Duties

Summary

This position is located in Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), Material Recovery and Waste Management Division, Immediate Office. For more information on this office, visit their website: OLEM Webpage

If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement.

Your salary will be based on the grade level for which you are selected and the duty location of the position.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the entry level of this position, you will:

• Gather, assemble, and analyze data and information needed to develop policy, guidance and regulations for municipal, industrial and hazardous waste management.
• Assist senior technical experts in providing scientific and engineering advice to Regions and states.
• Participate as a team member working on management of municipal, industrial and hazardous waste management.
• Participate in decision-making briefings with Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR) management and contribute by making suggestions and recommendations and policy options related to, but not limited to, municipal, industrial and hazardous waste management.

You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements.

One or more positions may be filled.

When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be required to travel 25% or less of each month.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.
• Position has educational/degree requirements (see Qualifications section).
• You must submit a resume and required documents (see How to Apply section).
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.

If you are selected, the entire period served under the Recent Graduates program will be a trial period.

This position is designated as Low Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation.

You must meet all Recent Graduates program requirements by the closing date.

Qualifications

In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduates program, this position has specific educational requirements in order to qualify as described below:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below:

To qualify for the GS-09 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-07 level defined as experience in the geological sciences, such a applying geologic principles (e.g., groundwater hydrology, geochemistry, properties of sediments, etc.) to the study of geological systems - OR master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the academic discipline as described below.

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

• Ability to identify sources of data and information, and evaluate the quality and appropriateness for use in developing policies and regulations that include, but are not limited to, solid and hazardous waste management.
• Ability to review federal, state and international regulations and policies and apply this information to address issues that include, but are not limited to, solid and hazardous waste management issues.
• Ability to understand and communicate scientific and/or geology concepts including but not limited to solid and hazardous waste management.
• Skill in responding professionally and accurately to information requests of a technical nature.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to organize meetings.
• Skill in written communication.
• Skill in oral communication.
• Ability to review varied topics, identify issues, and propose options to address the issues.

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, 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.

If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures .

Education

Additional information

This is a Recent Graduates position in the Pathways program. This program provides individuals who have completed a qualifying associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate with an entry-level developmental experience with the potential to lead to a career in the Federal government after successfully completing the program. More information about the Recent Graduates program can be found at USAJOBS Information Sheet .

This position is in the bargaining unit.

EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures .

Upon completion of the developmental program, you may be noncompetitively converted to a term or permanent position without further competition.

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed above.

Position has portable work and selectee may be authorized to telework after meeting eligibility requirements if approved by the supervisor/manager.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the Qualifications section. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the online assessment. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for the position. You are being evaluated under the category rating method which means, if you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the ‘Best Qualified', ‘Well Qualified', or ‘Qualified' category.

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements. If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments.

NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Documents to be submitted online:

-- Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section. In describing your experience, you need to be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

--Responses to the online assessment questionnaire (you must complete this online - it is not a document you need to upload).

-- College transcripts - required to submit either unofficial transcripts or a list of courses that includes school(s) attended, school address, course title, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter or semester hours earned. Required to submit documentation from the school showing completion of degree within the preceding two years. NOTE: Official educational transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work with EPA.

-- Veterans' Preference Documents - DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service), VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage), and SF-15, if applicable; active duty service members: submit certification from the armed forces documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after you submit the certification).

Additional information can be found on our website: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.