At the entry level of this position, you will:

- Assist in the technical evaluation of chemical processes and waste treatment operations;

- Develop models and heuristics to estimate the exposure of persons working in chemical manufacturing, processing, and use to substances in their work environment;

- Apply prescribed generic scenarios to estimate the releases of chemical substances from chemical manufacture, processing, and use into the environment;

- Participate in work groups to recommend process modifications in the manufacture, processing and use of chemical substances to minimize environmental impact.

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 25-50% 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.
• You must submit a resume and required documents (See How to Apply).
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Position has educational/degree requirements (See Qualifications Section).
• If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.

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.

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 two months of the announcement closing date will be required before entry on duty.

Qualifications

In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduates program, this position has specific educational requirements in order to qualify as described below:

Chemical Engineer: 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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration as an engineer.
2. Evidence of Passing the Engineer-in-Training Written Test.
3. Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.
4. Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree 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.

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.

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 assisting in the analysis of chemical process operations - OR 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement (Superior Academic Achievement Definition) degree in the academic discipline as described above.

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 assisting in the analysis of chemical process operations; and preparing written technical reports - OR master's or equivalent graduate degree; or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related; degree in an academic discipline related to this position.

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 analyzing chemical process operations; and preparing written technical reports - OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., in an academic discipline related to this position.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1) Knowledge of chemical process operations; 2) Skill in analyzing environmental data; 3) Ability to research and develop scientific models; 4) Skill in written communication; 5) Ability to prepare risk assessments; 6) Skill in oral communication; 7) Ability to interact with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists.

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.

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 'Gold', 'Silver', or 'Bronze' 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.
To preview questions please click here.