Biologist/Chemist

Summary
*This announcement has been amended to extend closing date to 12/6.
These positions are in the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Indoor Environments Division, Center for Cross Program Outreach OR Center for Radon and Air Toxics. About OAR.
This is an office-centered position*you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
*Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency
Current permanent EPA internal employees in the Office of Air and Radiation, Indoor Environments Division (IED) with competitive status and CTAP eligibles.
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Duties
You will:

• Identify, conduct, monitor, and evaluate technical studies and analyses necessary to support the Indoor Environment Division;
• Lead the development of policy for the organization's indoor environments program;
• Represent the EPA as a national technical authority on indoor air quality (IAQ) internally, with senior management and other program offices, and externally, with the public and with other private and governmental organizations.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must submit a resume and required documentssee How to Apply section.
• Position has education requirementssee Qualifications/Education section.
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.

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.
You must meet time in grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.
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.
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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-14 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-13 level defined as coordinating with stakeholders to provide technical information regarding indoor air source emissions; and providing leadership, oversight or technical expertise on scientific research/programs related to indoor air source emissions.
Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1) Knowledge of indoor environments health risks; 2) Skill in biology, microbiology, toxicology, or chemistry in relations to indoor air source emissions; 3) Ability to perform scientific research; 4) Knowledge of indoor air pollutants; 5) Skill in written communication; 6) Ability to develop strategies/policies to combat indoor pollution issues; 7) Skill in oral communication.
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
You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position.
Biologists: 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.
Chemists: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included the described coursework.
For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
Additional information
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.
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.
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.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Benefits will not change for current permanent EPA employees.
  This position may be eligible for flexible work schedules in accordance with EPA's Workplace Flexibilities policy and/or applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. If selected, you may apply for expanded telework or, after 90 days of employment, remote work. These flexibilities are not guaranteed and will be determined in accordance with policy and position requirements after you are hired.
  This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be eligible for partial work-from-home flexibilities after meeting eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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 (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).
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.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Benefits will not change for current permanent EPA employees.
  This position may be eligible for flexible work schedules in accordance with EPA's Workplace Flexibilities policy and/or applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. If selected, you may apply for expanded telework or, after 90 days of employment, remote work. These flexibilities are not guaranteed and will be determined in accordance with policy and position requirements after you are hired.
  This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be eligible for partial work-from-home flexibilities after meeting eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  Documents to be submitted online:
  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. Include a list of awards you have received if you would like them to be considered.
  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.
  Displaced Federal employees under CTAP: copy of your most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station.
  Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) - You are required to submit SF-50(s) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station. The SF-50(s) must prove you are eligible to apply for the position and have met time-in grade:
  •ELIGIBILITY - You must provide SF-50(s) demonstrating that you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the Agency section above. (The most common eligibility requirements are Permanent employees [Block 24/Tenure on SF-50], Competitive Status [Block 24/Tenure and Block 34/Position Occupied on SF-50], In the Office of [Block 22/Name and Location of Position's Organization on the SF-50] and In the Commuting Area [Block 39/Duty Station on the SF-50].)
  •TIME-IN-GRADE - If you are 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 examples of SF-50s 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.)
  Performance appraisal - You are required to submit your most recent completed annual performance appraisal, dated within the last 18 months (if it is not dated within the last 18 months, or you have not received a performance appraisal, you must upload a signed/dated explanation why). NOTE: You only need to upload the pages that show the overall rating and manager/supervisor's signature that certifies the rating at the time it was given, 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.
  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 accredit...