Summary

As an Environmental Protection Specialist, you will develop, implement, and maintain Center-level environmental programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and NASA requirements. Environmental program responsibilities may include air or water quality, hazardous waste or materials, and natural or cultural resources. Positions advertised are in various organizations at Stennis Space Center. NASA may fill any of the following positions: GS-0028-11/12/13/14.

Duties

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• Duties described below are at the highest grade advertised. Duties assigned at lower grade levels will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
• Serves as the subject matter expert administering comprehensive environmental compliance programs to ensure compliance across all operations.
• Oversees multiple environmental programs, performing technical and administrative duties to support NASA's full compliance with all environmental regulatory permitting and compliance requirements in program areas.
• Prepares, updates, and maintains all environmental permits, reports, plans, records, and other documentation in accordance with all applicable regulations, permit requirements and other authorizing documents, Executive Orders, and NASA requirements.
• Conducts and oversees environmental inspections, reviews, manages issues, findings, or complaints; evaluates findings and performs root cause analyses; identifies vulnerabilities; develops corrective action plans; tracks findings through closure
• Represents the Center in meetings with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders; negotiates with regulators; and develops notifications and/or responses related to regulatory non-compliances/deviations.
• Coordinates with resident agencies, tenants, commercial partners, contractors, and others to ensure environmental requirements are incorporated, and activities remain compliant with applicable regulations and NASA requirements.
• Serves as the technical authority, attends project scoping/design meetings, monitors site operations/activities, and reviews proposed projects, checklists, and design documents to ensure environmental requirements are identified and implemented.
• For supervisory positions, perform a full range of supervisory duties which includes assigning and evaluating work; recommending personnel actions; taking disciplinary actions; and identifying training needs and developing employees.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• A one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-11, you must have:

a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level:

• Performing environmental analysis on assigned projects or programs; recommending environmental solutions to solve technical problems under supervision; preparing technical documentation in support of environmental projects or programs requirements.

OR

b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field

OR

c) Completed 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in an appropriate field

OR

d) LL.M., if related

OR

e) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b), c) and d) above

To qualify for GS-12, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level:

• Assisting with the development and implementation of environmental permits and compliance requirements; Assisting with implementation of environmental requirements across multiple environmental program areas (e.g., Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act); Serving as a technical point of contact for environmental compliance matters, coordinating with regulatory agencies on routine permitting and compliance issues.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

• Developing and implementing environmental permits and compliance requirements for an industrial, government, or federal facility; Developing and implementing environmental permits and regulatory requirements across multiple environmental program areas (e.g., Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act); Serving as a subject matter expert for environmental compliance matters, coordinating with regulatory agencies and stakeholders on federal and state environmental statutes and regulations as applied to complex facility operations.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Leading the development and implementation of environmental permits and compliance requirements for an industrial, government, or federal facility; Leading the development and implementation of environmental permits and regulatory requirements across multiple environmental program areas (e.g., Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act); Serving as the technical authority for environmental compliance matters, coordinating with regulatory agencies and stakeholders on federal and state environmental statutes and regulations as applied to complex facility operations, and developing environmental solutions.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Promotion Potential: The full performance level (FPL) will vary based on the position in which the selectee is placed and does not default to the highest grade advertised.

Education

Basic Requirement:

If you are using education completed in the United States to meet the qualification requirements, your degree must have been awarded from a college or university that is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

Other duty locations not specifically listed on this announcement may be considered at management's discretion.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
• Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal governmentwithin the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date. For additional information on the VSIP repayment requirement, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-separation-incentive-payments/.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

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.

Supervisory probationary periods are not subject to the above process, although, if a standard probationary period is required. You are subject to the conditions of both a standard probationary period and the supervisory probationary period.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

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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.