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Requirements Conditions of Employment
- You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
- You must be a U.S. citizen.
- Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.
- See requirements under Qualifications Section.
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.
This position is designated as High 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.
You will be required to obtain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.
Participation in the medical monitoring program is required.
If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year trial period.
Qualifications
We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below:
To qualify for the GS-14 level, you need to have at least one year of full time experience equivalent to the GS-13 level defined as working knowledge of criminal law enforcement principles, theories, practices and techniques; using various investigative techniques to gather facts and evidence.
Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
- Ability to conduct investigations.
- Skill in providing advice, counsel, and instructions on administrative matters.
- Skill in reviewing policies to identify issues and impacts related to criminal enforcement program operations.
- Skill in reviewing reports to ensure they are complete, factual, and conform to policies and directives.
- Ability to make written and oral presentations on investigative findings to high level officials.
- Skill in conducting surveillance, participating in raids, interviewing witnesses, searching for evidence, serving warrants, and testifying in court.
- Skill in public relations generating newsletter content, respond to congressional inquiries, organize press training for staff.
- Ability to develop templates for documents and forms for hardcopy and electronic recordkeeping systems.
- Ability to maintain brochures, image library, graphics, and web content.
- Ability to advise on issues concerning International and National policy and guidance on investigative matters.
- Skill in overseeing undercover assignments for national consistency.
- Ability to represent OECA on boards, panels, committee, meetings, conferences, hearings to negotiate and promote EPA programs and policies.
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 .
Criminal Investigators - Special Provisions
Medical Requirements: You must be found to be physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties.
Age Requirements: You must be at least 21 years of age and not older than 36 at the time of appointment. In accordance with PL 100-238, this position is covered under law enforcement retirements provisions; therefore, you must be appointed before reaching your 37th birthday unless you presently serve or have previously served in a Federal civilian law enforcement retirement-covered position.
Basic Agent Training Requirements: You must successfully complete and pass the required Basic Agent Training Program. Failure to pass the training program will result in separation from EPA.
Law Enforcement Training: You must successfully complete the 9-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's Basic Criminal Investigator training program and the 8-week Environmental Investigations Basic training program at Glynco, GA. You must pass the training program on the first attempt or you will be removed from this position and failure may result in separation from the Agency. You are exempt from this training if you have previously completed the program.
You must meet qualifications to carry a firearm. Lautenberg Notice: Title 18 USC, Section 911 (g), automatically disqualifies anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from being appointed to this position. You must not have been convicted of a felony crime.
Work Schedule: The hours are long and irregular. You must be available at all times, to include holidays. You may also be sent on extended temporary duty station assignments away from your assigned office. You may be reassigned to different duty locations throughout the U.S. based on the needs of the Agency.
You must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
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 .
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 above is Competitive, you may be appointed as Excepted Service based on your eligibility to be hired under certain appointing authorities.
This position is not 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.
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.
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- Help Help 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 window Learn 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.