BIOLOGIST/PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

Duties

You will:

• Serve as the national expert on fish contamination assessments; directing and focusing studies to advance the knowledge of the occurrence, effects, and risk to human health and the environment of the presence of contaminants in surface waters and the fish that inhabit them.
• Serve as a consultant to senior management on matters related to the human health impacts of fish contaminated with toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, or endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds or other contaminants that are discharged to or otherwise enter surface waters.
• Serve as a recognized national expert and a representative of OW and EPA for internal and external conferences, workshops, workgroups, and task forces that provide technical and policy guidance to EPA and non‐EPA personnel and provides outreach to states, local governments, tribes, and the regulated and international community.
• Serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR Level II) for contracts in accordance with Federal and agency policies and practices.

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.
• EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.

#LI-Onsite

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.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.

  This position may be eligible for flexible work schedules in accordance with EPA’s Workplace Flexibilities policy. If selected, you may apply for expanded telework or remote work after 90 days of employment. These flexibilities are not guaranteed and will be determined in accordance with policy and position requirements.

  PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF): As a federal employee, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer, including EPA. Learn more: pslf.gov

  This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be eligible for partial work-from-home flexibilities after meeting eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  Documents to be submitted online:

  NOTE: You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted.

  • -Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section. In describing your experience, you need to be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.

  -College transcripts - required to submit either unofficial transcripts or a list of courses that includes school(s) attended, school address, course title, grades earned, completion dates, department, and quarter or semester hours earned. NOTE: Official educational transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if you are selected, you must provide official transcripts before you start work with EPA. IF EDUCATION WAS COMPLETED AT A FOREIGN INSTITUTION: You must submit an equivalency evaluation with your application as described here: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.
  

  • -Veterans' Preference Documents:

  Separated veterans claiming 5-point preference:

  • DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service) or other official document/statement from the Armed Forces showing separation, discharge, or release from active duty; document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge)

  Separated veterans claiming 10-point preference based on compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more:

  • DD-214 Member 4 copy (or other copy indicating character of service); document must show separation is under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge); and
  • VA letter stating overall/combined disability rating (percentage); and
  • SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form) (see page 2 for documents that can be submitted in lieu of the DD-214 and VA letter)

  Other separated veterans claiming 10-point preference OR spouses, widows/widowers, or mothers claiming 10-point derived preference:

  • SF-15 (use current version: SF-15 Form); and
  • Other required documentation indicated on the SF-15

  Active duty service members:

  • Certification from the armed forces documenting active duty dates, expected discharge/release date, campaign medals/badges, and character of service (a certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged/released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions (Honorable or General Discharge) within 120 days after you submit the certification)

  • -Displaced Federal employees under ICTAP/CTAP: copy of your most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and your most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station.

  
  To learn more about submitting documentation, visit Uploading Documents to USAJOBS.

• How to Apply

  You are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application for this position.

  To begin the application process, click the Apply button to the top right on this screen, follow the prompts to log-in/register, submit all required documents, and complete the assessment questionnaire. To be considered, you must submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the day the announcement closes.

  All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS document portfolio feature.

  If you cannot apply online, you must contact the Human Resources Office listed below for assistance no later than two business days prior to the closing date of this announcement. You must provide complete application materials by the day the announcement closes.

  For detailed instructions to assist you in ensuring your application package is received, go to EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

  REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

  EPA provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Decisions for granting reasonable accommodation are made on a case-by-case basis.

  • If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process (submitting the application or completing the application process), contact the Human Resources Office listed below no later than three business days prior to the closing date of this announcement, and the Human Resources Office will work directly with you.

  • If you are referred to the hiring official for consideration and need an accommodation during the selection process (e.g., writing sample or interview), you should notify the person who contacted you from the hiring official’s office.

  • If you are selected and need an accommodation during the hiring process, notify the HR Specialist who made the job offer to you.

  The National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators will provide assistance to you, the Human Resources Office, and/or the hiring official as needed. For more information, see Reasonable Accommodation.

  Agency contact information

  LESLIE BAUER

  Phone

  513-569-7222

  Fax

  513-569-7826

  Email

  BAUER.LESLIE@EPA.GOV

  Address

  Environmental Protection Agency
  US Environmental Protection Agency
  Human Resources Office
  26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Mail Stop 132
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
  United States

  Next steps

  You can track the progress of your application via your USAJOBS account by clicking the Track This Application link. Through your USAJOBS account, you will be notified of the status of your application at four touch-points (some of these notifications may be combined): (1) when your application is received; (2) when we conduct an eligibility and qualification review of your application package; (3) when applications are referred (or not) to the hiring manager; (4) when a selection is made (or not) for the position or the job is canceled. It is your responsibility to check your USAJOBS account for this application status information. In addition, you will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

  NOTE: We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents