Clarification from the agency

Current permanent EPA internal employees in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance with competitive status and CTAP eligibles. NOTE: Eligibility is based on your current position of record (if you are on a temporary promotion, the temporary promotion position is your position of record).

You will:

• Exercise supervisory personnel management responsibilities to ensure CID criminal investigators and supervisors are meeting all position requirements, policies, procedures, and directives.
• Plan, organize, and direct the activities of the organizational unit to ensure implementation of the Administration's criminal enforcement priorities.
• Provide direct oversight of operations and program coordination to ensure CID is successfully investigating criminal violations under environmental statutes and Title 18.
• Represent the Division Director and other OCEFT senior leadership to ensure criminal cases are referred for prosecution and legal/regulatory compliance in criminal enforcement matters.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

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Conditions of employment

• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• Pre-employment drug testing is required and random testing thereafter.
• Pre-employment physical may be required and periodic physicals thereafter.
• See special provisions in the Qualifications section.

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.

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 must complete (or have already completed) a 1-year supervisory or managerial probationary period.

Upon acceptance of an initial appointment to a supervisory or managerial position with the EPA, you agree to complete all elements of the EPA Successful Leaders Program. This development program is designed to enhance leadership competencies and meet the agency's goal of providing new leaders with the tools needed for success.

Participation in the medical monitoring program is required.

You will be required to obtain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.

You will be required to obtain (before coming on board) and maintain a valid driver’s license and must be able to operate a Government-owned or leased motor vehicle.

#LI-DNI

Qualifications

NOTE:  You must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for the GS-15 level, you must have 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level defined as managing criminal investigators and coaching others on performing supervisory and personnel management responsibilities; planning, directing, and overseeing the operations of a law enforcement organization; providing expertise on investigating and prosecuting criminal violations under environmental statutes and Title 18; and representing senior leadership to other EPA, Department of Justice, and state officials.

You will be assessed on the following competencies: 

• Supervisory and leadership judgment.
• Program/Project Management/Evaluation.
• Environmental laws and regulations.
• Legal, government, and jurisprudence.
• Criminal investigation.

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: Part-Time Experience.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS - SPECIAL PROVISIONS

• Medical: You must be found to be physically fit by an authorized government physician to perform strenuous and physically demanding duties.
• Age: 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 retirement 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: 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 12-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Basic Criminal Investigator Training Program and the 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.
• Firearm: 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.
• Driver’s License: You must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

After the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements.

If we determine you are eligible/qualified, one or more subject matter experts will systematically review your resume to assess the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for successful performance in this position (see the Qualifications section for a list of the competencies being evaluated). You may also be required to complete one or more additional assessments (if this is required, you will be contacted by email with further instructions). Based on the assessment ratings, a score will be calculated to determine if you are among the best qualified candidates.
NOTE: Cheating (including the use of a consultant or an AI tool to assist you) on any assessment may result in your removal from consideration for this job.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments by the selecting official (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

Required documents to be submitted online:

ALL APPLICANTS

• Resume clearly stating your experience related to this position as described in the Duties and Qualifications sections--include specific dates (MM/DD/YY - MM/DD/YY) so we can determine that you have the required amount of experience (if applicable). Your experience description needs to be clear/specific (we may not make assumptions regarding your experience). Include a list of awards you have received if you would like them to be considered. Resume must not exceed 2 pages. If you do not submit a resume that is 2 pages or less, you will be ineligible for further consideration. See How to Apply section for more information.
• Notification(s) of Personnel Action (SF-50) that includes Position Title, Grade or Level, and Duty Station and proves the following:
  -        ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY - SF-50(s) must prove you meet the criteria in the Clarification from the agency section. The most common eligibility requirements are Permanent Employees (proof is reflected in block 24/Tenure on the SF-50), Competitive Status (proof is reflected in blocks 24/Tenure and 34/Position Occupied on the SF-50), In the Office of (proof is reflected in block 22/Name and Location of Position’s Organization on the SF-50), and In the Commuting Area (proof is reflected in block 39/Duty Station on the SF-50).
  NOTE: Eligibility is based on your current position of record (if you are on a temporary promotion, the temporary promotion position is your position of record).
  -        TIME-IN-GRADE - If you are applying for a higher grade, SF-50(s) must prove you have completed 52 weeks at the next lower grade (next lower grade is identified in the Qualifications section). Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotion to the higher grade, within-grade increase for the next lower grade, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job at the next lower grade.
• Most recent completed annual performance appraisal dated within the last 18 months (if it is not dated within the last 18 months or you have not received a performance appraisal, you must upload a signed/dated explanation why). Your submitted performance appraisal must show the overall rating and manager/supervisor’s signature that certifies the rating at the time it was given. If your performance appraisal was conducted virtually, a supervisory email certifying your end-of-year review/rating was completed and date it occurred is acceptable documentation in lieu of the supervisor’s signature on the performance appraisal document; the overall rating must also be provided on either the email or performance appraisal document.

DISPLACED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE

• Most recent performance appraisal
• Proof of eligibility
• Most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, tenure, and duty station

Next steps

Additional locations