Ecologist (Marine)_

Jefferson

Summary The Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) works to promote safety, protect the environment, and conserve resources offshore through vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement. For information about our bureau go to: see.gov/ Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Office of the Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region, Office of Environmental Compliance, located in Jefferson, LA. At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Serves as the principal advisor on marine ecology and its associated OCS components (i.e., corals, fish and fisheries, deepwater benthic communities, topographic features and banks, live bottoms, and other marine-life/marine-habitats). 2. Serves as the lead marine ecologist, leading BSEE's efforts on consultations and coordination with BOEM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. 3. Serves as the lead on Marine Trash and Debris (MTD) oversight and the interagency, and oftentimes, international coordination required under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) - Annex V, the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act (MPPRCA), and regulations imposed by various agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 4. Oversees office compliance monitoring and verification of operational reports and industry's Post Activity Submittals (PAS) as it relates to their field of expertise, which includes requisite documentation submitted after OCS operations are complete (in part or in whole) to verify/record compliance with environmental standards. 5. Oversees, schedules, and participates in field efforts regarding ecology-related compliance monitoring, including 1) work with data collection efforts, 2) mitigation, stipulation, and Notice to Lessees and Operators (NTL) enforcement, and 3) coordination with industry contacts, BOEM studies leads, and other Federal, State, and private groups. 6. Briefs and defends BSEE technical programs, policies, and conclusions to other Federal, State, and Local Governments, industry leads, and private groups/persons as the technical authority on marine ecology. 7. Establishes criteria for impact-assessment methodologies and identifies improvement of verification methodologies and enforcement needs for marine/benthic species via adaptive management and coordination with their counterparts in BOEM, develops associated monitoring/compliance programs, and prepares sections and/or reviews of BSEE and BOEM NEPA documents, regulations, and/or NTLs related to marine ecology and the incumbent's area of expertise. 8. Assist with studies/research as a Contract Inspector (CI) or Project Inspector (PI) for BSEE or the BOEM Environmental Studies Program (ESP). As CI/PI, the incumbent may participate as a Technical Proposal Evaluation Committee (TPEC) member and may be required to participate in/oversee the collection, standardization, and analyses of data related to OCS resources and/or industry activities to identify specific scientific issues and problems. As CI/PI, the incumbent will also assist in the administration of the study's technical aspects, oversight of contractor performance, assist in progress meetings, participate in field efforts, and review and inspection of all deliverable items. BSEE has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. This position is included in a bargaining unit. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 3457, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit. Work Environment: The work is performed and conducted in both an office setting and through occasional field visits. Inspections and audits are conducted in an offshore environment, in close proximity to equipment and chemicals associated with oil and gas production. The employee may work at great heights on large pieces of equipment and may be exposed to extreme weather conditions. The work environment contains elements of exposure to potentially dangerous situation. The employee wears hardhats, safety glasses, and take other various safety precautions. The necessary travel to and from offshore locations is accomplished by Government motor vehicle, chartered helicopter, and company furnished boat. Financial Disclosure: You will be required to file an Employment and Financial Interest-OGE-450. Salary Information GS-13: $103,409 - $134,435 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available. This vacancy is also announced as BSEE-EENN-24-CM-227(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See ss.gov/. Qualifications Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the (1) Basic Educational Requirements AND (2) Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying. Ecology Series, 0408: Individual Occupational Requirements (1) Basic Educational Requirements: To be eligible for this position, you must meet paragraph A below for the series to which you are applying. A. Degree: Biology, or a related field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30 semester hours in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences. Please Note: This position requires specific educational coursework to qualify. You MUST provide transcripts in order to verify that the educational requirements have been met. This information must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Failure to provide this information may result in you receiving an "INELIGIBLE" rating. -AND- In addition to meeting the Basic Educational Qualification requirements, applicants must meet the Specialized Experience for the grade to which you are applying. (2) Specialized Experience GS-13 To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Independently performing environmental monitoring of systems, processes, and equipment to meet the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) standards, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) standards, Executive Order 13089 - Coral Reef Protection standards, OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) regulations, Marine Debris reduction requirements, and/or similar mitigation measures applied to an authorized activity; 2) Independently performing compliance verification reviews or monitoring of marine habitats subject to MSA, NMSA, and Executive Order 13089 requirements, OCSLA regulations, Marine Debris reduction requirements, and/or similar mitigation measures applied to an authorized activity; and 3) Independently conducting or overseeing site inspections and/or investigations to assess compliance with MSA, NMSA, and Executive Order 13089 requirements, OCSLA regulations, Marine Debris reduction requirements, and/or similar mitigation measures applied to an authorized activity and preparing requisite reports. MUST MEET ALL. 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: pm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Education Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements. Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: pm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 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. Notice of Financial Disclosure Report Requirement: The position to which you will be appointed is subject to a financial disclosure reporting requirement and you will be required to complete a new entrant Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of your appointment. 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.