Clarification from the agency

Recent graduates from a qualifying educational institution having completed an academic program within the preceding two years. Note: Veterans who were precluded by their military service obligation from applying for Pathways Recent Graduate jobs will have up to six years from date of graduation and two years from date of separation from the military to apply.

The EPA OIG is seeking recent graduates under the Pathways Program. This position is provided for recent graduates with a desire to work in the Office of the Inspector General and assignments are designed to complement the graduate's educational field while meeting the expressed needs of the agency and organizations.

Individuals with behavioral or social science or related disciplines appropriate to the position such as public policy, public administration, environmental science, environmental engineering, public health science, or related degrees are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position is located in the Implementation, Execution, and Enforcement Directorate of the Office of Special Evaluation and Review, within the Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Inspector General. This position will assists in planning and execution of evaluations looking at state, regional, or nation-wide programs.

Responsibilities

In a semi-developmental capacity, assignments are designed to prepare the candidate to perform various assignments independently. At the GS-09 level, the candidate will perform the following:

• Assist with aspects of evaluations of various programs to identify areas where significant improvement in economy, efficiency, and effectiveness can be made in agency statutes, regulations, guidance, policies, procedures, or practices.
• Gather and analyze data in support of assignments, prepare written products, make oral presentations, and apply conventional evaluation techniques to complete relatively uncomplicated portions of evaluations.
• Research and gather reference materials to gain an understanding of the areas under review, as well as applicable laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Provide technical assistance to others.
• Participate in meetings with program personnel and OIG managers. Assist with or participate in meetings with management officials to present findings, explain the significance of conclusions, justify recommendations and answer questions on the evaluation planning and methodology. Work to establish customer/client agreement on evaluation design.
• Support meetings with internal and external representatives of organizations to establish cooperative relationships.
• Participate in workgroups to improve the management and work processes of the organization (i.e., agency and OIG) on an as needed basis.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required. 
• Background Investigation Required.
• Must meet education requirements. 
• Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.
• Must meet Pathways Recent Graduate program requirements.
• Salary will be set based upon the grade level and duty location at which the selection is made.

This is an appointment under the EPA OIG Recent Graduate program. You must have graduated within the past two years from a qualifying educational institution or certificate program.  The program duration is one year. Upon successful completion of the program and at the agency's discretion, the appointee may be converted to a permanent position in the competitive service. Appointee must sign a Participant Agreement. Recent Graduates will enter a formal training program with a mentor and execute an Individual Development Plan outlining training requirements and program expectations. The entire duration of the Recent Graduate Appointment constitutes a trial period.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service. 

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided on the I-9 Form to records available from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The system confirms employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Learn more about e-verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to participate in this program: 

• You must have a final cumulative Grade Point Average of at least a 2.0.
• Current Students may apply up to 90 days prior to their graduation date. 
• Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution.
• Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
• May submit unofficial transcript(s). Official transcript(s) will be required if applicant is selected for a position.

In order to be creditable under the provision, superior academic achievement (SAA) must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 

Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Applicants must have a grade-point average of:

• 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR
• 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
• These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be determined eligible to work in this series:

Social Science Series, 0101

Basic Requirements

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

-or-

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

-or-

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

In addition to meeting one of the above series basic qualification requirements, applicants must also possess a minimum of 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade level or equivalent band level of responsibility in the Federal service OR meet the additional education described OR a combination of education and experience.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.    

For the GS-09 grade level: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level or equivalent band in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience could include:

1) Assisting project mangers in the design and appropriateness of audits and evaluations of environmental programs;

2) Participate in teams to make observations, gather data, and accomplish work activities;

3) Ensuring compliance with environmental standards or regulations; AND

4) Contributing to writing drafts, final reports, or other environmental documents.

-or-

2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree

-or- 

An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

1. Knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to assess program development or execution for improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
2. Knowledge of a variety of data collection techniques to obtain information from a variety of sources and draw conclusions.
3. Ability to develop a variety of written reports and guidance in a variety of formats (e.g., narrative, graphs, charts, etc.) using a variety of software packages (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, SAS equivalent statistical package, etc.).
4. Ability to gather, compile and analyze from various sources of information/problems and present findings and recommendations.
5. Ability to verbally communicate various types of information to a variety of audiences to convey factual information, provide guidance, obtain consensus, and/or persuade others to adopt recommendations.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. After the vacancy closes, we will review your application package to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your responses to the questionnaire, resume and supporting documentation will then be reviewed. You will be placed in one of the three pre-defined categories. Your responses to the questionnaire will serve as the basis for your initial rating in one of three pre-defined categories: "best", "better", and "good". Within each category, those eligible through Veterans Preference will be listed at the top of the category. Your resume must support your answers to the questionnaire, or your category may be changed. The candidates in the highest category will be certified for referral to the selecting official and may be invited to an interview.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a category rating of BETTER. 

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government,
you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.