Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of the Assistant Administrator (OAA), Office of Policy, with 1 vacancy in Silver Spring, MD.

Duties

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As a Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) National Coordinator, technical advisor, authority, and expert in the area of environmental compliance. Provide planning and oversight to manage the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Headquarters (HQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Program. Engage directly to represent NMFS as an interagency team member with external federal agencies including the U.S. Navy, Marine Minerals Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Council on Environmental Quality to effectively coordinate NEPA requirements across federal agencies to address National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) coastal and marine resource responsibilities.
• Develop policy recommendations and strategies to resolve complex problems involving scientific research on coastal and ocean resource management. Conduct resource and management studies and formulate solutions related to environmental programs. Recommend and direct NEPA program improvements to increase program efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining high standards resulting in NEPA documentation that is clear, concise, timely, and legally defensible.
• Analyze existing NMFS programs and existing operations to address environmental compliance requirements. Provide expert advice, guidance, and recommendations to NMFS and NOAA leadership to ensure activities comply with legal requirements. Provide oversight of NMFS HQ regulatory program offices for environmental compliance requirements conducted under NEPA and other NOAA legal mandates.
• Serve as supervisor of subordinate staff to include planning and distributing work, setting priorities, managing personnel (i.e., hiring, addressing grievances, promotions, etc.), and developing schedules for the completion of work. Evaluate the performance of subordinates and provide technical oversight and instruction. Identify developmental needs and provide or arrange for training.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• A one year supervisory probationary period may be required (probationary period can be served concurrently).
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
• This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• 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 then 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.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Providing guidance, recommendations or strategies for resolving issues related to environmental regulation and compliance;
• Developing plans or policies for programs utilizing applicable environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), Environmental Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Clean Water Act (CWA), etc.; and
• Overseeing projects or teams, such as project planning, setting priorities, planning milestones, schedules or work plans, assigning work, providing feedback on work assignments, etc.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Salary for selectee's pay may be set at any point within the pay band except for intervals 4 and 5 ($187,094 - $197,200) which is reserved for supervisory performance or for current supervisors within CAPS who already have a salary within intervals 4 and 5.

ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:

1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action": You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position, AND the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND
2. Performance Appraisal: Most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.

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.

Review our 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.