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Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
- You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
- EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
- Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
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. 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.
If you are still completing coursework, offer of employment will be contingent upon completion of degree/certificate program. Proof showing confer date within nine months of the announcement closing date will be required before entry on duty.
If you are selected, the entire period served under the Recent Graduates program will be a trial period.
This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials.
You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 pounds.
You may be required to travel less than 25% of each month.
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-09 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-07 level defined as assisting laboratory research involving groundwater remediation and Superfund programs
- OR master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the academic discipline as described below
- OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
To qualify for the Research GS-11 level, you must have a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree directly related to the position being advertised.
Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: 1) Knowledge of scientific fields of groundwater remediation; 2) Ability to plan and implement research experiments; 3) Skill in written communication to prepare reports with findings, conclusions, and recommendations; 4) Ability to apply the latest developments in laboratory experimentation to resolve problems; 5) Skill in oral communication; 6) Knowledge of quality assurance procedures sufficient to perform quality assurance checks and validate methods; 7) Skill in contract management.
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
In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Recent Graduates program, this position has specific educational requirements in order to qualify as described below:
Microbiologists: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology or subjects related to microorganisms with 20 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences (organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra); OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed.
Environmental Engineers: 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:
- Professional registration as an engineer.
- Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training written test.
- Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.
- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university 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.
Chemists: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following: 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.
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.
To preview questions please click here.
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Background checks and security clearance
