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Student Trainee (Life Science/Engineering/Physical Science)

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

*This announcement has been amended to update the number of positions and division listed.*

These positions are in Region 1, Multiple Divisions. If selected, you must work at the location stated in this announcement.

About Region 1: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england

Salary will be based on the grade level for which you are selected.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/09/2022 to 11/17/2022
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$36,142 to - $46,983 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 04
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Boston, MA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - Temporary (1 year or less) or Term (more than 1 year); type of appointment and not-to-exceed date will coincide with your academic curriculum/calendar (i.e., how much time you need to complete academic requirements leading to award of a degree)
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules - This is a year-round part time position working 20 hours per week during the school year with the possibility of working full time during school breaks and summer.
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12 - As a Pathways Intern, you may be promoted in accordance with agency policy. If you are converted after Pathways program completion, you will be converted to a position with the full performance level indicated above.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
RTP-Q1-OPS-2023-0001
Control number
688474300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Individuals enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher education pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis.

Duties

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You will:

  • Perform, a variety of routine support tasks in areas pertaining to the scientific missions of the organization;
  • Assist in the performance of standardized support duties such as the collection of literature references and the organization of files;
  • Assist with routine steps in science studies and regulatory/compliance work;
  • Support higher-graded staff in planning for program management of environmental programs.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
  • You must submit transcripts & proof of enrollment--see Required Documents.
  • You must be age 16 or older.
  • If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.
  • You may be required to travel less than 25% of each month.
  • You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 pounds.
  • You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials.

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. 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.

NOTE:  If your appointment is less than 180 days, no background investigation is required, but fingerprinting is required.

You must have and maintain good academic standing as defined by your academic institution (typically a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0).

You must be enrolled at least part-time and maintain at least a part-time course load as determined by your institution of higher education.

Time spent on the time-limited Post-Secondary Student appointment may count toward fulfillment of a probationary period.

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.

This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

 #LI-Onsite

Qualifications

In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Post-Secondary Student hiring authority, you must have educational achievements as described below to qualify for this position. The required education must lead to a bachelor's degree with specialization directly related to this position.

To qualify for the GS-04 level, you need to have two full years of post-high school education or associate’s degree.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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 in the Overview section.

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.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA.

Prior to the expiration date of this time-limited appointment, you may be converted to a permanent position in the competitive service without further competition if you meet the following conversion requirements:  (1) you complete the baccalaureate or graduate degree; (2) you complete not less than 640 hours of current continuous employment in the Post-Secondary Student appointment; (3) you meet the OPM qualification standards for the position you will be converted to; and (4) you meet time-in-grade requirements.

If you are placed on a temporary appointment, your appointment may be extended beyond the initial not-to-exceed date to a maximum of two years. If you are placed on a term appointment, your appointment may be extended beyond the initial not-to-exceed date to a maximum of four years.

If you are placed on a temporary appointment, you may not be promoted while serving on the temporary appointment; however, you may be converted to a new temporary appointment at a higher grade level if you meet the qualification requirements for the higher-graded position. If you are placed on a term appointment, you may be promoted up to the grade level indicated in the promotion potential section of this announcement if you meet the time-in-grade and qualification requirements for the higher-graded position.

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.

This position is in the bargaining unit if appointment is more than 90 days.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF): As a federal employee, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer, including EPA. Learn more:  pslf.gov

How you will be evaluated

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

This position is being filled through the Post-Secondary Student hiring authority. Under the provisions of this hiring authority, category rating, veterans’ preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply. We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements. All qualified applicants will be forwarded to the selecting official for further consideration, and you may be subject to assessments during the selection process.

NOTE:  Selection priority for Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Plan (ICTAP) eligibles does not apply.


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