Summary NOTE: This is a TERM appointment. Appointments to this position, however, will not convey permanent status in the Federal service and will be for a period not to exceed (NTE) 13 months with the possibility of extension up to a total of no more than ten (10) years. Responsibilities This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Orphaned Wells Program Office. This position is being advertised as both location negotiable after selection and with a duty station of Washington, DC or Denver, CO with the option of telework. If applying to "negotiable after selection", this means that your duty station will be based off your home address and you will be a full-time remote worker. If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval. At the full performance level (GS-14) the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following: 1. Support orphaned well program development and implementation activities associated with Section 40601 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by serving as a technical expert on well plugging operations, site reclamation and remediation, and other techniques and procedures associated with reducing the hazards of orphaned wells. 2. Lead and advise a multidisciplinary team to analyze and interpret data, including methane emissions and other environmental data, carry out field inspections and desk audits of grant recipients, and evaluate plugging activities, processes, and procedures. 3. Serve as a technical consultant in the development and implementation of orphaned well program policies, plans, guidelines, proposals, processes, procedures, and recommendations on issues that cross functional lines. 4. Evaluate and advise on ensuring that wells are plugged and well sites are remediated and reclaimed in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations to protect groundwater, other natural resources, public health and safety, and the environment. 5. Provide policy-level support and technical analysis to develop and improve grant guidance, reporting requirements, and terms and conditions for nationwide grant programs and oversight and administration of funding and activities for federal orphaned wells projects. 6. Serve as a technical expert on multidisciplinary teams to assist in the evaluation and selection of grant recipients and the monitoring of grant recipient activities. Most of the work is performed in a typical office environment. Travel and field work up to 25% of the time can be expected. Travel will typically be to sites where well plugging, site remediation, and reclamation activities are taking place. The field work may involve occasional exposure to steep, rugged terrain, rough forest roads, with the possibility of extreme weather and temperature conditions which requires normal safety precautions. The work involves vehicle operation and associated discomforts and risks when operating motorized vehicles in isolated areas. You must possess a valid state driver's license. * You may be required to operate a government motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid state driver's license. You are required to submit proof of the driver's license with your initial application. Salary Range Information: GS-14: Denver: 135,860 to 176,620 Washington, DC: 139,395 to 181,216 Remote Location: 104,604 to 135,987 *This is the base GS salary rate. If the applicant is selected for a remote location, pay will be set according to the selectee's geographic area. First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available. 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. (1) Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Education Requirements described below. You MUST provide transcripts in order to verify that the educational requirements have been met. 0401 - Natural Resources Specialist A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in "A" above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 1301 - Physical Scientist A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 0819 - Environmental Engineer and 0881 - Petroleum Engineer A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. -OR- B. Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following listed in the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf (2) Specialized Experience To qualify for the GS-14, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade 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: 1. Interpreting plugging standards and applying techniques and procedures used to plug orphaned wells, remediate and/or reclaim well sites, remove associated equipment, and/or reduce orphaned well liabilities; and 2. Analyzing and recommending solutions to difficult and complex problems concerning natural resources, physical science, environmental, or engineering challenges; and 3. Preparing technical reports/presentations for group discussions and decision; and 4. Serving as a subject matter expert advising management on oil and gas plugging and abandonment operations and/or related or similar environmental clean-up activities. 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 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.