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: http://www.bsee.gov/ Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region, Office of the Regional Director, Office of Environmental Compliance, Environmental Monitoring Unit in Jefferson, LA. At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Serves as an 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), particularly as related to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MFCMA), Executive Order 13089 (Coral Reef Protection), and associated BSEE policy. 2. Supports OEC's principle marine ecologist with consultation and coordination efforts on the protection of marine ecosystems during offshore oil and gas and other mineral development activities. 3. Supports OEC's principle marine ecologist 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. Conducts 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. Schedules and conducts field inspections for ecology-related compliance monitoring. Field compliance monitoring includes inspections of offshore rigs and platforms to ensure compliance with marine trash and debris requirements. Field monitoring also includes subsea site inspections conducted via Seafloor Compliance, Assessment, and Monitoring Program (SCAMP) remote-sensing survey and/or scientific diving methods. 6 Briefs and defends BSEE programs, policies, and conclusions to other Federal, State, local government, industry or private agencies or persons. 7. Assists senior SMEs in planning and conducting coordination meetings, industry/public workshops, Information Transfer Meeting (ITM) sessions, and other conference work related to oversight of corals, fish and fisheries, deepwater benthic communities, topographic features and banks, live bottoms, and other marine life/habitats. Represents BSEE/Office at professional meetings, and on task forces or committees involving Federal, State, or private agencies and individuals where marine ecology expertise is required. 8. Assists with studies/research as a Contract Inspector (Cl) for BSEE or the BOEM Environmental Studies Program (ESP). As CI, 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 Cl, 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. Physical Requirements: Inspections and audits require visits to offshore sites and installations. Inspections require travel by helicopter and sometimes boat to field locations. The work requires occasional inspections where there are extended periods of crawling or stooping in restricted areas or climbing tall ladders to gain access to large equipment and facilities. The employee must be in good physical condition to work under such demanding physical conditions most of the day. Note: After-hours and weekend work may be required. 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. Salary Information GS-12: $86,962 - $113,047 (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-107(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 http://www.sss.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, 0881: 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 To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 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. 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. 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. 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: https://www.opm.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: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Additional Information Work Environment: The work is performed and conducted in both an office setting and through field visits. Inspections and site assessments are conducted in an offshore environment, in close proximity to equipment and chemicals associated with oil and gas production, and on vessels conducting various OCS operations. The employee may work at great heights on large pieces of equipment and may be exposed to extreme weather conditions. Vessels may travel and require inspection work during various sea states. The work environment contains elements of exposure to potentially dangerous situations. The employee will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hardhats, safety glasses, hearing protection, work shoes, and personal flotation devices (PFDs), and could be required to take other safety precautions for which the incumbent will receive the necessary training. Travel to and from offshore facilities and sites is accomplished by Government motor vehicle, chartered helicopter, and chartered or company furnished boat. 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.