Duties

Summary

These positions are in Region 3. The location will be determined after a selection has been made for this position; if selected, you must work at one of the locations stated in this announcement. About Region 3: R3

Salary will be based on the grade level for which you are selected and the duty location.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

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At the entry level of this position, you will:

- Participate in environmental protection projects and activities related to air, water, land or habitat protection, permitting, enforcement and compliance, superfund or brownfields, or environmental data;

- Provide technical assistance or advice on data analysis, analytical methods, sampling techniques, etc. related to air, water, land or habitat protection, permitting, enforcement and compliance, Superfund or Brownfields, or environmental data;

- Perform limited or routine aspects of environmental protection work related to air, water, land or habitat protection, permitting, enforcement and compliance, or environmental data;

And/Or

- Review, assess, or draft comments and technical documents related to air, water, land or habitat protection, permitting, enforcement and compliance, Superfund or Brownfields, or environmental data.

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 inter-agency agreements.

One or more positions may be filled.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials.
• If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.
• Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
• Pre-employment physical may be required and periodic physicals thereafter.
• You must meet all Recent Grad. program requirements by the closing date.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• You may be required to travel less than 25% of each month.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.

Participation in the medical monitoring program may be required.

This position may require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

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

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

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.

Qualifications

We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below:

To qualify for the GS-07 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-05 level defined as assisting in the collection of field and laboratory environmental samples; OR applying scientific/engineering policies to environmental protection issues or problems;

- OR 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement ( Superior Academic Achievement Definition ) degree in the academic discipline as described below.

- OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

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 analyzing scientific/engineering data or field and laboratory environmental samples;

- 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.

- OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1) Ability to learn how to conduct field inspections, gather evidence, and/or recommend actions; 2) Skill in written communication; 3) Skill in providing technical assistance for field sampling and analytical services, facility inspections or audits, and/or monitoring support; 4) Ability to read, understand and apply environmental laws, regulations, policies, and/or practices; and 5) Skill in oral communication.

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

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

Life Scientist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed.

Environmental Engineer: All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify for consideration for an engineering position:

• Successful completion of a professional engineering degree at an accredited university or college OR
• Have a combination of college level education or training AND technical experience that has furnished you with (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

Professional registration as an engineer.

Evidence of Passing the Engineer-in-Training Written Test.

Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.

Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field and at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications .

Physical Scientist: You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science.

Current students in the above listed fields who are graduating by August 31, 2021 are also eligible to apply.

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

Additional information

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 .

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 .

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

ATTENTION VETERANS: If you are a veteran (as defined in 5 USC 2108) who due to military service obligations was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates program during any portion of the two-year eligibility period (described in the "This job is open to - Clarification from the agency" section above), you have a full two-year period of eligibility upon your release/discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may your eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which you completed the requirements for a qualifying degree or qualifying career or technical education program.

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.

This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be authorized to telework after meeting eligibility requirements if approved by the supervisor/manager. Telework is available based on agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement which may not allow for full-time telework. NOTE: The agency is currently utilizing maximum telework flexibilities due to COVID. Once normal operations resume, you will be required to report to the location stated in this announcement.

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
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 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 date degree was conferred or date all degree requirements were met 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. 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 .

-- Additional educational documentation - submit based on your current status:

• Recent graduates: submit documentation from the school showing date degree was conferred or date all degree requirements were met within the preceding two years.
• Current students who will complete a qualifying degree/certificate by August 31, 2021: submit proof of current enrollment.

-- 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 (use current version: SF-15 Form ), if applicable (see page 2 of the SF-15 for documents that can be submitted in lieu of the DD-214 and VA letter); 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).

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.