Summary

The Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA), located in Washington, DC. is currently recruiting for an Environmental Protection Specialist. This position will be responsible for, managing environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and related environmental laws.

This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Individuals with disabilities
• Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
• Veterans
• Military spouses

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens and Status Candidates (this includes Merit Promotion, Status Candidates, Former Overseas Employees, CTAP, ICTAP, VRA, VEOA, 30% or More Disabled, EVHO, Schedule A, Military Spouses, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Vista, Interchange Agreement Eligibles, Land Management, and National Guard).

Duties

In this position, you will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist in OEA ensuring the agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and related environmental laws and implementing regulations, including the Board's environmental rules.

The ideal candidate will possess experience implementing environmental laws, regulations, or policy, and effective communication skills.

As an Environmental Protection Specialist in OEA, you will perform the following duties:

• Assists in ensuring the Board's compliance with NEPA.
• Conducts environmental reviews and assesses environmental impacts of rail transportation projects.
• Reviews environmental and historic reports submitted by applicants for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepares environmental correspondence in response to public and agency inquiries on specific matters.
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing, complying with the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
• Enters and ensures the availability of relevant case files in the environmental correspondence tracking system.
• Uses the Geographical Information System (GIS) effectively to map rail lines proposed for abandonment.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• All qualification requirements must be met by 07/11/2024. Please Note: Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.
• Probationary Period: A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Required to participate in the Direct Deposit program.
• Selective Service: 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 http://www.sss.gov/
• E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form 1-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. The STB is an E-Verify Participant.
• Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability clearance. If selected, you may be offered a tentative offer until the background investigation has been adjudicated.
• Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must meet the Time-in-Grade Requirement, which is 52 weeks of Federal Service at the next lower grade.

Qualifications

You must meet the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below.

Specialized Experience is the experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position of the Environmental Protection Specialist, 0028 series.

To be deemed qualified for this position, you must have Specialized Experience equivalent to 1 year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade level. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on the time actually spent in the appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Merit promotion applicants must meet the time-in-grade requirement as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Therefore, you must have 1 year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level.

GS-12

To be qualified for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector or volunteer experience) demonstrated by completing all of the following:

1. Assisting in an agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related environmental laws.

2. Assisting in managing environmental reviews.

3. Writing environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.

4. Coordinating with interested parties and the public to ensure effective participation in environmental reviews.

All applicants are required to submit a resume with your application. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months, years, and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. To receive full consideration for specialized experience, please list month/year to month/year (XX/XX-XX/XX) or month/year to present (XX/XX-present) and the number of hours worked per week for each period of employment/experience listed in your resume. Your responses to the questionnaire must be supported/demonstrated in your resume.

If a determination cannot to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

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.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume.

https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/

Education

Education may not be used as a substitute for experience at this grade level.

Additional information

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

In addition, to the comprehensive benefits package, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you such as.

• Flexible Work Schedule options.
• This position is Telework eligible based upon the STB Telework policy.
• Free on-site Fitness Center:
• A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems.

One or more positions may be filled through this announcement.

The lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated well-qualified by scoring 85 or better on the assessment. Please use this link to find out additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources.

If you are a veteran claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) or an official statement (including Character of Service) from your command if currently on active duty. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, in addition to the DD-214, you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) and the required supporting documents listed on that form. For more information on veterans' preferences please see Feds Hire Vets.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions (you must submit a DD214-member copy 4).

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: The following links contain information on the eligibility requirements to be considered under a noncompetitive appointing authority:

Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A

Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans

Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses

Other Special Appointment Authorities

Merit promotion and/or non-competitive referral lists may be issued based on the needs of the agency.

• Benefits
  
  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.
  
  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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the documentation submitted.

Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Environmental Regulation and Policy
• Environmental Resources
• Program/Project Management
• Written Communication

Candidates who are eligible under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are best qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best-qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided. Highly Qualified candidates may be referred if there is an insufficient pool of candidates in the Best Qualified group.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume, supporting documentation submitted, and their responses to the assessment questionnaire.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility and, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are deemed well-qualified for this vacancy.

Well-qualified means you must meet the basic qualification standards and eligibility requirements for the position, including medical, suitability, and minimum educational and experience requirements; meet all selective factors where applicable and appropriate quality ranking factor levels; be physically qualified, with reasonable accommodation where appropriate, to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying condition(s) that OPM has approved for the position; and be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp.

Veterans' Preference: If you are claiming a veteran's preference, you must submit documentation described in the "Required Documents" section. For more information regarding veterans' preferences please go to http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, clickhttps://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12429181

• Benefits
  
  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.
  
  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.
• Required Documents
  
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  
  The following documents are required and must be received before the announcement closes:
  
  Please be advised, that the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:
  
  1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if resumes do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.
  
  2. Responses to questionnaire.
  
  3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package. These documents may include, but are not limited to:
  
  
  • Veterans documentation: All veterans king preference MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
  • Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit an SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, a final VA letter including percentage (please do not include a letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
  • SF-50 documenting current or previous federal service employment, separate SF-50 documenting appropriate Time in Grade (if applicable);
  • ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal;
  
  DO NOT submit NON-Pay Impacting Action SF-50s to include "Org Cost Center Change SF-50s, Award SF-50 and/or General Adjustment SF-50" etc.. as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
• How to Apply
  
  Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, which includes the submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/11/2024 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
  
  
  1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
  2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  3. Click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  
  
  To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to "Update Application." This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen.
  
  The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an "Additional Application Information" page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application.
  
  The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  
  You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12429181
  
  Agency contact information
  
  Tara Rauch
  
  Phone
  
  202-934-0302
  
  Email
  
  tara.rauch@stb.gov
  
  Address
  
  Surface Transportation Board
  
  395 E Street SW
  
  Washington, DC 20423
  
  US
  
  Next steps
  
  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
  
  Once referred, you may be asked to complete a structured interview, written demonstration, and/or fit interview.
  
  Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.
  
  We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.
• Fair and Transparent
  
  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  
  
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

The following documents are required and must be received before the announcement closes:

Please be advised, that the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:

1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week, if resumes do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.

2. Responses to questionnaire.

3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package. These documents may include, but are not limited to:

• Veterans documentation: All veterans king preference MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions;
• Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit an SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, a final VA letter including percentage (please do not include a letter from VA noting specific private medical information);
• SF-50 documenting current or previous federal service employment, separate SF-50 documenting appropriate Time in Grade (if applicable);
• ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal;

DO NOT submit NON-Pay Impacting Action SF-50s to include "Org Cost Center Change SF-50s, Award SF-50 and/or General Adjustment SF-50" etc.. as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, which includes the submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/11/2024 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to "Update Application." This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account, all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen.

The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an "Additional Application Information" page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application.

The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12429181

Agency contact information

Tara Rauch

Phone

202-934-0302

Email

tara.rauch@stb.gov

Address

Surface Transportation Board

395 E Street SW

Washington, DC 20423

US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.

Once referred, you may be asked to complete a structured interview, written demonstration, and/or fit interview.

Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.

We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request