Duties

Summary

This position is in Office of Mission Support. If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement. About OMS: OMS Internet website

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the entry level of this position, you will:

• Possess a working knowledge of and receives on-going training on Federal assistance statutes, applicable Executive Orders, various Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars and EPA assistance regulations, policies and published guidelines.
• Serve as a liaison and principal point of contact for decisions regarding receipt, award, management, and closeout of Headquarters assistance projects. The incumbent provides interpretation and clarification in difficult cases on all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrative regulations, statutes and related policies for Headquarters assistance.
• Manage an assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) workload and/or interagency agreements (IAs) including receiving and reviewing applications, processing, and assistance agreements/IAs for award, monitoring, and performing post-award management activities, and closing out projects.
• Perform legal and administrative reviews of all assistance applications; determines compliance with EPA administrative regulations, statutes, and related policies for Headquarters assistance.
• Provide assistance to EPA Headquarters technical, scientific, and administrative staff and recipients and applicants in interpreting Agency policies and regulations such as Office of Management budget Circulars, payment procedures, and assistance versus acquisition issues.

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.

One or more positions may be filled.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.

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

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.

You must meet time in grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

You do not need a degree to qualify for this position.

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 processing financial assistance or interagency agreement documents, knowledge of Federal assistance regulations and guidance, and communicating with customers
- OR master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related; degree in an academic discipline related to this position
- OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1. Ability to learn, through on-the-job or formal training, and apply specific assistance and fiscal regulations, directives, statutory authorities, guidance documents, and procedures to assistance management. 2. Knowledge of grant types, methods, and techniques including fees, cost sharing arrangements, multiple awards, special provisions, and rights in data. 3. Knowledge of pre-award funding, post award activities, and closing out of projects. 4. Ability to determine administrative, fiscal, and legal compliance of all applicable assistance regulations by the assistance recipient and program officials. 5. Skill in techniques to conduct negotiation and to meet and deal with high level business, industry, scientific, and/or Government officials.

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

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 .

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.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

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.

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 and an applicable score assigned.

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 Knowledge, 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

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Documents to submit online (you should redact your social security number, date of birth, and other personal information):

-Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties and Qualifications sections. Your experience description needs to be clear/specific--we may not make assumptions regarding your experience.

-Responses to online assessment questionnaire (must complete online--it's not a document you upload).

-College transcripts - if qualifying based on education or combination of experience/education, you must submit unofficial transcripts or list of courses that includes school attended, school address, course titles, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter/semester hours earned. (Official transcripts aren't required at the time of application; if you're selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work.) 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

-Veterans: DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service), VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (%), and SF-15 (use current form: SF-15 ), if applicable (see page 2 of SF-15 for documents that can be submitted in lieu of DD-214/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 (certification is any written document from the armed forces certifying you're expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after you submit the certification). If you're a veteran with a disability and want to be considered for employment through the Schedule A noncompetitive process, provide documentation as indicated in the noncompetitive appointment bullet below.

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

-Current/Former Federal Employees: You must submit Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station. SF-50(s) must prove you're eligible to apply and have met time-in-grade:
• ELIGIBILITY - You must provide SF-50(s) demonstrating you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the Agency section at the top right of this announcement (the most common eligibility requirements are Competitive Status [Block 24/Tenure and Block 34/Position Occupied on the SF-50] and In the Commuting Area [Block 39/Duty Station on the SF-50]).
• TIME-IN-GRADE - If you're applying for a higher grade, you must provide SF-50(s) demonstrating you have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position at the next lower grade. The next lower grade is identified in the Qualifications section of this announcement. (Some SF-50 examples that can prove you've met time-in-grade include promotions, within-grade increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job.)

-Current Federal Employees: You must submit your most recent completed annual performance appraisal dated within the last 18 months (if it isn't dated within the last 18 months or you haven't received a performance appraisal, you must upload a signed/dated explanation why). You only need to upload the page that shows overall rating and manager/supervisor's signature, not the entire document. If your performance appraisal was conducted virtually, a supervisory email certifying your end-of-year review/rating was completed and the date it occurred is acceptable documentation in lieu of the supervisor's signature on the performance appraisal document; the overall rating must also be provided on either the email or the performance appraisal document.

-If you are applying for a noncompetitive appointment, you must submit additional documents to prove your eligibility:
• Schedule A - To be considered for employment through the Schedule A noncompetitive process for people with severe physical disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, and intellectual disabilities, provide documentation stating you're eligible for employment under the Schedule A hiring authority, 5 CFR 213.3102(u). Documentation must be on letterhead and include a signature and can be obtained from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a US territory that issues or provides disability benefits. For more information: Schedule A Hiring Authority & Sample Letters
• Other - Provide documentation that supports your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment.
Learn more about noncompetitive appointments: Special Appointment Authorities

Learn more about submitting documentation: Uploading Documents

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.