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This position is in Region 5. If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement. About Region 5: Region 5
Salary will be based on the grade level for which you are selected.
One or more positions may be filled.
Learn more about this agency02/18/2020 to 03/02/2020
$47,965 - $76,274 per year
GS 07 - 09
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel less than 25% of each month.
No
Recent Graduates - This is a one-year developmental program which may lead to a term or permanent appointment.
Full-Time
Excepted
12
No
No
CI-R5-OT-2020-0027
559887000
Recent Graduates who have completed a qualifying degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or technical education program within the preceding 2 years of the announcement closing date OR current students who will complete a qualifying degree/certificate within 9 months of the announcement closing date. Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within 2 years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may apply up to 6 years after degree/certification.
At the entry level of this position, you will:
- Perform duties related to environmental engineering, physical science, or life science to support environmental protection work in a program area (air, water, waste, etc); a functional area (enforcement, compliance, permitting, etc); or a cross media effort (environmental justice, etc).
- Determine the adequacy and accuracy of data and processes, proper preservation and collection of samples and specimens and provide technical assistance where applicable.
- Provide assistance to other engineers and scientists within the immediate organization by researching technical aspects of environmental laws and regulations.
- Analyze data and prepare reports regarding state, local or tribal implementation of environmental protection programs.
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.
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 Low 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.
You must be a U.S. citizen.
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-07 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-05 level defined as providing general guidance and advice on environmental issues, and/or assisting in the review of scientific/technical documents; and/or collecting technical/scientific data 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 providing policy and procedural guidance on environmental issues, and/or assisting in the production and review of scientific/technical documents, and/or verifying and presenting findings on technical/scientific data collected 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 online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
1. Knowledge of applying professional engineering, physical or biological science theories, principles, and methods.
2. Ability to communicate orally to make presentations to various types of audiences.
3. Skill in applying professional engineering, physical or biological science theories, principles, and methods.
4. Ability to communicate in writing to write technical reports and letters.
5. Knowledge of applicable environmental laws, regulations, statutes, policies and guidelines.
6. Ability to work as a team member, coordinate with peers and superiors, and collaborate on projects.
7. Skill in using standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information.
8. Ability to plan work and meet deadlines.
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.
In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduates program, this position has specific educational requirements in order to qualify as described below:
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in:
0401 - General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series:
A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR-
B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
0800 - Engineering Series:
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. -OR-
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying 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:
1301 - General Physical Science Series:
A. Degree: 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-
B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
As part of the application process, you are required to submit college transcripts or a list of courses as described in the Required Documents section of this announcement. However, if you are selected, you must provide official educational transcripts before you start work with EPA. More information on verification of education can be found here: 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.
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.
Position has portable work and selectee may be authorized to telework after meeting eligibility requirements if approved by the supervisor/manager.
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.
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.
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.
Documents to be submitted online:
NOTE: You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted.
-- Resume stating your expected graduation date and 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. 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.
-- 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 within nine months of the announcement closing date: 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, 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).
Additional information can be found on our website:
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.
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position.
To begin the application process, click the Apply button to the right on this screen, follow the prompts to log-in/register, submit all required documents, and complete the assessment questionnaire. To be considered, you must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the day the announcement closes.
All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS document portfolio feature.
If you cannot apply online, you must contact the Human Resources Office listed below for assistance no later than three business days prior to the closing date of this announcement. You must provide complete application materials by the day the announcement closes.
For detailed instructions to assist you in ensuring your application package is received, go to EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJOBS account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful once we have received your online occupational questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJOBS account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/559887000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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