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Student Trainee

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

These positions are located in multiple offices in Region 3. About Region 3: R3

This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
*Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/01/2023 to 12/07/2023
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$36,973 to - $53,780 per year

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

Pay scale & grade
GS 04 - 05
Location
10 vacancies in the following location:
Philadelphia, PA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be required to travel for this 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.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships - Initial period typically expected to last more than one year. Program end is generally the Intern’s projected graduation date, plus 120 days of conversion eligibility. Duration of appointment will be annotated in participant agreement.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
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
EPA-S3-OII-2024-0001
Control number
763611800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Enrolled students or individuals who have been accepted for enrollment seeking a diploma, certificate, bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or professional degree from a qualifying educational institution on a full- or half-time basis, including awardees of the Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholarship Program.

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Duties

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At the GS-04 level, you will:

  • 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.

At the GS-05 level, you will:

  • Assist with summarizing environmental program information data for use in preparing reports and program evaluations;
  • Perform routine tasks in science studies of a standard nature on regulatory and compliance issues and problems;
  • Support higher-graded staff in planning for program management of environmental programs;
  • Assist staff with preparing materials for, and participation in, briefings with managers.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • 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 must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen.

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.

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 half-time and maintain at least a half-time course load as defined by your academic institution (typically 6 undergraduate credit hours or 4.5 graduate credit hours per semester).

If you are selected, the entire period served under the Internship Program will be a trial period.

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

#LI-Onsite

Qualifications

In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Internship Program, Pathways Interns qualify for an initial appointment based on their educational achievements as described below:

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

To qualify for the GS-05 level, you need to have completed four academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

If you are graduating from your present course of study at the end of the current semester/quarter:  You may be hired prior to graduation; however, to continue in this program after graduation, you must be continuing your education next semester/quarter and be accepted for enrollment seeking a diploma, certificate, bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or professional degree from a qualifying educational institution on a full- or half-time basis.

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.

Interns without not-to-exceed dates who successfully complete the program may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service without further competition. The grade level you may be converted to will be dependent on the grade for which you qualify (based on your education and/or experience), but the grade level can be no higher than the promotion potential indicated in this announcement.
NOTE:  To be eligible for conversion, you must complete 640 hours of work (if you meet all required criteria, up to 320 hours may be waived if: (1) you complete 320 hours of career-related work experience under an Internship Program appointment and have demonstrated high potential by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance; or (2) you complete comparable non-federal internship experience in a field or functional area related to your target position).

This position is in the bargaining unit.

ACCELERATED PROMOTION PROGRAM

If you are converted to an entry-level Engineer position (GS-05, GS-07, or GS-09) after completion of the Pathways Intern program, you will be placed on an approved training agreement to intensify your development in order to prepare you for the next higher grade level on an accelerated basis (six months or more). After successful completion of the training program, you would be eligible for promotion to the next higher grade level.

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 are eligible for Pathways Intern employment and meet the basic qualification requirements. We will notify you of the results of our evaluation through USAJOBS. If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.). NOTE:  Preference eligible veterans must be selected, or decline further consideration, before applicants who are ineligible for veterans’ preference can be selected (to learn more, visit Veterans' Preference).


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