Senior Scientific Advisor for Safe Drinking Water Act Programs

Summary

This Scientific or Professional (ST) position is in the Office of Water. About OW. This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

Duties

The Office of Water (OW) serves as the National Program Lead and provides Agency-wide policy, guidance and direction for the Agency's water quality, drinking water, groundwater wetlands protection, marine and estuarine protection, and other water related programs. OW is responsible for directing, establishing and implementing all efforts within the Agency to protect the public from contaminants found in source waters or distribution systems and thought to be harmful to human health. These public health protection activities include: Conducting source water assessment and protection programs; Promulgating new or revised, scientifically sound and risk-based National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs); Developing and conducting training, technical assistance, and financial assistance programs to enhance public water systems' capacity to comply with existing and new regulations; Overseeing the sound implementation of the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act programs to support investment in the nation's drinking water infrastructure; Conducting underground injection control programs; Nationally implementing NPDWRs through state and tribal drinking water programs and policies to protect safe drinking water from natural, accidental or intentional threats, as well as developing and administering multiple drinking water grant programs, protecting sources of drinking water, and directing and conducting drinking water research and development on health effects, risk assessments, treatment technologies, and analytical methods to support Safe Drinking Water Act activities. The incumbent serves as the Senior Scientific Advisor for Safe Drinking Water Act Programs to OW senior leadership and leads coordinated time-critical research designed to improve the Agency's response in the planning, implementation, and management of our nation's water quality in support of the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Federal Water Research Pollution Control Act, and the Rivers and Harbors Act. The incumbent also promotes coordination with the agency research and science programs engaged in water activities. The incumbent's leadership and participation in high-level, interagency research efforts support the complex issues that are at the intersection of environment, public health, agriculture, energy, national security and economy. The incumbent's focus specifically supports ensuring the safety of the Nation's drinking water supplies, protecting the public from contaminants found in source waters or distribution systems and thought to be harmful to human health. Specific duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Advising OW senior leadership on scientific and research initiatives related to protecting sources of drinking water and major research and development issues related to drinking water and wastewater safety and security threats. Directing and conducting drinking water research and development on health effects, risk assessment, treatment technologies, and analytical methods to support Safe Drinking Water Act activities. Providing science-based research recommendations to ensure that Agency drinking water programs are consistent with senior leadership's environmental and management goals. Gathering, planning, conducting, and analyzing current data and trends to address any deficiencies and identifying needed improvements of drinking water and wastewater management processes and systems. Establishing and maintaining working relationships with prominent scientists in order to exchange ideas and information and to promote mutually beneficial activities and programs related to priority water health and security threats. Leading and participating in task forces, committees, and panels that address emerging wastewater, drinking water, and water security issues.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen. The Ethics in Government Act, P.L. 95-521, requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the ST position, annually, and upon termination of employment. REAL ID requirements became effective on 05/07/25. If you are selected for this position and plan to use your driver's license or identification card during the onboarding process (i.e., for employment eligibility verification or to obtain your EPA identification card), the document must be a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver's license or identification card that includes the REAL ID-compliant star marking, or must be an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL). You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g., passport) prior to onboarding. For more information about REAL ID, see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL ID FAQs. This position has education requirements. See Qualifications/Education section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course-listings. 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. #LI-Onsite

Qualifications and evaluation

This position is being filled through the ST hiring authority. Under the provisions of the ST hiring authority, category rating, veterans' preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply. We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. All eligible applicants will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for further consideration, and you may be subject to further assessments during the selection process.

Education

Biologist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed. Physical Scientist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in 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 a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

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, 26 days of 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. If you are selected for this position, situational telework may be approved by your supervisor if you meet eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy.

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. As referenced in the Required Documents section, all required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS document portfolio feature. It is recommended that you review your application materials after they have been uploaded to your application to ensure they conform to the requirements stated in the announcement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application, please contact the HR Specialist listed on the announcement. If you cannot apply online, you must contact the HR Specialist 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 welcomes applications from persons with disabilities. Through the reasonable accommodation process, we provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment that persons without disabilities enjoy. A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done. An accommodation removes workplace barriers and enables an applicant with a disability to have an equal opportunity to participate in the application process, be considered for a position, and, if hired, perform the essential functions of their job. The EPA National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators will provide assistance to you, the Human Resources Office, and/or the hiring official as needed. For more information, refer to EPA's Reasonable Accommodation website. Below is more detailed information about how to request a reasonable accommodation during the application, selection, and hiring process: 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 two 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, including the interview, notify the person who contacted you from the hiring official's office. If you do not hear back within three days about your reasonable accommodation request for the selection process, please notify EPA's National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators via email at disabilityaccommodations@epa.gov. If you are selected and need an accommodation during the hiring process up to orientation, notify the HR Specialist who made the job offer to you. Please note: Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Required documents

Documents to be submitted online: NOTE: You should ensure your social security number, date of birth, and any other personal information are redacted. -- Resume - Required for all applicants - State your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section. In describing your experience, be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience. NOTE: Your resume may not exceed 2 pages. If your resume exceeds 2 pages, your application will be disqualified. -- College transcripts - Required for all applicants - unofficial or official transcripts or a list of courses that include 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. To learn more about submitting documentation, visit Uploading Documents to USAJOBS.

Additional information

Time in grade requirements do not apply to ST positions. 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: E-Verify. 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.