USFWS Engineer

Environmental Engineering

GS-0819

Position Overview

The Department of the Interior is tasked with the stewardship and responsible management of the nation’s public lands, natural resources, and species and their habitats. Environmental engineers ensure DOI meets this mission by assessing the environmental impact of activities such as construction or natural resource development.

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Survey

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate is a tenacious person who can apply their professional engineering knowledge to solving complicated problems across multiple systems as part of a team. The issues addressed by environmental engineers are multi-faceted and directly impact the mission of the Department, so they must possess a keen attention to detail, a knack for problem solving, and should be an effective communicator.

Specialty Areas

Air Pollution/Control; Contamination Sites; Mining/Industrial Operations; Regulatory Compliance (e.g., National Environmental Protection Act); Restoration; Sustainability; Wastewater; Waste Systems; Water Systems

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with occasional field and site visits.

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the Individual Occupation Requirements and the Professional and Scientific Positions Group Qualification Standard on the OPM websites.

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Journey:

    • Assesses existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land
    • Conducts or coordinates environmental impact audits; Designs systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality
    • Recommends actions necessary to preempt the occurrence of environmental statutory violations and to achieve compliance
    • Develops, manages, and executes environmental initiatives

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Strengths by Level

Journey 12-13
  • Accountability
    Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Attention to Detail
    Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Customer Service
    Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Flexibility
    Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Interpersonal Skills
    Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Learning
    Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills; uses training, feedback, or other opportunities for self-learning and development.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Oral Communication
    Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Problem Solving
    Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Project Management
    Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Resilience
    Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Teaching Others
    Helps others learn through formal or informal methods; identifies training needs; provides constructive feedback; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Teamwork
    Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Technical Competence
    Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
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    Journey 12-13
  • Writing
    Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
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    Journey 12-13

Common Pathways

Candidates who made this career change most commonly held these occupations...

50%

Civil Engineering

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50%

Miscellaneous Administration and Program

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Where We Are

DOI employs people at more than 2,400 locations across the United States and territories. Use the Position Locator tool to see where current DOI employees work. To check for job opportunities, scroll down and click "See jobs on USAjobs.gov."