Clarification from the agency

Recent Graduates who have completed a qualifying degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or technical education program within the preceding two years of the announcement closing date (the two years begins on the date all course requirements are met). Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation may apply up to six years after degree or certification.

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.

At the entry level of this position, you will:

• Participate in enforcement activities as directed by senior enforcement office or supervisor.
• Provide technical assistance on analytical methods, sampling techniques, etc.
• Assist senior enforcement officers in the development of technical, scientific or engineering information for the development, negotiation and litigation of both civil and criminal enforcement matters.
• Assist senior enforcement officers to provide regulatory compliance assistance to facilities during inspections, investigations, and compliance assistance visits.
• Provide assistance to other engineers and scientists within the immediate organization by researching technical aspects of laws and regulations.

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.

Conditions of employment

• If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
• If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Position has educational/degree requirements (see Qualifications section).
• You must submit a resume and required documents (see How to Apply section).
• You must meet all Recent Graduates program requirements by the closing date

If you are selected, the entire period served under the Recent Graduates program will be a trial 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.

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.

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

Life Science, 0401

A bachelor’s 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: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Environmental Engineering, 0819
 
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in professional engineering.  To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one 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 (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in 5 of the following 7 areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials; (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 a 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 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:

• Professional registration Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.  Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.  For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
• Written Test-- Successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners.

General Physical Science Series, 1301

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hrs in physical science and/or engineering science likes mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics or a combination of education and experience - education equivalent to one of the majors above.

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 collection and/or analysis of field and laboratory environmental samples; OR applying scientific/engineering principles or policies to environmental protection issues or problems - OR 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement (Superior Academic Achievement Definition) degree in the academic discipline as described above.

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

- Ability to learn how to conduct field inspections, gather evidence, and recommend enforcement actions.

- Skill in written communication.

- Skill in providing technical assistance for field sampling and analytical services, facility inspections or audits, or monitoring support.

- Ability to read, understand and apply environmental laws, regulation, policies, and practices related to enforcement and compliance activities.

- Ability to learn how to conduct field inspections, gather evidence, and recommend enforcement actions.

- 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.

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.