Senior Scientific Advisor for Safe Drinking Water Act Programs

Environmental Protection Agency•Washington, DC

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This Scientific or Professional (ST) position is in the Office of Water. 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.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the ST position, annually, and upon termination of employment.
If 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).
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.
At least 3 years of specialized experience in, or closely related to, the field of national drinking water quality assessment and mitigation, including addressing issues related to our nation's drinking water and wastewater systems, programs, processes, safety and policy.
At least 1 year of this specialized experience must have been in planning and executing difficult programs of national significance or planning and executing specialized programs that show outstanding attainments in the field of research or consultation.
At least 1 year of the specialized experience must be at least equivalent to experience at GS-15 level.

Responsibilities

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.