At the entry level of this position, you will:

-Where state, local, or tribal agency has not been delegated authority to prepare permits for treatment, storage and disposal facilities (issuance, re-issuance, and modification), assist in the collection of necessary
information from applicants, state, local, or tribal agency representatives, and EPA staff.

-Where state, local, or tribal agency has been delegated permit authority, assist senior permit specialist provide technical support and guidance on permits to state, local or tribal personnel.

-Provide technical support to state, local or tribal agencies regarding technical and scientific criteria and methods.

-Provide technical support in defense of technical and legal challenges to permits with Office of Regional Counsel (ORC).

-Respond to permit inquiries.

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 less than 25% 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.
• Position has educational/degree requirements (see Qualifications section).
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
• You must submit a resume and required documents (see How to Apply section).
• You must be a U.S. citizen.

If you are selected, you must complete a one year probationary period.

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.

You must be a U.S. citizen.

Qualifications

You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position.

Environmental Engineer (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 (stress strain relationships); (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. 

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-09 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-07 level defined as understanding of environmental issues, policies and procedures and/or experience recommending pollution control strategies to industrial facilities - 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.

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 working knowledge of environmental issues, policies and procedures an/or experience assisting, drafting, negotiating and recommending issuance or denial of permits as it pertains to industrial facilities - OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the academic discipline as described below.

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

1. Knowledge of professional environmental engineering/physical science and/or life science concepts, principles, and practices to prepare permits for treatment, storage and disposal facilities (issuance, reissuance, and modification).

2. Knowledge of pollution-control technology or models to develop permits which mitigate impacts and ensure protection of the environment.

3. Skill in identifying and resolving pollutant discharge problems.

4. Knowledge of environmental permit regulations and agency policies.

5. Skill in presenting technical/scientific information to a variety of individuals and groups including state, local, or tribal agency officials, and private citizens from communities negatively impacted by release of chemicals or other pollutants.

6. Skill in writing public notices, comments on technical documents, and permit guidance or policies.

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.