Environmental Engineer
Summary
Want to have positive impact working in diverse environments? Join us at IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction! We collaborate with American Indian Tribes to plan, design, and construct water, wastewater, and solid waste facilities. Visit [click to reveal website link] or email [click to reveal email address] is eligible for the IHS Student Loan Repayment Program with selection based on IHS priorities and available funds.
A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
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Duties
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Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job:
Civil and Environmental Engineer Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)
This position is being announced concurrently under Delegated Examining procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-26-HQ-12954771-DE for eligibility requirements.
The incumbent will be responsible for collaborating with American Indian Tribes to increase and maintain access to water, wastewater, and solid waste facilities by:
- Performing planning, design, and construction oversight activities for community and individual water supply, wastewater, and solid waste facilities.
- Visiting tribal communities where projects are being planned and constructed.
- Reviewing work prepared by technical staff.
- Estimating costs and materials necessary to construct sanitation facilities.
- Preparing engineering reports.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Must have a valid State driver's license. It must be REAL ID-compliant.
This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
Confidential Financial Disclosure Form may be required.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit [click to reveal website link].
Must have a viable bank account at a financial institution for electronic direct deposit of salary payment.
Background Investigation Requirement:
This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.
A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.
Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.
Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.
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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Experience in designing new construction or improvements to existing facilities; assisting in resolving issues with contracts and construction activities; and evaluating designs and specifications to ensure conformance with project requirements and budget
OR Master's degree in engineering or a related field or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree in engineering or a related field
OR bachelor's degree in an engineering program with Superior Academic Achievement AND 1 year of appropriate professional experience
OR completed a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering AND 1 year of appropriate professional experience
OR a combination of graduate level education in engineering or a related field AND specialized experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Qualifying graduate education is in excess of 18 semester hours
OR currently enrolled in a professional master's degree in engineering or a related field or equivalent graduate degree, certified ABET and expect to complete the qualifying education within 9 months.
Superior Academic Achievement: One of the following three needs to be met for Superior Academic Achievement: (1) Class Standing- upper third of the graduating class. (2) Grade-Point Average- 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcript or based on courses completed during final 2 years of curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on average of required courses completed in major, or required courses in major completed during the final 2 years of curriculum. (3) Honor Society Membership- election to membership in a national scholastic honor society.
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Education
This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: [click to reveal website link].
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit [click to reveal website link].
Additional information
Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.
Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This position may be covered by a Bargaining Unit.
Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a one year service agreement will be required.
This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: [click to reveal website link].
The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:
For IHS - [click to reveal website link]
You will be evaluated for this position in accordance with the OPM Merit Hiring Plan.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide short essay responses (200 words or less each) to the following four questions.
- How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
- In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
- How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?
- How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?
- Your responses are optional and will not be scored.
- However, they may be reviewed by hiring managers and agency leadership (or designees) during the evaluation process.
- You will be asked to certify that your responses are written in your own words and that you did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as ChatGPT or Copilot).
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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