UNT Geography Internships and Career Information: May 2015

Job Title:Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Environmental Scientist GS-0401/0819/1301-05/07 (RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM)

Agency:Environmental Protection Agency

Job Announcement Number:CI-R6-OT-2015-0003

SALARY RANGE:	$33,766.00 to $54,370.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:	Tuesday, May 26, 2015 to Monday, June 8, 2015
SERIES & GRADE:	GS-0401/0819/1301-05/07
POSITION INFORMATION:	Full-time - Recent Graduates
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 12
DUTY LOCATIONS:	MANY vacancies - Dallas, TX
WHO MAY APPLY:	Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have as much as six years after degree completion to apply.
SECURITY CLEARANCE:	Other
SUPERVISORY STATUS:	No

JOB SUMMARY:

About the Agency

Earth Day is every day at the EPA! Come help us protect the environment! Our diverse workforce connects to more than just a career-we share a common passion to promote a cleaner, healthier environment. Discover how exciting safeguarding our natural resources and protecting human health can be. We consistently rank as one of the top Federal agencies in which to work, with great benefits and work flexibilities. Find yourself at the EPA.

This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies in Region 6.

This position is located in Region 6, Dallas, Texas and may be in any one of the following divisions:

Superfund Division
Water Quality Protection Division
Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division

For more information on this office, visit their website: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

Special rate established for the following occupation(s), grade(s), and location(s):

Environmental Engineer, GS-0819-05, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Locality Pay Area - $36,379 - $44,776
Environmental Engineer, GS-0819-07, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Locality Pay Area - $45,057 - $55,452

A new GS employee is usually hired at step one of the applicable GS grade.

Pathways Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who have up to six years after degree completion to apply). Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. The program lasts for 1 year (unless the training requirements of the position warrant a longer and more structured training program).

For more information about the Pathways Recent Graduates Program, go to:

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Occasional Travel
You may be required to travel 1 to 5 days per month.

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

KEY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a U.S. citizen.
If you are selected, a pre-employment background check is required.
Position has educational/degree requirements (see Qualifications Section).
EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings.
You must submit resume and required documents (see How to Apply).
Position has portable work and selectee may be eligible to telework.

DUTIES:

At the entry level of this position, you will:

Perform duties related to environmental engineering, physical science, or life science to support environmental protection work in a program area (air, water, waste, etc.); a functional area (enforcement, compliance, permitting, etc.); or a cross media effort (environmental justice, etc.).
Determine the adequacy and accuracy of data and processes, proper preservation and collection of samples and specimens and provide technical assistance where applicable.
Provide assistance to other engineers and scientists within the immediate organization by researching technical aspects of EPA laws and regulations.
Analyze data and prepare reports regarding state, local, or tribal implementation of environmental protection programs.

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.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

In addition to the eligibility requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program, this position has specific educational requirements.

You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position.

This position is interdisciplinary.

You must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in one of the following:

0401:

A. Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

0819:

A. Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (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 -- Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
Written Test-- Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

Applicants who have passed the EIT examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a bachelor's degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college of university that included 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) may be rated eligible for certain engineering positions at GS-5. Eligibility is limited to positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of the engineering technology program. Applicants for positions that involve highly technical research, development, or similar functions requiring an advanced level of competence in basic science must meet the basic requirements in paragraph A.

Because of the diversity in kind and quality of BET programs, graduates of other BET programs are required to complete at least 1 year of additional education or highly technical work experience of such nature as to provide reasonable assurance of the possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for professional engineering competence. The adequacy of this background must be demonstrated by passing the EIT examination.
Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A.
Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise, or unless he/she qualifies under the provisions of B.2 related to the EIT examination or BET degree.

Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise, or unless he/she qualifies under the provisions of B.2 related to the EIT examination or BET degree.

1301:

A. Degree: 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

B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

As part of the application process, you are required to submit college transcripts or a list of courses as described in the Required Documents section of this announcement. However, if you are selected, you must provide official educational transcripts before you start work with the EPA. More information on verification of education can be found here:
http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

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-05 level, you need to have at least one year of full time experience defined as applying scientific or engineering principles to issues or problems; communicating scientific/technical information to a wide variety of audiences; collecting and verifying technical and/or scientific data; applying environmental laws and regulations; OR 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in the academic discipline as described below.

To qualify for the GS-07 level, you need to have at least one year of full time experience defined as applying science or engineering principles to environmental issues or problems; multi-team collaboration; collecting and verifying technical and/or scientific data and presenting findings; interpreting and applying environmental laws and regulations; OR 1 full year of graduate level education; OR superior academic achievement degree in the academic discipline as described below.

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 are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form prior to your first day of employment and annually thereafter.

This position is designated as Low 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.

Pre-employment physical is required and periodic physicals thereafter.

The duration of a Pathways appointment under Schedule D is a trial period.

You must meet all Pathways Recent Graduates Program requirements by the announcement closing date.

Recent Graduates must sign a participant agreement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the on-line assessment. Your responses to the on-line assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for the position. You are being evaluated under the category rating method which means, if you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the Gold, Silver, or Bronze.

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements.

NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

Knowledge of and skill in applying engineering, physical, or biological science theories, principles, and methods.
Knowledge of applicable environmental laws, regulations, statutes, policies, and guidelines.
Ability to read comprehend regulatory issuances and communicate the same in appropriate administrative/scientific/technical vernacular of the target audience.
Skill in using standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information.
Ability to work as a team member, coordinate with peers and superiors, and collaborate on projects.
Ability to communicate orally to make presentations to various types of audiences.
Ability to communicate in writing to write technical reports and letters.
Ability to plan work and meet deadlines.

To preview questions please click here.

BENEFITS:

You can review our benefits at: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits

Join the 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.

OTHER INFORMATION:

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 http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm.

This information is used to determine your qualifications for employment. The use of this information is authorized under Title 5 USC, Sections 3302 and 3361.

If you have part-time work experience, read this: http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by the EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

Pathways Recent Graduates Program

A Recent Graduate who is a U.S. citizen may be converted to a permanent position (or, in some limited circumstances a term appointment lasting 1-4 years). To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must have:

Successfully completed at least 1-year of continuous service in addition to all requirements of the Program.
Demonstrated successful job performance.
Met the qualifications for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted.

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 On-line button to the 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 closing date of this announcement.

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

If you cannot apply on-line, you must contact the Human Resources Office listed to the right for assistance no later than three business days prior to the closing date of this announcement. You must provide complete application materials by the closing date of this announcement.

For detailed instructions to assist you in ensuring your application package is received, go to:
http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Documents to be submitted on-line:

Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties Section and Qualifications Required Section. In describing your experience, you need to be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
Responses to the on-line assessment questionnaire
College transcript(s) (undergraduate and graduate if applicable) - required to submit either an unofficial transcript(s) or a list of courses that includes school attended, school address, course title, grade earned, completion date, department, and quarter or semester hours earned. Recent Graduates must have completed a qualifying educational program within the preceding 2 years. (Preference eligible veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have as much as 6 years after degree completion to apply.) It is the applicant's responsibility to provide documentation or proof that he or she has met the applicable educational provisions described. If you earned your degree in a foreign country, you must provide an U.S. equivalency evaluation of your education by a private U.S. organization (credential evaluation service).
Professional registration - Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico; OR Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Veterans' Preference Documents - DD-214 Member 4 copy, VA Letter, and SF-15, if applicable; active duty military submit statement of service from commanding officer documenting dates of active duty and any campaign medals/badges; include character of service.

Additional information can be found on our web site: http://epa.gov/ohr/ezhire/vacancy_requirements.htm

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Sara Jones
Phone: 513-569-7832
Fax: 513-569-7826
Email: jones.sara@epa.gov

Agency Information:
Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Human Resources Office
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH
45268
US
Fax: 513-569-7826

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJOBS account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJOBS that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation.

You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJOBS account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. 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. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

JOB SUMMARY:
SALARY:	$17.57 - $26.84 Hourly $3,045.74 - $4,651.63 Monthly $36,548.93 - $55,819.50 Annually
OPENING DATE:	05/13/15
CLOSING DATE:	05/20/15 11:59 PM
The essential duties of this position include monitoring and sampling of landfill gas equipment, Leachate collection system, load checking, waste screening, refrigerant removal, on-sight first responder for waste incidents, responsibility for the division safety and inspection program, and the preparation of reports and maintaining records.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Monitors the performance of the Landfill Gas Control and Collection System by taking readings, reporting findings, troubleshooting solutions, performing interim probe readings. Maintaining the well field by re-starting the flare and dewatering wells as needed, coordinating repairs and scheduling maintenance, communicate findings and maintain records in accordance with the facility’s Landfill Gas Management Plan. Perform environmental compliance tasks associated with Leachate collection system and riser, which include but are not limited to taking fluid measurements at leachate riser, reporting pump failures, coordinating repairs, maintaining records and communicating findings. Participate in load checking/waste screening program as needed and contribute to any on-site first response to spilled materials or contaminant removal in accordance with the facility’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan. Collects storm-water samples and perform various inspections associated with the Site Operating Plan. Responsible for the division safety and inspection program, preparation of reports and maintenance of records.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Requires a high school diploma or GED and 6+ months advanced study or training at the junior college, vocational, business, technical or correspondence school level and 1+ year's related landfill operations experience. Experience in landfill operations preferred Valid Texas Class C driver’s license required. Must be able to obtain an EPA Type 1 Freon Removal Certification, a Solid Waste Class C license, and Waste Screening certification within 6 months of employment. Ability to read papers, periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study. Ability to deal with system of real numbers; practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study. Ability to write reports, prepare business letters, expositions, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study. The employee normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. The employee may choose the appropriate procedure or policy. Performance is reviewed periodically. Work requires functioning as a lead worker performing essentially the same work as those directed, and includes overseeing work quality, training, instructing, and scheduling work. Work requires analysis and judgment in accomplishing diversified duties. Requires the exercise of independent thinking within the limits of policies, standards, and precedents. Persuasion Very Frequent: More than 51% of work time.

UNT Geography Internships and Career Information

Course credit for internships

Friday, May 29, 2015

Life Scientist/Env Engineer/Env Scientist - EPA (Recent Graduates Program)

SALARY RANGE:

OPEN PERIOD:

SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

SECURITY CLEARANCE:

SUPERVISORY STATUS: