US Department of the Interior Hiring for Abandoned Mine Lands and Regulatory Program Specialist at Charleston, WV Full Time

Specialized Experience

To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

• Monitoring, analyzing, and conducting field visits to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations in order to evaluate State or Tribal programs.
• Reviewing, evaluating, and preparing documents related to State/Tribal program amendments, financial assistance applications, and reports.
• Applying program requirements, surface coal mining and reclamation plans, contracts, or other requirements of State or Tribal programs.
• Reviewing and analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, practices, policies, and regulations, and identifying matters requiring corrective action.

MUST MEET ALL.

Additional Information

Driver’s License Requirement:

You may be required to operate a government vehicle, to complete assigned tasks i.e. site visits, field research, etc.; therefore you must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in an office and in the field. Frequent travel to State/Tribal offices and to OSMRE facilities is required. Field work is routinely performed on active mine or AML sites on a regular basis to review mining and reclamation activities and involves strenuous physical activity such as extensive walking and climbing of steep grades in a wide variety of climatic conditions.

Work Environment

Most work is performed in an office environment. Field work is routinely performed on active mine or AML sites on a regular basis with exposure to explosives, dust, noise, heavy equipment, toxic plants, and chemicals, wild animals, insects, and landslides. Protective equipment includes

hard-hats, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, ear plugs and/or muffs. Program reviews are performed in various State/Tribal office facilities. Low level aerial overflights of mining and reclamation operations in fixed wing or rotary aircraft may be required.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM’s website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional Information

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

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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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are “Platinum”, “Gold”, and “Silver”. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the “Platinum” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans’ preference rules for category rating will be applied.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

• Regulations and Guidance – Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply SMCRA, subsequent rules and regulations, and other environmental laws, rules, and regulations that affect OSMRE and its programs in order to serve as a subject matter expert, evaluate State/Tribal programs, interpret complex requirements that affect State/Tribal programs, make recommendations for improvement, assure compliance with program laws and regulations, and represent the agency in a variety of capacities.
• Technical Competence – Extensive knowledge of surface coal mining operations, AML reclamation, and related environmental activities and disciplines. The ability to interpret and understand mining and reclamation plans, contracts, and other requirements of State/Tribal programs.
• Analytical – Comprehensive knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods and techniques used to review and analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of programs, practices, policies, and regulations; and identify matters requiring corrective action.
• Written Communication – Ability to communicate effectively in writing in order to prepare comprehensive written reports and technical documents that cover complex technical issues.

If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.