Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary

This position is part of the Office of Environmental Management - Carlsbad Field Office, Department of Energy. As a Environmental Protection Specialist, you will manage the compliance program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act.

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Duties

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As a Environmental Protection Specialist , you will:

• Plans, coordinates, and executes complex environmental protection and sustainability projects across multiple facilities and sites to ensure operational compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and standards.
• Monitors and evaluates contractor operations, facility practices, and hazardous waste programs (including RCRA, EPCRA, TSCA, and site permits) through inspections, audits, and reviews to identify violations and enforce corrective actions.
• Researches, interprets, and applies emerging environmental policies, statutes, and regulatory trends to assess their impact on agency operations, develop policy guidance, and recommend solutions to unusual technical issues.
• Serves as an authoritative agency expert and project lead for advanced, complex environmental protection initiatives across multiple sites and facilities where established precedents are lacking or inapplicable.
• Formulates overarching environmental management strategies, long-range program goals, and resource plans to guide Department-wide environmental stewardship and operational priorities.
• Represents and defends agency environmental policies, positions, and controversial decisions before external regulatory bodies (e.g., EPA, NRC, state agencies), interagency task forces, Congress, and public interest groups with divergent or opposing viewpoints.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position is not remote, the selectee will be expected to report to the duty station(s) listed. If selected, military spouses, veteran caregivers, and spouses of foreign service employees may be eligible for applicable workplace flexibilities.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position is not remote, the selectee will be expected to report to the duty station(s) listed. If selected, military spouses, veteran caregivers, and spouses of foreign service employees may be eligible for applicable workplace flexibilities.
• You are required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08).
• Occasional travel may be required.
• This position is not included in a Bargaining Agreement.
• This position has been designated as a technical position subject to the requirements of the Department's Technical Qualification Program (TQP) for Environmental Protection Oversight.
• This position requires the incumbent to acquire and demonstrate technical competencies identified in a technical qualified standard and requires certification of the competencies by a qualifying official.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

GS-13: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 2 of 3 of the following:

1. Conducting inspections, audits, or compliance reviews of industrial, chemical, or waste facilities.
2. Analyzing environmental, technical, or monitoring data to identify compliance issues, evaluate operational risks, and recommend corrective actions or alternative technical solutions.
3. Preparing written technical documentation, such as inspection reports, environmental assessments, compliance findings, operating procedures, or formal briefings for management, clients, or regulatory agencies.

GS-14: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting 3 of 4 of the following:

1. Coordinating or managing environmental protection, compliance, or sustainability programs/projects across facilities, operations, or sites.
2. Overseeing regulatory compliance and technical requirements for hazardous materials or waste management (such as under RCRA, EPCRA, TSCA, or equivalent state/federal environmental frameworks and permits).
3. Conducting or leading environmental audits, compliance inspections, or program evaluations to assess contractor or facility performance, identify systemic deficiencies, and/or direct corrective action plans.
4. Authoring authoritative technical documentation, such as environmental policy guidance, compliance determination reports, executive decision memos, or formal briefings.

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must (1) meet all of the requirements as described in this section; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Additional information

• Shared Certificates : The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.
• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• Your performance appraisal and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other candidates.
• Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.
• Equal employment opportunity policy.
• Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy:
• Veterans Information:
• Selective Service Registration:
• The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and emailing it to the Administrative Investigations Program at View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.