Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist
Company
Other Agencies and Independent Organizations - Environmental Protection Agency
Location
Chicago, Illinois Chicago, Illinois
Type
Full Time
Job Description
Summary
This position is in Region 5, Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division, Water Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Branch, Water Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Section 1. About Region 5:Â Region 5
This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
*EPA offers work-from-home and work schedule flexibilities as described in the Benefits section.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
- You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
- Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- You will be required to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds.
#LI-Onsite
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.
This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
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.
Qualifications
NOTE: Â You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement.
In addition to the basic entry education requirements, you must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as described below:
To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must have one of the following:
- 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level defined as analyzing field and laboratory environmental samples; OR applying scientific/engineering principles or policies to environmental inspections, investigations, and/or enforcement issuesÂ
- 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master’s degree; or master’s or equivalent graduate degree; the education must be directly related and provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position
- equivalent combination of education and experience
To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:
- 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level defined as conducting site inspections under a national environmental law; OR participating in enforcement activities and recommending enforcement actions based upon inspection findings.Â
- 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree; or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; the education must be directly related and provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position
- equivalent combination of education and experience
Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:Â
- Skill in conducting field inspections, gathering evidence, and initiating enforcement actions.
- Skill in written communication.
- Ability to provide assistance for field sampling and analytical services, facility inspections or audits, or monitoring support.
- Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, policies and practices related to enforcement and compliance activities.
- Skill in oral communication.
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.
0401 - Life Science -Â You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in 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.
0819 - Engineering -Â
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. Â 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 or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university 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.
1301 - Physical Science -Â You must have a bachelor's or higher 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, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
Additional information
Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information on the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures
NOTE: To be entitled to selection priority, you must be rated well-qualified (i.e., you must fall into the Well Qualified category or higher--see the How You Will Be Evaluated section).
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: Â EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Â 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 is in the bargaining unit.
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. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA.
ACCELERATED PROMOTION PROGRAM
If you are selected as an entry-level Engineer (GS-05, GS-07, or GS-09), you will be placed on an approved training agreement to intensify your development in order to prepare you for the next higher grade level on an accelerated basis (six months or more). After successful completion of the training program, you would be eligible for promotion to the next higher grade level.
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Date Posted
07/12/2024
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2
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