NEPA Planner

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: 0401 Series, Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences: 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 directly related education in the amounts listed below. Specialized Experience and Education Requirement: For the GS-09 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level; Specialized experience is defined as performing ONE or more of the following duties: Assisted in natural resource management activities; Participated in environmental assessments and drafted segments of environmental impact statements; Assisted in the permit review process by performing field inspections and collecting and analyzing environmental data; and/or Assisted in planning one or more conventional environmental resources projects, such as construction, production, or reclamation initiatives and ensure compliance with environmental plans and stipulations. -OR- Master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; -OR- An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education beyond 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. For the GS-11 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level; Specialized experience is defined as performing TWO or more of the following duties: Participated in natural resource management activities by making observations, gathering data, and reporting findings where information was used in environmental assessments and environmental impact statements; Participated in the permit review process or identifying regulatory compliance issues and requirements by performing field inspections and collecting and analyzing environmental data; and/or Served as a project planner for one or more conventional environmental resources projects, such as construction, production or reclamation activities and ensure compliance with environmental plans and stipulations. -OR- 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 – 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.). Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary, or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position. 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.
Two positions located in the Northern Region, Region 1, Kootenai National Forest with duty locations of Libby, Troy or Eureka, MT. The incumbent is responsible for performing work involved in Natural Resources Planning and Environmental law compliance, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Sam Martin at sam.a.martin@usda.gov.