Interdisciplinary Environmental and Physical Science Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop detailed scopes of work for facility repair and new construction projects, emphasizing demolition, removal of hazardous materials, environmental hazard remediation, investigations, and surveys.
• Evaluate existing facility conditions and recommend appropriate sampling and analytic measures to assess abatement needs, proper waste disposal, and adherence to regulations.
• Serve as the Engineering Division's authoritative technical expert on issues involving environmental and hazardous materials.
• Review and provide expert guidance on contractor plans for hazardous material abatement, including asbestos, lead, PCBs, POLs, and PFAS, and verify sampling and analysis strategies to ensure correct testing methods and procedures.
• Coordinate with the Environmental Division during construction to support project compliance with environmental regulations and oversee on-site environmental protection efforts.
• Supervise and monitor contractor sampling and screening activities to ensure they meet contract standards, quality assurance plans, approved testing protocols, and regulatory demands.

Employment Conditions

• Employment contingent upon successful background suitability or fitness evaluation.
• Possible travel obligations up to 5% of working time.

Qualifications

Citizenship: Open only to U.S. Citizens.

Education: Must satisfy minimum entry requirements equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a professional or scientific field completed via a formal four-year program or a comparable combination of education and relevant experience.

Specific Requirements:

• Environmental Engineer (819 Series): Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent coursework in advanced engineering and physical sciences.
• Or a suitable mix of education and experience supported by professional engineering registration, successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, relevant academic courses, or an appropriate science-related degree with professional engineering experience under supervision.
• Physical Scientist (1301 Series): Bachelor’s in physical sciences, engineering or math with at least 24 semester hours in physical or related engineering sciences, or equivalent education and experience.
• Chemist (1320 Series): Relevant degree with at least 30 semester hours in chemistry supplemented with physics and mathematics; or combination of education and experience equivalent to this.

Specialized Experience (GS-12 Level): Minimum one year of specialized professional experience involving design and specification development for facility or infrastructure repairs with strict adherence to environmental laws; managing environmental protection activities through quality assurance, sampling, and compliance inspections. This experience level aligns with the standard expected for one level below the current grade.

Note: Only experience qualifies for this position; educational substitutions for experience are not accepted.

Additional Information

• This interdisciplinary position may be staffed under various titles like Environmental Engineer, Chemist, or Physical Scientist per agency needs and applicant qualifications.
• Foreign education applicants must provide credential evaluations confirming equivalence to accredited U.S. degrees.
• Applicants must fulfill Selective Service registration requirements if applicable, demonstrate U.S. citizenship, and may be subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Direct deposit of paychecks is mandatory.
• Confidential financial disclosures are required annually.
• Hiring may consider displaced employees from Department of Defense referral systems.
• Multiple roles can be filled from this single announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality or market supplements.
• Permanent Change of Station allowances may be authorized.
• Recruitment and relocation incentives might be available.
• Incomplete application information can lead to disqualification or lower ratings.
• Certification of eligibility may be extended up to 90 days beyond closing date.
• Due to Alaska's status as a non-foreign overseas area, special statutory return rights apply.
• Compliance with the Exceptional Family Member Program is required.
• Applicants are encouraged to support federal efficiency, the principles of the U.S. Constitution, and rule of law.
• Federal employment offers comprehensive benefits dependent on employment type.