Duties

Summary

This Senior Executive Service (SES) position is located in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Civil Enforcement (OCE), Air Enforcement Division (AED), Washington, DC. For more information on the office, visit their website: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-enforcement-and-compliance-assurance-oeca

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

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Air Enforcement Division (AED) is responsible for the development and implementation of civil judicial and administrative enforcement activities under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The Division serves as lead agency counsel for enforcement cases developed by headquarters-managed programs, regional referrals, and on nationally managed and coordinated cases. The AED is responsible for development and oversight of national enforcement policies implementing the CAA and APPS. The AED has a staff of approximately 40 employees comprised primarily of attorneys, scientists and engineers. The Division is organized into three branches: the Stationary Source Enforcement Branch, the Vehicle and Engine Enforcement Branch, and the Fuels Enforcement Branch (located in Denver, CO). Together these branches enforce the CAA and implementing regulations, investigate possible violations, negotiate resolutions of those violations, and commence administrative and judicial actions. The AED coordinates closely with the Department of Justice, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Air and Radiation, all Offices of Regional Counsel and Regional Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Divisions, in addition to other EPA offices as necessary.

AED manages EPA's national Title II enforcement practice. This practice area includes enforcement and policy development related to vehicle and engine emission standards, vehicle and engine import requirements, conventional fuel standards, and generation, trading and use of credits (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Duties include:

• Developing national enforcement and compliance assurance policies related to the CAA.
• Conducting and overseeing enforcement of programs governed by the CAA, and recommending changes in air enforcement program national goals and policies.
• Providing an active or lead role (as counsel of record) in CAA civil judicial and administrative litigation having national significance or precedential values.
• Participating directly in the development of nationally significant litigation working with the Department of Justice and personnel from EPA Regional offices.
• Serving as the headquarters point of contact for actions relating to issues arising under the CAA as a result of natural disasters and other exigent circumstances.
• Overseeing and managing Division operations by establishing overall operating policies, priorities, annual budget operating plans, and procedures; developing long-range staffing and work management plans; allocating and overseeing human and fiscal resources within budgetary limitations.
• Serving as principal advisor, through the Director or Deputy Director of OCE, to the Assistant Administrator of OECA, in the area of responsibility.
• Representing the Division, and as appropriate, OCE and/or the Assistant Administrator with other EPA officials, key officials from Congress, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, public interest groups and private industry.
• Conducting outreach and information exchange activities regarding EPA enforcement activities under the CAA with state and local governments, industry groups, nongovernmental organizations and citizens.
• Preparing and/or directing preparation of testimony to the Congress on Agency policies and programs in the area of assignment.
• Integrating or ensuring the integration of, assigned programs with those of other organizations both within and outside OECA.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must submit resume and required documents (see How to Apply section).
• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You may be required to travel 1 to 5 days per month.

If you are selected, you must complete a 1-year SES probationary period, if not previously completed.

The Ethics in Government Act, P.L. 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually, and upon termination of employment.

This position is designated as High 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.

Qualifications

The work of this position is classified in the General Attorney, 0905 series. Applicants must have an LL.B or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U. S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions. The incumbent must have significant experience in providing legal advice and counsel at EPA; other Federal, State, or local agencies; or in private practice.

All applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform in this role. Typically this experience can be found in work within this field or a field that is closely related.

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service, applicants must also provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below.

A. Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) - Mandatory for competitive applicants - Failure to address these factors will result in your application being disqualified, unless you are a noncompetitive eligible applicant.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. Involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. Involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. Involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. Involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS. Involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Your responses should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility. Leadership competencies for each ECQ can be found at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

B. Technical Qualifications (TQs) - Mandatory for all applicants - Failure to address these factors will result in your application being disqualified.

TQ 1 - Demonstrated experience in directing and leading an organization charged with developing and resolving judicial cases that address violations of environmental laws. As part of this statement, please give examples that demonstrate the ability to provide legal advice on issues that are complex and politically sensitive.

TQ 2 - Demonstrated experience in leading a diverse organization consisting of legal and technical staff while building relationships and collaborating with leaders in other organizations to accomplish your work. As part of this statement, please describe how you work with senior leadership and other organizations to achieve positive outcomes.

Education

Applicants must have an LL.B or J.D. degree from an accredited law school; must be admitted to practice before the highest court of a State, U. S. territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and must maintain active status as a member of the bar of one of these jurisdictions.

Additional information

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.

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

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 .

Veteran's preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.

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. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be evaluated based on your narrative statements addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Technical Qualifications (TQs). It will then be forwarded to a three member Rating Panel consisting of SES members for further review. The Rating Panel will decide which Best Qualified applicants will be issued to the Selecting Official by the Human Resources Office.

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.

-- A narrative statement covering each of following:

• Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) - Required for competitive applicants - Address each of the five factors individually within a limit of ten pages total. Exceeding this limit will result in disqualification of your application.
• Technical Qualifications (TQs) - Required for all applicants - Address each listed factor individually within a limit of two pages per factor. Exceeding this limit will result in disqualification of your application.

Your examples should use the Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) model to emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts. Additional information on the proper preparation of ECQ statements and the CCAR model is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

-- Senior Executive Service (SES) noncompetitive applicants: If you are currently serving under a career SES appointment, are eligible for reinstatement into the SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program approved by OPM, proof of SES noncompetitive eligibility must be submitted:

• SF-50 showing your status as a:
  
  • current Career SES appointee,
  • former Career SES appointee with career SES reinstatement eligibility, or
  • current or reinstatement eligible Career SES-equivalent executive who is/was employed in a Federal government agency that has an interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) allowing for movement between the agency's SES-equivalent personnel system and the SES; OR
• A certificate of completion from an OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Program (CDP). This applies only if your ECQs have been approved by an OPM Qualifications Review Board through the SES CDP.

You are not required to submit a narrative statement addressing the ECQs, but are encouraged to do so.

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.