What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Protection Specialist position at USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)?
Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
Job Summary
This position is in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (SHEM) section of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), and serves as an Environmental Technician responsible for ensuring maintenance of and compliance with all Federal, State, Local, Departmental, and Agency environmental laws, regulations and standards.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates: Experience in participating in program inspections and identifying corrective actions. Comprehending and assisting with the implementation of policies and procedures including operating permits, federal, state, and municipal regulations. Executing spill response plans or programs and responding to hazardous materials spills. Working with satellite accumulation points and hazardous waste removal operations. OR One year of full-time graduate education in an accredited college or university. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Experience refers to 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:Works as part of a team to ensure NBAF compliance with environmental issues directly affecting regulatory compliance, the health and safety of personnel, and well-being of the surrounding community.Communicates to Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist on potential issues and concerns associated with ensuring and maintaining environmental compliance.Maintains and displays professional work ethic when developing, maintaining, and implementing programs for environmental compliance.Effectively communicates issues associated with environmental maintenance and compliance to NBAF personnel and other government agencies.Implements program action items in support of NBAF environmental management efforts detailed in Executive Order 13834.Utilizes databases, spreadsheets and organizational systems as needed to track workflow and project process.Provides training in areas of expertise to NBAF personnel or others as assigned.Assists NBAF staff in the reporting of environmental incidents in a timely manner according to ARS, APHIS or Departmental reporting requirements, whenever necessary.
Position Start Date:
08/04/2026
Position Close Date:
08/10/2026
Salary Offered: 50460 - 65599 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!
Job Summary
This position is in the Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (SHEM) section of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), and serves as an Environmental Technician responsible for ensuring maintenance of and compliance with all Federal, State, Local, Departmental, and Agency environmental laws, regulations and standards.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates: Experience in participating in program inspections and identifying corrective actions. Comprehending and assisting with the implementation of policies and procedures including operating permits, federal, state, and municipal regulations. Executing spill response plans or programs and responding to hazardous materials spills. Working with satellite accumulation points and hazardous waste removal operations. OR One year of full-time graduate education in an accredited college or university. OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Experience refers to 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major Duties
The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:Works as part of a team to ensure NBAF compliance with environmental issues directly affecting regulatory compliance, the health and safety of personnel, and well-being of the surrounding community.Communicates to Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist on potential issues and concerns associated with ensuring and maintaining environmental compliance.Maintains and displays professional work ethic when developing, maintaining, and implementing programs for environmental compliance.Effectively communicates issues associated with environmental maintenance and compliance to NBAF personnel and other government agencies.Implements program action items in support of NBAF environmental management efforts detailed in Executive Order 13834.Utilizes databases, spreadsheets and organizational systems as needed to track workflow and project process.Provides training in areas of expertise to NBAF personnel or others as assigned.Assists NBAF staff in the reporting of environmental incidents in a timely manner according to ARS, APHIS or Departmental reporting requirements, whenever necessary.
Position Start Date:
08/04/2026
Position Close Date:
08/10/2026
Salary Offered: 50460 - 65599 USD Per Year
You can make a difference! The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) needs bright, energetic and committed professionals to facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and to protect the health and care of animals and plants in the United States. We operate in domestic and global markets. Be part of an organization that protects the health and agriculture of the American people. Join our team! To learn more about what it's like to work at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, what the agency does, and the types of careers, please visit the APHIS careers site. APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response
Please see the full announcement on USAJobs by clicking on the APPLY button!