Summary This position is in Region 6, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, Assessment and Enforcement Branch, Enforcement and Cost Recovery Section. About Region 6 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. Responsibilities You will: Plan and conduct regional investigations of high value and often complex sites designed to identify parties (individuals, companies, and other entities) who have potential liability for the cleanup of sites where there is or has been a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. Obtain information regarding potentially responsible parties' financial ability to pay for response actions conducted under CERCLA. Lead investigations with Local, State, and other Federal agencies as necessary. Identify situations and provide information to the Office of Criminal Investigations where civil investigations have uncovered information warranting consideration of criminal investigation. You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter. #LI-Onsite If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period if appointed as Competitive Service or a two-year trial period if appointed as Excepted Service. 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. You must meet time in grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement. Qualifications We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-11 level defined as experience conducting investigations regarding violations of federal law and/or programs, and experience preparing reports and summaries of investigations. To qualify for the GS-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as interpreting and implementing of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) rules and regulations; planning and conducting Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Search Reports; interviewing cooperative, non-cooperative, and/or reluctant subjects. Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of investigative techniques, laws of evidence, and rules of criminal and civil procedures. Knowledge of applicable environmental statutes and regulations related to liability and statutes of limitations. Ability to recognize, develop, and present evidence. Skill in interviewing, following leads, and researching records. Ability to establish overall objectives and work assignments. Ability to recognize, develop, and present evidence. Skill in oral communication. 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: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Education Additional Information Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website 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. This position is in the bargaining unit. 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. Although the Service type indicated in the Overview section is Competitive, you may be appointed as Excepted Service based on your eligibility to be hired under certain appointing authorities. 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. 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.