FEMA Region 5’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Team is seeking candidates to apply for an
exciting opportunity within the EHP Field Team. FEMA encourages any qualified applicant to apply.
All specialties welcome including but not limited to: Archaeology, Historic Preservation, Endangered
Species, Wetlands, Floodplains, Environmental Justice, etc.
Description:
This position will serve as an Environmental / Historic Preservation Specialist (EHP) for FEMA Region 5.
The position will review mostly FEMA Public Assistance program work.
The position will require significant travel to FEMA Region 5 declared disasters.
This position is being announced under FEMA’s Cadre of On-call Response / Recovery (CORE) Program.
This is a temporary appointment in the Excepted Service, not to exceed 2 years, with the option to
extend based on workload and funding availability.
The duty station is Chicago, IL; when not deployed the applicant must meet the Agency in-office
requirement in the Region 5 Office. This is not a remote job.
Key Experience and Requirements:
▪ Knowledge of environmental and historic preservation laws, regulations, and executive orders.
▪ General knowledge of FEMA EHP role in assisting programs achieve environmental compliance.
▪ Ability to build trust and credibility in EHP and its mission through effective professional interactions
with Region 5 Public Assistance, their state applicants and sub-applicants.
▪ Expertise in organizational and project management. Skill in organizing, managing, and prioritizing
multiple demands and projects efficiently, and ability to complete assignments in a meticulous and timely manner.
▪ Capability to clearly articulate information to others to convey thoughts and ideas; to provide
information concerning procedures and requirements; and to facilitate open exchange of ideas and
information.
▪ Written communication and computer skills to produce effectively composed and clearly written
reports and correspondence.
Duties
▪ Attend Exploratory Calls, Recovery Scoping Meetings, and Site Inspections on behalf of EHP.
▪ Review FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program projects for compliance with EHP laws, regulations,
and executive orders.
▪ Develop requests for information (RFIs) for the program for projects as necessary.
▪ Complete compliance reviews, including the following: National Environmental Policy Act,
Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone
Management Act, and Executive Orders on Floodplain Management, Wetland Protection, and
Environmental Justice.
▪ Make recommendations to Supervisor on compliance strategies relating to the aforementioned laws
and orders.
▪ Prepare consultation documentation as required by the Endangered Species Act and National
Historic Preservation Act and review documentation prepared by contractors and (sub)applicants.
▪ Provide guidance, support, and oversight of EHP compliance and enforcement activities undertaken
by Tribal, State, Territorial, local governments, and eligible private non-profit entities.
Emergency Assignment—Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management
responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions
are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require
irregular work hours or work at locations other than the official duty station and may include duties
other than those specified in the employee’s official position description. Travel requirements in
support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance
notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and
operationally challenging conditions
How to Apply
▪ Submit a resume and cover letter with the subject line: “Environmental Protection Specialist” to
Karen.Poulson@fema.dhs.gov by Close of Business Monday September 25, 2023.