Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist

This position is in Office of the Regional Administrator, Region 5, Water Division, State and Tribal Programs and Support Branch, STPS Section 3. About Region 5: Website

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.

Qualifications:

NOTE:  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-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time* experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as experience with funding programs and projects under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); implementing water infrastructure programs and projects.

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

1. Skill in applying, advanced theories, principles, concepts, practices, standards, and methods of life and physical scientific and engineering principles sufficient to provide Environmental Program Implementation/State and Tribal Program Administration and oversight for all of EPA’s clean water act (CWA) and safe drinking water act (SDWA) related infrastructure investments
2. Knowledge of the water infrastructure programs and related underlying scientific and engineering principles in order to make decisions and recommendations that will involve interpretation of the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and grants.
3. Knowledge of federal grants regulations processing, economic and fiscal procedures of the Federal government, states, localities, and tribes in order to serve as a technical expert, and administer and oversee a wide variety of grants related programs and activities
4. Knowledge of policies and procedures of grants and agreements management, sufficient to develop innovative solutions to unusual, complex, and novel problems.
5. Knowledge of the statutes, regulations, policies and legislative initiatives relevant to the planning, design and construction of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure (e.g. CWA, SDWA, NEPA and the Endangered Species Act).
6. Skill in modifying standard practices, adapting precedents, and making significant departures from existing approaches and techniques used to tackle water infrastructure program issues.
7. Knowledge of applicable environmental statutes, regulations and program requirements.

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.

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

Life Scientist:

You must have a bachelor's 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.

Environmental Engineer:

You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: you must meet either paragraph A or B:

A. Engineering degree from a school of engineering with at least one or more curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus AND courses (advanced beyond 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 physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of 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: 1) Professional registration; 2) Written test--Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer in Training exam or the written test required for professional registration; 3) Specified academic courses--Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A; or 4) Related curriculum--Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or appropriate professional field provided applicant has 1 year professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Physical Scientist:

You must have a bachelor's 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.

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

Employment Type: FULL_TIME