Summary This position is in Region 5, Superfund and Emergency Management Division, Emergency Response Branch 2, Enforcement Support Section. About Region 5 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, coordinate and conduct PRP searches prior to enforcement actions to identify parties responsible for wastes at a Superfund Site, in consultation with the ET, determines their liability to fund the cleanup and related enforcement actions to assess their financial viability. Provide expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to agency management and other senior agents, officers, or inspectors on critical operations. Manage critical PRP search information for sites, tracking and data systems: Superfund Documents Management System, and Superfund Enterprise Management System, as well as, entering current data into Enforcement Track on a weekly and/or routine basis as directed. Research, analyze, interpret, and evaluate financial records and data; obtain and search through historical documents such as charters and documents regarding mergers, acquisitions, transfers, consolidations, etc., to determine potential liability and identify PRPs. Prepare presentations and conduct training seminars on useful techniques for conducting searches and specialized tasks performed as part of a search. 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 will be required to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds. You may have limited exposure to hazardous materials. 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 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. 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. Participation in the medical monitoring program is required. This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). #LI-DNI Qualifications We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: 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 conducting, coordinating and overseeing complex potentially responsible party (PRP) searches to identify and locate parties responsible for the waste at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA) sites; engaging in Agency enforcement policies in general concerning PRP searches; experience in contract management. Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Skill in applying, laws, theories, concepts, and principles of environmental laws and regulations pertaining to the Superfund Program, especially the CERCLA and SARA, and knowledge of the National Contingency Plan (NCP), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and numerous Agency enforcement policies in general concerning PRP searches. Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of enforcement as related to CERCLA and hazardous chemical and oil spills, knowledge of the programs, goals and objectives of EPA and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) with respect to spill response. Knowledge of the Agency’s procurement and contracts management policies and procedures for technical enforcement support, and/or pre-remedial activities Skill in oral communication in order to communicate and coordinate with technical personnel, as well as with contractor representatives. Skill in applying organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple, varied, and complex tasks under tight timeframes, with little guidance. Ability to negotiate and develop strong positions, both in-house and with contractors, with respect to such issues as approval of costs. Ability to persuade others to change their position on controversial matters. Knowledge of criminal and civil provisions of environmental protection statutes, and in particular, all provisions of statutes and regulations governing the illegal generation, disposal, and transportation of pollutants, toxic substances, and hazardous materials. Knowledge of business principles, techniques and ability to apply them in analyzing voluminous, complex and often incomplete books and records to identify and locate evidence. Knowledge of the theories, concepts, principles, practices and techniques of civil investigating, including statutes, guidelines, policies and decisions relating to investigative procedures; functions and jurisdictions of Federal, State and local agencies; and relationships between those agencies; scope, application and interpretation of laws enforced by EPA. Ability to conduct interviews and interrogations; recognize, explore and exploit leads; detect not so evident inconsistent discrepancies in information; distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information; prepare reports; plan, organize and conduct investigations; testify in legal, quasi-legal or administrative proceedings formal or informal notwithstanding. Knowledge of accounting and auditing to review, analyze, compile, and interpret documents, records, and financial information in an effort to establish elements of liability and financial viability to clean-up or pay for clean-up costs. Knowledge of how and when to contact appropriate law enforcement personnel to gain information of the identity, location, background, and financial condition of PRPs. Skill in entirety of contract writing process from approval to completion. 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. 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.