Natural Resource Specialist

Summary Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Natural Resources Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. Shape the future of public lands and infrastructure. Responsibilities Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Coordinates, advises on, and implements the directives of Public Law 91-190, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Assists Group Chief in identifying appropriate NEPA compliance within environmental policies and directives established by the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to Western Colorado Area Office (WCAO) projects. Schedules and tracks environmental activities. Conducts compliance activities related to the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other environmental laws, regulations and policies. Plans and conducts field studies, conducts needed inventories and surveys, compiles, analyzes and verifies environmental data. Provides professional input on environmental issues associated with planning, design, construction and operation of Reclamation facilities, projects and programs. Conducts field inspections and reviews a wide variety of reports, field data, plans, designs and specifications to ensure that they meet environmental laws and policies. Salary Range Information (Per Annum): $74,678.00 TO $97,087.00 *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands. Full time telework/remote work not available; if selected you will be expected to report to the office. 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 or trial 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): This position has an individual occupational requirement. To be considered you must meet one of the below requirements: Degree: Successfully completed a bachelor's or higher degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or another closely related field appropriate to this position. You must submit transcripts with your application. -OR- Combination of education and experience: Possess a combination of education and experience that includes courses equivalent to a major in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resources management, chemistry, or another closely related field appropriate to this position, along with appropriate experience. You must submit transcripts with your application and your resume must reflect your related experience. In addition to the above individual occupational requirement (IOR), to qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level you must meet one of the following qualification requirements: Specialized Experience Requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience applying environmental laws, regulations, and policies to support natural resource management and environmental compliance. One year at the GS-9 level preparing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation (such as categorical exclusion checklists, environmental assessments, or environmental impact statements) is required. Must also demonstrate experience with two of the following: conducting environmental compliance activities related to Federal environmental laws; planning and conducting field studies, inventories, surveys, or site inspections; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental or biological data; reviewing environmental documents, plans, or project activities for compliance with applicable laws and regulations; or providing technical recommendations or guidance to support project planning, design, construction, or operations -OR- Education: Successfully completed at least three full years (54 semester hours) of graduate level education leading to a Ph. D or equivalent that is directly related to the work of this position. You must submit copies of your transcripts with your application. -OR- Combination of education and experience. To qualify based on a combination of education and experience, you must have successfully completed graduate education beyond the second full year (36 semester hours or equivalent) that is directly related to the work of this position, and possess qualifying specialized experience. To calculate your qualifications, divide your total qualifying graduate semester hours in excess of 36 semester hours by 18 semester hours. Then divide your total months of qualifying specialized experience by 12 months. Add the two percentages together. The combined total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must submit copies of your transcripts with your application. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Volunteer Experience: 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. All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/06/2026 Education This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. 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. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. 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. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification Additional Information Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses may be authorized, as applicable, with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. Physical Demands: The work requires regular field work to support environmental studies, site inspections, and project evaluations. Field duties require walking over uneven or rugged terrain, working in and around waterways and remote locations, and lifting or carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Travel to field sites and project locations is required. Work Environment: The position combines office and outdoor field work. Field assignments may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, uneven terrain, water hazards, and other environmental conditions associated with construction sites and natural resource areas. Employees are required to follow established safety procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing field duties. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.