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Life Scientist/Physical Scientist

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in Region 8, Water Division, Clean Water Branch, Watershed Section.  If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement, Denver Colorado. About Region 8: Region 8 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/07/2020 to 05/20/2020
Salary
$100,027 to - $130,039 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Denver, CO
FEW vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be required to travel 25% per month.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CI-R8-MP-2020-0055
Control number
567659800

Duties

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You will:

  • Provide expert level of knowledge to states, tribes and other federal agencies in development of wetlands protection and mitigation/restoration policy and technical approaches to ensure that wetland programs and activities comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
  • Use advanced analytical methods and techniques in researching and examining a range of scientific, engineering, legal, environmental protection, environmental management or administrative issues and functions related to wetland protection and restoration.
  • Serve as a project officer or work assignment manager with responsibility for monitoring performance to accomplish design and implementation of scientific projects and studies.
  • Define approaches for building and evaluating State and Tribal capacity in wetland protection and restoration.
  • Prepare briefings and reports and represent the program at regional and national meetings, seminars and conferences in matters related to technical and policy wetland issues.

One or more positions may be filled.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
  • Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
  • You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
  • EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.

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.

You must meet time in grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement.

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-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as interpreting and applying the Clean Water Act (CWA) to provide technical and regulatory guidance. 

Your application package will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 

  1. Knowledge of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
  2. Skill in written communication.
  3. Knowledge of principles, theories and practices of a combination of several life science and physical science fields.
  4. Ability to make recommendations to resolve problems related to the Clean Water Act.
  5. Skill in applying specialized instruments, techniques and/or mathematical models used in wetland analysis and protection.
  6. Knowledge of monitoring, chemistry, hydrology, aquatic biology, limnology, data analysis techniques, data management, and wetlands assessment methods.
  7. Knowledge of wetland program development grants.
  8. Skill in oral communication.
  9. Ability to work in teams.

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

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

0401 - General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series:

  1. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. -OR-
  2. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

1301 - General Physical Science Series:

  1. 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-
  2. 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.

Additional information

This position is in the bargaining unit.

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

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.

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.

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.


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