National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Specialist
Environment, Safety, and Health
GS 12-13
Remote
THE MISSION
In the race to combat climate change, time is of the essence. The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is investing billions of dollars in projects that will play an essential role in achieving the world’s net-zero goals, deploying next-generation energy technologies across America. OCED’s mission is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private sector to accelerate market adoption, deployment, and the equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system.
If you want to be a significant player in this space, we’re offering an opportunity you can’t afford to ignore.
THE ROLE
This position is located in OCED’s Project Management Division of Environment, Safety, and Health (PM-ESH). This Environmental Specialist serves as a subject matter expert to help ensure that OCED complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental regulations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Advise on NEPA related matters, including, the applicability of regulations, and any other related federal, state or local requirements and guidance. Give presentations on program/project objectives, content, and progress to a variety of professional audiences.
- Support preparation of plans and reports that support OCED’s compliance with NEPA and other major environmental regulations.
- Support development of OCED’s NEPA and environmental compliance standards, policies, procedures, and processes.
- Participate in NEPA-related planning for procurement actions and for projects and special studies assigned by the Supervisor. This may include participating in procurement planning meetings, reviewing procurement strategy documents, and integrating NEPA schedules and budgets in project planning.
- Attend and/or materially participate in professional society meetings, other professional symposia and conferences to remain cognizant of developments in the field and to exchange ideas with other engineers and professionals in related fields.
- Represent the organizational unit in intradepartmental meetings for exchange of information on research, development, demonstration, and evaluation, and make presentations at management reviews and technical meetings.
- Work as a member of the ESH team consisting of other environmental, safety, and health experts who examine and evaluate environmental risks.
- Reviews existing projects in the (OCED) portfolio to meet workload and cross-training demands.
- Collaborate with DOE employees and other federal, state, and local environmental officials, as appropriate, to ensure consistency and efficiency in NEPA and other environmental compliance.
- May serve as OCED’s point of contact with individuals and organizations outside of DOE for matters pertaining to NEPA.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Possess subject matter expertise on NEPA and major environmental issues and risks.
- Demonstrate expert-level knowledge of General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences to meet objectives and requirements related to NEPA and any other major environmental laws for OCED.
- Evaluate complex scientific and engineering design, development, and implementation programs/projects, from the perspective of a natural resource management/biological science specialist to ensure compliance with NEPA and other environmental laws and regulations.
- Ability to serve in an advisory and/or consultant capacity to other engineers, staff, and management officials both within and outside of DOE on unusual, difficult, or controversial environmental matters.
- Ability to evaluate assigned programs/projects and prepare documentation to support OCED’s needs.
- Ability to provide expert opinions and recommendations relative to planning, organizing, and implementing NEPA processes.
- Ability to analyze and monitor the quality of various NEPA activities that may influence OCED projects.
- Evaluates relevant procedures and process controls to support objectives of enhancing environmental safety and compliance.
- Ability to identify and elevate perceived weaknesses and procedural violations.
