Supervisory Biologist/Physical Scientist/Environmental Engineer
This position is in the Office of Water, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Standards and Health Protection Division, Regional/State/Tribal Water Quality Standards Support Branch. About: Office of Water This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.
Major duties
You will: Plan, organize, and direct the unit's activities to ensure legal and regulatory compliance and to meet customer needs. Exercise supervisory responsibilities to foster an environment that empowers employees to participate in and contribute to mission success. Manage high priority, highly visible national Clean Water Act programs consistent with agency priorities and pillars. Build and establish cooperative relationships and represent the agency in a variety of program areas to strategically promote agency priorities and pillars. You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.
Qualifications
NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the basic entry education requirements, you must have specialized experience and/or directly related education as described below: To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must have 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level defined as leading or overseeing the development of water quality standards, regulations, and policy under the Clean Water Act; providing technical assistance to Regional Offices, states, and tribes regarding water quality standard regulatory requirements; and establishing and/or monitoring performance measures to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and progress of a team.. You will need the following competencies in order to perform the duties of this position successfully: Biological Science* Administration and Management Organizational Development Program/Project Management/Evaluation* Supervisory and Leadership Judgment Organizational Awareness Strategic Thinking Leadership Oral Communication Problem Solving Environmental Laws and Regulations* *You will be evaluated on these critical competencies. 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. *If you have part-time work experience, read this: Part-Time Experience.
Education
Biologist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed. Environmental Engineer: You must have one of the following: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree at an accredited university or college OR Combination of college level education or training AND technical experience that has furnished you with (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. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration as an engineer. Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training written test. Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM. Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field and at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications. Physical Scientist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. If you are eligible for consideration, one or more subject matter experts will systematically review your resume to assess the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for successful performance in this position (see the Qualifications section for a list of the critical competencies being evaluated). For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation.
Requirements
#LI-DNI You must meet time-in-grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement. This position is designated as High 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. If you are selected, you must complete (or have already completed) a 1-year supervisory or managerial probationary period. Upon acceptance of an initial appointment to a supervisory or managerial position with the EPA, you agree to complete all elements of the EPA Successful Leaders Program. This development program is designed to enhance leadership competencies and meet the agency's goal of providing new leaders with the tools needed for success. If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.