Environmental Biologist

Summary The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! This Environmental Biologist position is in the Office of Energy Projects. For more information visit: Office of Energy Projects (OEP). Duties This position is available in the Division of Gas – Environment & Engineering in the Office of Energy Projects in Washington, DC. As an Environmental Biologist, some of your typical work assignments may include: Serving as the Water Resources Program Coordinator focusing on waterbodies, wetlands, floodplain protection, groundwater, watershed management, and wild and scenic rivers consultations; reviewing complex water resources analyses (e.g., turbidity and hydrodynamic modeling); ensuring that project construction procedures and mitigation measures described in the environmental analyses meet or exceed relevant requirements stipulated in the FERC Wetland and Waterbody Construction and Mitigation Procedures (FERC Procedures) and assisting with updating the FERC Procedures when appropriate to address new issues; and developing consistent criteria for the review and consideration of proposed waterbody and wetland crossing techniques and riparian area restoration methods. Ensures consistency on project-related water resource issues. Directing the preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. Providing guidance to staff to ensure analyses are technically sound and compliant with all relevant requirements and regulations; advising staff on the preparation of thorough and defensible assessments of wetland impacts and on when and how modeling should be used to assess project impacts and assist staff in correlating the modeling output to potential impacts on aquatic resources. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National. A one-year probationary period may be required. A background investigation is required. This isa bargaining unit position (AFGE Local 421) Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service. This position has an education requirement, you must submit transcripts. Relocation expenses will not be paid. If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities. Maximum of 2 page resume. You must meet all eligibility and qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which 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; • 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. 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. Qualifications To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of an Environmental Biologist, GS-0401, please visit: Environmental-Biologist-0401. In addition to the education required for this position, you must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as: experience analyzing potential impacts on waterbodies, wetlands, and groundwater resources associated with natural gas facility construction and operation; experience analyzing waterbody and wetland resource surveys; experience addressing waterbody, wetland, and groundwater concerns raised by stakeholders related to natural gas facility construction and operation; experience assessing natural gas facility construction and restoration techniques; and experience assessing the restoration success associated with waterbody/riparian areas and wetland crossings.  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 any volunteer experience. Please do not cut and paste  the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Education This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration. Additional information Our employees ranked FERC as a top 5 mid-size agency in Effective Leadership according to the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government!  In addition, FERC was also ranked #1 in Work-Life Balance and we are proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy. If selected for this position, you will be required to: Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment. Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice. Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC’s supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment. Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch. 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 For more information regarding Federal benefits programs, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits