Job Summary
This position is located on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest with Public Services in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. This position is located on a National Forest where the incumbent serves as the Forest's Environmental Coordinator, FOIA Coordinator, and the Appeals and Litigation Manager. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Shannon Houlette at shannon.houlette@usda.gov or 715-362-1342.
Major Duties
- Coordinate final evaluation and review of environmental analysis documents to ensure compliance with multiple environmental policy requirements.
- Manage natural resource related appeals, objections, and litigation activities.
- Interpret changes, decisions, and directions regarding environmental policies that would affect the organization.
- Review statements of work for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) contracts, Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs), and NEPA documents, cooperating agencies, or third parties for activities on public lands for compliance with agency standards.
- Provide advice to management on the processes and procedures regarding implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies.
- Provide advice to management on the administrative appeals/objections process.
- Direct personnel on compliance efforts regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies.
- Communicate impacts and applicability of changes, decisions, and directions to management involved in projects and/or programs subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies.
- Implement training to ensure the technical and procedural aspects of multiple environmental policies are consistently performed in project and/or program work.
- Develop processes and procedures for management consideration regarding compliance the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies.
- Provide program managers and environmental coordinators with technical leadership and guidance on the interpretation and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies.
- Provide recommendations on public participation and collaboration efforts for review of proposals/decisions on natural resource projects.
- Coordinate the implementation of land use planning efforts with local/state governments and other federal agencies.
- Mediate conflicting viewpoints of interdisciplinary team members on preparation and processing of categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements.
- Lead interdisciplinary team members on natural resource projects that are large-scale, multi-jurisdictional, and multifaceted.
- Facilitate meetings with environmental coordinators to plan and modify the environmental program of work across the unit.
- Prepare and publish the Schedule of Proposed Actions to accurately inform interested parties of planned and on-going activities associated with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses and directions.
- Develop training content for personnel to ensure the technical and procedural aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental acts and policies are consistently performed in project work.
- Formulate responses to appeals/objections regarding decisions made in environmental documents.
- Develop legal documents including litigation reports, compliance agreements, mitigation plans, environmental analyses, and/or environmental impact statements.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Basic Requirement: For the GS-0401: Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement (or date of referral if an Open Continuous announcement) as defined below. For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/IORs/gs0400/0401.htm.Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor's or higher degree in a major field of study that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Related course work generally refers to courses that may be accepted as part of the program major. OR Combination of education and experience that included 24 semester hours in course work in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, AND experience sufficient to demonstrate that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform work in the occupation that is comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study with a major in the appropriate field needed to perform the work of the occupation. In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Examples of specialized experience are: Planned, directed, and advised personnel on compliance efforts regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), regulations of the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and organizational policy; Mediated conflicting viewpoints of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members on preparation and processing of categorical exclusions, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements; Executed and coordinated final evaluation and review of environmental analysis documents for natural resource related projects and/or programs to ensure compliance with multiple environmental policy requirements; Communicated with Federal, State, and local government officials, special interest groups, general public, and stakeholders to provide interpretation of requirements and applicability of NEPA, CEQ, FOIA, objections, appeals, and litigation. 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.
Pay Range
$76,721.00 - $76,721.00