Environmental Protection Specialist (Direct Hire)

NASA•Virginia, IL 62691, US• Full Time

Posted 1 day ago• Business & Finance• Mechanical

Compensation

$106,437–$138,370/year

Job Description

Summary

As an Environmental Protection Specialist, you will advise Center management and personnel on environmental laws, policies and processes; and administer and oversee programs or projects that protect the environment, control pollution, remedy damage, and ensure compliance with laws regulations, and policies.

Open & closing dates

03/13/2026 to 03/17/2026

Salary $106,437 to - $138,370 per year Pay scale & grade GS 13

Location

Duties

Communicate compliance status and issues, coordinate with Center and Agency organizations, and collaborate with external stakeholders.
Perform technical and administrative duties to help ensure Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) remains in full compliance with all environmental regulatory permitting and compliance requirements in program areas.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Division, Directorate, and Center staff, contractors, regulatory agencies, other Federal agencies, and internal/external stakeholders.
Serve as subject matter expert on Federal, State, and Local environmental permitting and compliance requirements as they apply to Federal Facilities and to GSFC operations and activities.
Determine applicable environmental requirements, and assist NASA programs, project managers and contractors to implement cost effective requirements while minimizing impacts to mission.
Solicit input from NASA programs, contractors, tenants, and customers, to develop and present solutions to regulatory agencies to protect NASA's interests and resources, while preserving the integrity of GSFC environmental protection efforts.
Participate in partnering meetings with regulators, contractors, and GSFC tenants and partners to resolve environmental permitting and compliance issues. Negotiate with regulators on behalf of NASA.
Identify impacts and risks to GSFC projects, programs, or activities; provide options and alternatives for action to mitigate adverse impact
Provide recommendations for environmental policy and legislative changes, research requirements, perform technical evaluations, and make compliance recommendations.
Communicate issues/problems; coordinate assignments, actionable events, milestones, deadlines, and time frames for completion.

Requirements

This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Position subject to pre-employment background investigation.
If selected, you will be required to complete a financial disclosure statement.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level:

Applying principles, methods, and practices in areas related to environmental science, physical science and disciplines sufficient to manage air emissions program;
Serving as a subject matter expert on federal, state, and/or local environmental permitting and compliance requirements related to environmental protection;
Implementing compliance programs in one of the following areas: petroleum storage, drinking water, wastewater, or storm water.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or assessment questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

Compliance
Compliance Inspection
Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence
Problem Solving
Technical Competence

NASA considers paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NASA will not ask you to disclose criminal history record information during the application process or before we make a conditional/tentative offer of employment. If you apply for this position and are selected, NASA will conduct a suitability/security background investigation after you accept a tentative job offer. If you feel you are asked to disclose your criminal history before you accept a tentative offer and wish to file a complaint within 30 days, please contact: [email protected].

Required Documents

All submitted resumes must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Resumes longer than two pages will be rejected by USAJOBS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize including experience and relevant qualifications that directly align with the position advertised. All work experience and accomplishments must be associated with dates (month/year) to allow for accurate qualification assessment.

A complete application package includes a resume, required documents and completion of the vacancy announcement questionnaire. Please see this guidance: . Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire.

Please note: if any of the following types of information are included on your resume, your application package will be disqualified:

Classified or government sensitive information.
Social Security Number (SSN)
Photos of yourself
Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

If your resume contains any of the above information, you must redact that information prior to the submission of your application.

The following documents are required:

Resume

There may be other supporting documents (licenses, certification, veterans preference, etc.), depending on your answers to the questionnaire and job announcement description, that you may have to submit, please verify your application. Do not submit an OF-306 with your application.

If you are a surplus or displaced employee (CTAP and ICTAP), submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes copies of your agency notice, most recent Performance Rating and most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Official documents are required at the time of appointment for verification of eligibility and qualifications.