PDF versionJob Summary
This position is located in Alturas, CA on the Modoc National Forest. The incumbent plans, directs, and advises Forest personnel on compliance efforts regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), regulations of the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the Forest Plan, and Forest Service Policy. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Greg Moon at gregory.moon@usda.gov or 530-233-8812.
Major Duties
- Serves as the subject matter expert, the incumbent provides Forest Line Officers with advice and interpretation of a broad range of environmental policies.
- Provides program managers and district NEPA coordinators with technical leadership and guidance concerning the interpretation and implementation of environmental policies.
- Responsible for mediating conflicting viewpoints of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members on preparation and processing of Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.
- In coordination with the Regional Office, serves as final authority of environmental documents for compliance with NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and guides each of the subsequent appeal and/or litigation reviews.
- Primary technical reviewer for the development of NEPA contracts or Memorandums of Agreement and/or the subsequent NEPA documents prepared via contract, cooperating agency, or project proponent for activities on National Forest System (NFS) lands.
- Develops training content and implements this training to ensure the technical and procedural aspects of covered environmental policies are consistently performed in project and/or program work.
- Liaisons with Federal, State, and local government officials, special interest groups, tribal representatives, and agency stake holders to interpret requirements and applicability of NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and Appeals and Litigation.
- Liaisons between the Regional Reviewing/Deciding Official and Forest Line Officers.
- Formulates responses to appeals regarding decisions made by the Forest. Provides technical direction and review of appeal responses formulated at the District level.
- Interprets and disseminates changes, decisions, and directions regarding all environmental policies that would affect the Forest.
- Communicates the impacts and applicability of changes, decisions, and directions to Forest Line Officers and Staff involved in projects and/or programs that are subject to NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and Appeals and Litigation.
- Ensures accuracy and completeness of the Administrative Record for each lawsuit. Analyzes and considers litigation and court decisions to make appropriate recommendations to Forest Line Officers regarding Forest position in specific lawsuits.
- Serves as the Forest Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) coordinator, and as the principle advisor, provides interpretation and technical guidance to Forest personnel who process FOIA requests.
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. This is an interdisciplinary position and may be filled in any of the job series listed below. Basic Requirement: Social Scientist Series, 0101 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 behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience -- that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. Basic Requirement, Biological Scientist Series, 0401 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
Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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 grade level: You must have one (1) year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as of the following: 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Pay Range
$74,596.00 - $96,978.00