Duties

Summary

This Scientific or Professional (ST) position is located in the Office of Research and Development (ORD), Office of Science Advisor, Policy, and Engagement. If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement. About ORD: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-research-and-development-ord

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Responsibilities

The Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement (OSAPE) integrates scientific research and expertise into Agency decisions, provides Agency leadership on scientific integrity and human subjects research review, provides advice and vision on science and technology issues, manages the Office of Research and Development's (ORD) extramural research programs, leads ORD's regional science and environmental justice programs, challenges and prizes, manages several external advisory boards, serves as ORD's lead on science policy issues, and coordinates ORD's partnerships with tribes, other federal agencies and international organizations, and key state and local partners. OSAPE also houses the EPA's Human Subjects Research Review Official and the EPA's Scientific Integrity Official.

Specific duties of the Associate Director for Science include:

• Leading coordinated time-critical scientific research designed to improve the Agency's approach to planning, implementing, and managing human health risk assessments.
• Providing expertise and advice to the OSAPE Director and Deputy Director which ultimately supports ORD's Assistant Administrator and the EPA's Science Advisor.
• Overseeing, developing, and applying research to strategies that expand dose response analysis, exposure assessment, and scientific risk assessment research aimed at addressing related Agency guidance documents, scientific risk assessment approaches, and policies.
• Sharing research, inventions, and innovations on programs related to biological and physical science risk assessments and how they affect human health and the environment.
• Providing leadership within OSAPE on a range of scientific issues related to OSAPE's programs, including those at the intersection of science and policy, related to human health risk assessment, and on the communication, presentation and use of scientific information in Agency decision-making.
• Serving as a primary external face for OSAPE in interactions with EPA Program and Regional Offices and other partners on OSAPE's scientific programs.
• Serving as the Executive Director of the EPA's Risk Assessment Forum.
• Sustaining program visibility and promoting scientific credibility by leading or participating on national and international task forces, committees, and panels.
• Managing an extensive array of special and continuing assignments and projects of special concern to OSAPE, ORD and EPA.

Supervisory status
No

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).
• You may be required to travel 1 to 5 days per month.
• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.

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 ST 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. 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

In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for:

• At least 3 years of specialized experience in, or closely related to, the field of human health and/or ecological risk assessment.
• At least 1 year of this specialized experience must have been in planning and executing difficult programs of national significance or planning and executing specialized programs that show outstanding attainments in the field of research or consultation.
• At least 1 year of the specialized experience must be at least equivalent to experience at GS-15 level.

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 further evaluated based on your narrative statements addressing the Technical Qualifications.

Your responses should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility.

Technical Qualifications (TQs) - Mandatory - Limited to two pages per factor - Failure to address these factors will result in your application being disqualified.

TQ 1 - Demonstrated experience building coalitions and relationships with partners related to science and science policy issues.

TQ 2 - Demonstrated experience presenting scientific and technical issues in a senior capacity to partners and/or at meetings or conferences.

TQ 3 - Demonstrated experience providing expertise and leadership on scientific and technical matters related to human health and/or ecological risk assessment.

Education

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

A bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in:

Biology:
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.

Physical Science:
You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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

Additional information

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 .

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency's workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.

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 ST hiring authority. Under the provisions of the ST hiring authority, category rating, veterans' preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply. We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. All eligible applicants will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for further consideration, and you may be subject to assessments during the selection process.

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.

-- 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 .

--A narrative statement covering each Technical Qualification (TQ) - Required - Limited to two pages per factor. Your examples should emphasize your level of responsibilities, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments with results of your actions, policy initiatives and level of contacts.

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.