Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens

At the entry level of this position, you will:

• Serve as an environmental scientist in providing technical support on multi-media environmental emergencies for cleanup, removal, and remedial activities for multi-media oil and hazardous materials spills and incidents.
• Provide advice and guidance in the areas of removal, remedial and oil spills sites/actions.
• Use scientific instrumentation in the field to locate hazardous materials and to guide and augment multi-media extent of contamination investigations.
• Interpret results of environmental investigations and prepare reports of each study, including discussions of new approaches, techniques, or technology used.
• Determine the extent of contamination, degree of clean-up necessary, and restoration requirements during accidental or purposeful releases of hazardous waste and/or environmental emergencies.

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 interagency agreements.

Conditions of employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.
• You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials.
• You may be required to lift items weighing over 50 pounds.
• Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.

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.

Participation in the medical monitoring program is required.

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

In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below:

To qualify for the GS-11 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-09 level defined as assisting more experienced scientists in responding to and advising on environmental emergencies, releases of hazardous waste, and/or remediation and restoration at hazardous waste sites; and assisting more experienced scientists in conducting assessments through monitoring, sampling, or analysis of hazardous substances using field analytical instrumentation.
- OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 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.

To qualify for the GS-12 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as advising others on responses to environmental emergencies regarding releases of hazardous waste, and remediation and restoration at hazardous waste sites; and conducting assessments through monitoring, sampling, or analysis of hazardous substances using field analytical instrumentation.

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 

• Knowledge of the concepts and practice of responding to releases of hazardous materials to the environment.
• Skill in developing and implementing priority systems at sites to insure protection and mitigation actions are directed at the most sensitive and vulnerable environmental, social, and economic areas.
• Knowledge of state and federal codes and regulations issued in accordance with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and other federal pollution laws such as the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
• Ability to advise the on-scene coordinator if action is emergency, time-critical, or non-time critical by determining the probable direction, migration rate, nature, amount, and location of the contaminant.
• Ability to act as a mentor to other ERT members, on-scene coordinators, and other federal, state, and local government personnel on methods for responding to counter-terrorism events and hazardous material spills.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Ability to oversee and participate in conducting investigations involving the collection and analysis of soil, sediment, surface water, ground water and geologic samples.
• Knowledge of evaluative techniques and technologies for use at hazardous waste sites to assess the impact of hazardous releases on human health and the environment.
• Skill in established response methodologies to serve as a technical specialist in the identification, evaluation, containment, and control of improperly disposed hazardous materials.

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.

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.