About the Position: Serves as a senior technical specialist, provides authoritative information on matters pertaining to ecology, biology, fisheries, wetlands, and coastal resources. Responsible for technical adequacy of NEPA and biological sections of planning reports. Represents the Buffalo District in meetings with citizen groups, technical experts, and agency representatives in resolving complex biological and general environmental issues.

Duties

Manages the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, Coastal Zone Management (CZM) consistency determinations, Water Quality Certification applications, Clean Water Act evaluations, and similar documents. Prepares technical written/oral communication on all aspects of assigned work. Communicates clearly and professionally on complex issues with a wide range of partners, stakeholders, and the public. Performs technical and procedural compliance review of other agencies environmental documents for consistency with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental regulations. Conducts biological and ecological studies on wetlands, uplands, estuaries, and/or coastal areas to assess environmental impacts of proposed project construction (e.g., habitat impacts). Operates a small boat or serves as a crew member during the collection of sediment samples and/or the collection of other baseline environmental data used for analysis of Operations and Maintenance activities or during Feasibility Studies. Develops and manages scopes of work for biological, sediment quality, and ecological research and monitoring studies, particularly for wetland, watershed, sediment sampling, and riparian projects. Recommends measures that incorporate aquatic species habitat requirements (e.g. fisheries) into project designs and also measures to be taken to minimize adverse changes to the environment. Reviews and evaluates environmental studies and monitoring techniques of Architect-Engineer firms to insure that applicable water quality standards, CZM, Clean Water Act and NEPA guidelines are met. Designs and directs field surveys in impacted areas. Manages major studies relating to quality of the environment which include analysis of plans and programs of other Federal, state and local resource agencies to protect and enhance the quality and potential of the environment. Develop a very broad variety of plans to protect wetlands and wildlife and evaluate hazards of contaminants to human health and the environment

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must obtain appropriate certification to operate a small boat to perform assigned duties within 12 months of employment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Civilian Employees of the OrganizationCurrent Department of Army Civilian EmployeesCurrent Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel WorkforceInteragency Career Transition Assistance PlanLand Management Workforce Flexibility ActMilitary Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician EligiblePriority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) EligiblePriority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability RetirementPriority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference EligibleVeterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Education requirements: Biologist 0401 series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/general-natural-resources-management-and-biological-sciences-series-0401/ Ecologist 0408 series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0400/ecology-series-0408/ Physical Scientist 1301 series: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1300/general-physical-science-series-1301/ Specialized Experience: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service which includes: Serving as a senior technical and environmental compliance specialist for district and regional Civil Works and Operations and Maintenance projects; planning and execution of field surveys in wetland, stream, and lake environments, much of which can only be accomplished from a boat; receive within 12 months, appropriate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers certification to operate a small boat to perform assigned duties; interpret and manipulate volumes of data to isolate trends and interpolate data; Coordinate work with other local, state and federal agencies, requiring an in-depth awareness of other agency policy and regulatory requirements; clearly communicate orally and in writing complex technical approaches and conclusions; interpret policy and regulations in consonance with established objectives, resolving most conflicts that arise, and coordinating work with others; Serves periodically as coach on all of the above for more junior employees. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: LeadershipOral CommunicationPlanning and EvaluatingTechnical CompetenceTechnical Competence Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address RE-W2SM05 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-BUFFALO DO NOT MAIL Buffalo, NY 14207 US
• Name: Army Applicant Help Desk