Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist

DutiesSummary

This position is located on the Custer Gallatin National Forest with a duty station of Bozeman, MT. The selectee will serve as the developmental On Scene Coordinator (OSC) and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for the Riley Pass Uranium Mines CERCLA Response Action, a multi-year mine reclamation effort located in South Dakota.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Peter Werner at 406-587-6962 or email peter.werner@usda.gov


Responsibilities
• Duties listed are at the full performance level, GS-12.
• Supports the principal On Scene Coordinator (OSC) performing annual project planning, budget management, public outreach, and sub-contractor oversight.
• Works with the OSC to evaluate and investigate mining impacted hazardous waste sites and develop reclamation plans.
• Initiates and administers Architect-Engineer and construction contracts representing significant expenditures of federal funds.
• Represents the agency with a wide variety of individuals and organizations under stressful or confrontational conditions, requiring tact and diplomacy of the highest order in representing the views of the Forest Service.
Travel Required

50% or less - Extensive travel is required during field season to the project site. Less travel is needed other times of the year for various meetings, as well as the project. Travel will be out of state to the work site, and also within the state for meetings.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

12

• Job family (Series)

  0819 Environmental Engineering

  1301 General Physical Science

  Similar jobs
  • Engineers, Environmental
  • Engineers, Soil
  • Environmental Engineers
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• Requirements

  RequirementsConditions of Employment
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Must possess or obtain within one year of entry into position certification for On Scene Coordinator and Contracting Officer's Representative Level II.
  QualificationsIn 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 for Environmental Engineering Series 0819:
  
  Degree: Engineering. Program must: (1) be from a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
  
  OR
  
  Combination of education/experience - college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) theoretical and practical understanding of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering as demonstrated by one of the following:
  
  Professional registration/licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  
  Written Test - Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or a written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board.
  
  Specified academic courses - Completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences that included the courses specified in the degree requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described for a degree.
  
  Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
  
  Basic Requirement for General Physical Science Series 1301:
  
  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: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.
  
  OR
  
  Combination of education and experience - education equivalent to one of the majors shown above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
  
  In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess the following additional education and/or experience for the GS-11/12 grade levels.
  
  For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled); OR one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.). Specialized experience is defined as performing one of more of the following duties:
  • Monitored day-to-day performance of a contract by reviewing drawings for accuracy and adequacy, evaluating requests for routine design deviations, and/or conducting site surveys to determine the need for new equipment or material;
  • Planned and conducted engineering or physical science projects according to clear and specified objectives such as developing technical data on materials, sizes, dimensions, and quantities and costs of materials to be incorporated in formal specifications; and/or
  • Conducted studies or investigations on conventional projects where mining activities had an effect on development and/or management of forest resources.
  For the GS-12 level: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing ALL of the following duties:
  • Provided project oversight for environmental compliance, abandoned mine or other hazardous substance cleanup; AND
  • Analyzed a variety of environmental issues for hazardous waste cleanup or mine reclamation projects, and designed improvements or recommended solutions; AND
  • Monitored work of contractors by reviewing progress, conducting field surveys, verifying fulfillment of obligations on moderately complex environmental engineering or physical science projects, and providing technical assistance.
  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. Education

  See above for education requirements.

  Additional information

  Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
  
  Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
  
  Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.
  
  Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.
  
  PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.
  
  Recruitment or Relocation Incentives may be authorized. Final determination will be made at the time of job offer.
  
  Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.
  
  Government Housing is not available
  

  This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.
  
  We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  
  How You Will Be Evaluated

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

  You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:
  

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Project Management
  
  Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.
  
  If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
  
  Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.
  
  To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11010682
  
  Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance

  Not Required

  Drug test required

  No

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

  Trust determination process

  Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents

  Required Documents
  The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
  • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
  In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following:
  • Current Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
  • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
  • Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
  • VEOA eligibles: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.

• Benefits

  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. Learn 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.

• 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.

• Land & base management

  Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

• Special authorities

  Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

• Veterans

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act eligibles, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP and VEOA eligibles.