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Summary

We are an independent office within the EPA that helps the agency protect the environment in a more efficient & cost effective manner. We perform audits, evaluations & investigations of the EPA to promote economy, efficiency, and to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse. We strive to provide solutions to problems that ultimately result in making America a cleaner and healthier place.

This position offers the opportunity to work in a maximum telework capacity as authorized by the agency.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/30/2022 to 07/11/2022
This job will close when we have received 150 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$47,097 to - $74,074 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Locations
few vacancies in the following locations:
San Francisco, CA
Denver, CO
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel - 25% or less- Up to 25% travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
EPA-OIG-IN-2022-0053
Control number
663026600

Duties

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This position is located in the Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit.

The Office of Audit performs complex audits of EPA programs that align with the EPA's top management challenges, and makes recommendations to combat fraud, waste and abuse and enhance efficiencies in achieving its mission of protecting human health and the environment. To further its mission, the Office of Audit also performs the following functions: Advises OIG personnel and others concerning program operations and audit approaches. Works with senior officials from the EPA; the Office of Management and Budget (0MB); other federal, state, and local offices; professional organizations and environmental organizations to further coordination, customer service and results. Prepares reports and delivers presentations on audit methods, findings and recommendations. Conducts research on and stays abreast of methods that can be used for audits.


Individuals with environmental science, environmental engineering, social sciences, public health science, or other sciences, accounting, business administration, finance, policy analysis, public policy, public administration, or related degrees are strongly encouraged to apply.

Individuals who are Certified Environmental Auditors, Certified Professional Environmental Auditors, or Certified Process Safety Auditors are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Duties listed are at full performance grade GS-13 level.

The ideal candidate will perform the following duties:

  • Perform assignments of one or more environmental programs, such as water, air, hazardous waste, pesticides, chemical safety, pollution prevention, and research and development.
  • Support development and accomplishment of OA strategic and annual goals.
  • Independently conducts complex nationwide assignments (performance audits or evaluations) to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of programs and operations of the EPA and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
  • Advise teams and higher-level management officials and addresses problems that have been referred by others.
  • Develop optimum approaches for the assignment through an assessment of several techniques, knowledge of private and public sector best practices, and assessing the probability of significant findings for the effect and cost benefit.
  • Develop or assists in developing comprehensive audit reports that depict the results of the audit work performed and produce recommendations for Agency action.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section.
  • EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required. 
  • Background Investigation Required.
  • Must meet education requirements. 

Salary will be set based upon the grade level and duty location at which the selection is made.

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.

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.

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

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.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary 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. 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements for Performance Auditors

  1. Degree: auditing; or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, public administration or accounting.

    or

  2. Combination of education and experience: at least 4 years of experience in Performance Auditing, or an equivalent combination of performance auditing experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional auditing knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:

    1. A certificate as a Certified Internal Auditor or a Certified Public Accountant, obtained through written examination; or
    2. Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in auditing or accounting, e.g., 15 semester hours.

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

QUALIFICATIONS INFORMATION

GS-09

You may qualify for the GS-09 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level performing the following duties:

1) Experience assisting in developing routine audit plans that address the objectives of assignments;
2) Experience in developing modified methods and techniques to resolve routine performance auditing problems;
3) Experience in conducting routine performance audits on organizational program operations to determine how well an entity has achieved its desired results, complied with applicable laws, regulations, contract provisions, and/or grant agreements;
4) Experience in developing performance auditing methods to isolate and/or identify conditions affecting mission capability, susceptibility to fraud, and/or the potential for increased efficiency; AND
5) Experience in providing briefings to various levels of stakeholders (organization level leadership, or members of a particular group) in regard to audit results and/or findings.

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-11

You may qualify for the GS-11 grade level, if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level performing the following duties:

1) Develop routine audit plans that address the objectives of assignments;
2) Develop modified methods and techniques to resolve a variety of routine to moderate performance auditing problems;
3) Conduct performance audits on organizational program operations to determine how well an entity has achieved its desired results, complied with applicable laws, regulations, contract provisions, and/or grant agreements;
4) Develop performance auditing methods to isolate and/or identify conditions affecting mission capability, susceptibility to fraud, and/or the potential for increased efficiency; AND
5) Provide briefings to various levels of stakeholders (i.e. senior leadership, organization level leadership, or members of a particular group) in regard to audit results and/or findings.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Education

This position has a Mandatory Education Requirement.

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify: 

GS-9: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.),  if related or 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-7.

GS-11: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.), if related or 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-9. 

College transcripts - must submit unofficial transcripts or list of courses that includes school attended, school address, course titles, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter/semester hours earned. (Official transcripts aren't required at the time of application; if you're selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work.) IF EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED AT A FOREIGN INSTITUTION: You must submit an equivalency evaluation with your application as described here: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.


Continuing Professional Credits (CPE) and/or Continuing Education Units (CEU) may be converted into academic credit hours when evaluated by both higher education institutions and special examining and assessment services. Submit the CPE/CEU evaluation along with your transcripts. CEU/CPEs are most commonly converted via a formula that considers at least ten (10) CEUs to equal a single academic hour. The most authoritative U.S. guide to CEUs is provided by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Information on converting CEUs to academic credit hours, and vice versa, is provided by the American Council on Education (ACE).

(CPE/CEU Evaluations must be submitted if qualifying basic requirements are based on combination of experience/education)  

  • One semester hour is equal to 15 CPE credits.
  • 1 CEU equals 10 contact hours, 3 CE Us equal 1 semester hour and 30 contact hours equal 1 semester hour.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. 

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. 

All education claimed by applicants will be verified.

Additional information

EPA OIG provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.  

“To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.”

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

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. Your resume must support your responses to the self-assessment questions or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited to an interview. 

ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 90.

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.


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