Summary This position is in Region 7, Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, Applied Sciences Branch. About Region 7 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 At the entry level of this position, you will: Advise project management on proper scopes of work for site investigations and environmental and geological studies. Participate in a variety of meetings and fosters working relationships among the parties involved concerning the course of action and decisions concerning superfund and RCRA sites. Provide technical input on vapor intrusion studies/investigations. Advise on technical hydrogeologic issues for non enforcement negotiations with Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) to ensure that the Agency's mission is not compromised; Study to keep abreast of technical advancements and state-of-the-art research in appropriate discipline areas. When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level. 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 be a U.S. citizen. You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section. Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings. 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. #LI-Onsite If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Qualifications In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-09 level defined as conducting site assessments (e.g., soil and/or water sampling and inspections) and cleanup of hazardous waste sites; interpreting and/or implementing environmental regulations related to the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. - OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the academic discipline as described below - OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices of hydrogeology and environmental science. Ability to apply and adapt hydrogeologic and other scientific practices, technologies, and methods to the completion of environmental investigations and remediation actions. Skill in communicating with technical and legal personnel, state and local officials, members of the public, elected government representatives and media representatives. Knowledge of professional hydrogeologic or scientific concepts, principles, and practices applicable to groundwater and soil remediation techniques. Skill in explaining hydrogeologic/technical principles to non-technical persons. Knowledge of specialized safety training as required to meet field health and safety requirements. Knowledge of related scientific and engineering fields and the capacity to adapt practices from these fields. 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 You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position. A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in Degree: geology, plus 20 additional semester hours in any combination of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological science, structural, chemical, civil, mining or petroleum engineering, computer science, planetary geology, comparative planetology, geophysics, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, physical geography, marine geology, and cartography. or Combination of education and experience -- course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. 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. 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.