Duties

Summary

These positions are in the Office of the Administrator, Office of Policy, National Center for Environmental Economics, Research and Program Support Division.

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

About Office of the Administrator: OA Homepage

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

You will:

- Perform research on economic implications of environmental programs and policies including ecosystem management for submission to peer-review publications, working papers and presentations;

- Apply scientific methods, identify and conceptualize research needs, plan approach for managing, interpreting and documenting or reporting findings;

- Conduct systematic, empirical and/or theoretical investigations to advance methods available in the field of environmental, natural resource, or agricultural economics;

- Initiate, conduct and review benefit-cost and other economic analyses of proposed policies and regulations to design and evaluate standards and programs that maximize net social benefits.

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.

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.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
• You may be required to travel less than 25% of each month.

This position is designated as Moderate 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. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

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-12 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as utilizing quantitative analysis or modeling techniques to conduct economic research and analysis - OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in the academic discipline as described above.

To qualify for the GS-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as developing and utilizing quantitative analysis or modeling techniques to design and conduct economic research and analysis

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1) Ability to perform scientific or technical research; 2) Skill in written communication; 3) Skill in applying research methods to prepare economic analyses; 4) Knowledge of environmental, natural resource, or agricultural economics; 5) Skill in oral communication; 6) Ability to compile and analyze data to conduct economic investigations.

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

You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position.

You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: economics with at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed.

If you are still completing coursework, offer of employment will be contingent upon completion of degree/certificate program. Proof showing confer date within six months of the announcement closing date will be required before entry on duty.

For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures .

Additional information

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.

Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures

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 .

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

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.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

This position is being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's government-wide direct-hire authority. Under the provisions of the direct-hire authority, category rating, veterans' preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply. All eligible applicants will be forwarded to the selecting official for further consideration, and you may be subject to assessments during the selection process. If you are selected, we will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the qualification requirements.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Documents to be submitted online:

NOTE: You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted.

--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 may 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. 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. IF EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED AT A FOREIGN INSTITUTION: You must submit an equivalency evaluation with your application as described here: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures .

--Displaced Federal employees under ICTAP/CTAP: copy of your most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station.

To learn more about submitting documentation, visit Uploading Documents to USAJOBS .

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.