Environmental Protection Specialist (GS-9/11)

Summary

This position is located within the Department of the Interior's National Park Service, Alaska Region, and supports Western Artica National Parklands in Kotzebue or Nome, Alaska.

Duties

The incumbent serves as an Environmental Protection Specialist responsible for supporting and administering environmental compliance activities for park operations, planning, and development projects. The position ensures compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations, and policies, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). At the GS-9 level, duties include: Assisting with the preparation and review of environmental compliance documents and analyses. Collecting, analyzing, and organizing environmental data for compliance studies and planning efforts. Conducting site visits and inspections to gather information and assess environmental conditions. Reviewing projects and activities for potential environmental impacts and compliance requirements. Coordinating with park staff, resource specialists, partner agencies, and the public to support environmental compliance activities. In addition to the duties above, at the full performance GS-11 level, duties include: Independently preparing and reviewing environmental compliance documents, including Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). Providing technical guidance and recommendations on environmental compliance requirements and mitigation measures for proposed projects and activities. Coordinating with Federal, Tribal, state, and local agencies and representing the park on environmental compliance matters.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 11/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in at least two of the following: assisting with environmental compliance and planning activities by researching and applying environmental laws, regulations, and policies; collecting and analyzing environmental data; conducting site inspections; reviewing environmental documents; preparing reports and recommendations; and evaluating the environmental effects of projects or proposed actions. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a master's or equivalent graduate degree in environmental science or a directly related field; OR have completed 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree (36 semester hours, 54 quarter hours, or equivalent); OR an LL.B. or J.D., if related to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of specialized experience and more than 1 year of graduate education as described above that, when combined, meets 100% of the total requirements for the position. Note: To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond 1 year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience in at least three of the following: independently planning and managing environmental compliance projects; preparing or reviewing environmental compliance documents, such as Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements; evaluating environmental impacts of proposed actions; interpreting and applying environmental laws, regulations, and policies; coordinating with agencies and stakeholders; and developing recommendations to ensure environmental compliance and mitigate environmental impacts. You must include hours per week worked. -OR- Education: Successful completion of at least a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in environmental science or a directly related field; OR have completed 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours, or equivalent); OR an LL.M., if related to this position. You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of specialized experience and more than 2 years of graduate education as described above that, when combined, meets 100% of the total requirements for the position. Note: To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond 2 years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. Volunteer Experience: 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.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. 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.

Education

You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

How you will be evaluated

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessment(s) required for this position. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Partnering Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving Technical Competence Written Communication To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a structured resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job. All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP). To be considered under CTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 85 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 11/06/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13095263 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Other information

Salary Explanation: GS-9 step 1, $69,789 to GS-9 step 10, $90,731 GS-11 step 1, $84,439 to GS-11 step 10, $109,777 Note: First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate. In addition to hourly salary, you will receive a 3.00% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), subject to annual review and adjustment. Information on COLA can be found at the following link: OPM - Nonforeign Areas - Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances: Nonforeign Areas Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. All DOI employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, DOI Ethics Prohibitions | U.S. Department of the Interior. Physical Demands: Work is primarily sedentary in an office environment but may also require some physical exertion such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. Work Environment: The majority of the work is performed in an office setting with some travel to attend meetings, conferences and workshops, or for field inspections. The work can involve moderate risks, discomforts, and unpleasantness such as exposure to dust, hot and dry weather extremes; and flights in small aircraft, including helicopters. The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.