Natural Resource Specialist

Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Natural Resource Specialist. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Duty Location: Glendale, Arizona Responsibilities Leads and/or participates as a member of interdisciplinary teams for the purpose of ensuring compliance for PXAO actions with the requirements of environmental compliance laws (e.g. NEPA, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act) and associated regulations, policies and guidance. Serves as a technical subject matter expert on NEPA, as amended, and its implementing authorities including the DOI NEPA Handbook (516 DM 1), 43 CFR Part 46, and other policy, guidance, and directives related to NEPA. Advises stakeholders and Federal and State partner agencies on Federal responsibilities and the requirements of NEPA and DOI's NEPA implementing procedures, policies, and guidance. Ensures the appropriate NEPA classification of a proposed project, i.e., Categorical Exclustion (CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), consistent with DOI NEPA Handbook § 1.2 and 43 CFR 46.205. Provides technical analyses and guidance for the purpose of assuring that NEPA and other environmental compliance related requirements are appropriately integrated with PXAO programs and activities which affect land and water. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. You must be suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents). You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications). You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education). You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position. Continue to the Additional Information section for the Condition of Employment For Probationary Period. Qualifications You must meet all qualification requirements, including any selective factors, by the closing date of this announcement. BASIC INDVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR) - GS-0401: In order to qualify for this position, you must possess both the Basic Education Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Education Requirement: A. Completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. NOTE: To be found qualified under this option, you must submit transcripts (official or unofficial) to verify your education. OR B. Combination of education and experience: a combination of education and experience that consisted of courses equivalent to a major (24 semester hours) in fields such as those shown in response A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination of education and experience is sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation, and is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in the appropriate field. NOTE: To qualify under this option, you must submit transcripts to verify your education and include proof of your experience in the text of your resume. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT: To qualify for the position (in addition to meeting the basic IOR requirement above), your resume must clearly describe specialized experience that demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities as follows: To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one year of full-time professional experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized Experience must demonstrate all the following: Conducting detailed NEPA analysis; participating on teams for NEPA projects; developing and participating in public involvement efforts for NEPA projects; preparing Categorical Exclusion Checklists, Environmental Assessments, Findings of No Significant Impact, Environmental Impact Statements, Records of Decisions, or other documentation on environmental issues. OR Your transcripts must reflect you have completed of three years of progressively higher-level graduate education at an accredited college or university leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in related field appropriate to this position. OR An equivalent combination of professional experience and graduate level education beyond the second year which together equals 100% of the requirements. (When combining education with experience, first determine the total qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then determine the experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; finally, add the two percentages. (The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.) To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one year of full-time professional experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized Experience must demonstrate all the following: Personally preparing, overseeing the preparation of, and/or reviewing documents required for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) including Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements; reviewing NEPA documents (Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements) prepared by other agencies and parties; serving as subject matter expert to management on requirements of environmental compliance and planning; leading and/or participating on teams in the development of Environmental Impact Statements. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume. Your resume must clearly reflect ALL of the experience listed above - if it does not, your application will be marked as not qualified. 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, 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. Selective Placement Factor: This position requires a current, valid Driver's License. Failure to provide proof of such license will cause you to be rated ineligible for this position. Physical Demands: Work is generally performed in an office setting with trips to the field, meeting attendance, and training. On rare occasions, field or site visits may involve moderate risks or discomfort due to outdoor weather conditions. Occasional field surveys and site visits may involve considerable walking over varied terrain. Required to carry light documents in the office and personal field gear for surveys and site visits. Sedentary, moderately stressful work. Promotion Potential: If you are selected at the lower grade, promotions may be made at a later date without further competition. However, identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote you at some future date. Such promotions will depend upon administrative approval, the continuing need for an actual assignment and the demonstrated performance of higher-level duties. Full performance level is GS-12. You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 09/01/2026. Education This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-11 grade level only. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not qualified for the position. You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer. Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information. Additional Information Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary period, such appointments are terminated. 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. Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Relocation Incentive. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet. Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For information, visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/ This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov This a non-bargaining unit position. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.