specialized experience: 1) Synthesizing the written work products across a wide variety of environmental disciplines. 2) Editing technical documents, and writing for a wide audience so that complex issues can be conveyed to the general public. 3) Overseeing the environmental regulatory process, including scoping, public participation and public notice and the ability to communicate this process to others. To qualify for this position at the FV-I band, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H band (FG/GS-10/12). Specialized experience: 1) Experience in reviewing or developing environmental documents such as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EAs), or Categorical Exclusions (CATEX). Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. NOTE: THIS POSITION IS BEING ANNOUNCED AS AN FV-0028-G/H/I. If position is filled at the FV-G level incumbent may be promoted to the FV-H and FV-I levels without further competition. However, the grade of a position is based on the duties officially assigned and actually performed by the incumbent of the position. These duties are affected by the Supervisor's willingness to delegate higher graded duties and incumbent's capacity to perform the duties. Therefore, the indication of maximum grade is to be considered neither guarantee nor a commitment that the position will so develop. Education Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. If it is determined that interviews are required and telephone interviews are not utilized, travel expenses incidental to these interviews will be paid in accordance with the Agency's travel regulations and this Agreement. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available at Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. Applicants should include examples of their specialized experience in their work history. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA