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• For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for a People, Prosperity and Planet Support Associate with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Washington, DC.

The Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the EPA supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its environmental goals. Research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

EPA’s National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) supports high-quality research by the nation's leading scientists and engineers that will improve EPA’s scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues. NCER supports leading edge extramural research in exposure, effects, risk assessment, and risk management by managing research grant competitions, fellowship competitions and competitions for research contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Within NCER, EPA’s People, Prosperity & the Planet (P3) Program and SBIR program work to stimulate sustainable solutions to environmental problems. These programs within NCER are seeking an individual, at least 18 years of age who has completed a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Sustainability or Environmental Science/Engineering/Policy-related field to assist with the analytical and administrative duties required to support and maintain these robust innovative programs, including the administration, management, and communication of results and impacts resulting from the research activities sponsored by both of these EPA programs. This effort is expected to begin approximately August 2018.

EPA’s P3 – People, Prosperity and the Planet – Program is a unique college competition for designing solutions for a sustainable future. P3 offers students quality hands-on experience that brings their classroom learning to life. The competition has two phases. For the first phase of the competition, teams are awarded a $15,000 grant to develop their idea. In April they bring the design to the National Sustainable Design Expo in the Washington, DC metro area to compete for the P3 Award and a grant of $75,000 to take their design to real world application. The Expo brings together students, scientists, engineers, and business leaders whose innovative technologies are designed to advance economic growth while reducing environmental impact. A highlight of the Expo is the technologies developed by P3 student teams to address alternative energy, water purification, drinking water distribution, reducing pesticide run-off, green buildings, and more. The Expo also provides a forum for government, nonprofits, and the business community to demonstrate their diverse approaches to sustainability.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is one of 11 federal agencies that participates in the SBIR Program established by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. The purpose of this Act is to strengthen the role of small businesses in federally funded R&D and help develop a stronger national base for technical innovation.  EPA’s SBIR Program funds small businesses to develop and commercialize innovative technologies in areas such as air and climate, water, manufacturing and materials that support the Agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Responsibilities:

The selected candidate shall assist the P3 and SBIR program staff with the analytical and administrative duties required to support and maintain these robust innovative programs, including administration, management and communication of results. The candidate will also help support the planning for the National Sustainable Design Expo, an annual event associated with the EPA P3 Program. Desired attributes include strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, (particularly Excel), coupled with robust organizational skills and attention to detail.

Management and Administrative Responsibilities

• Identifying and facilitating innovative approaches for environmental protection and research.
• Researching and summarizing information relating to innovative activities in environmental science and policy, in companies, communities, government, and other organizations.
• Analyzing activities and processes across the federal government related to sustainability.
• Assisting with the maintenance of the records for P3 grants and SBIR contracts, correspondence, and action documents.
• Maintaining a system to track P3 and SBIR projects in progress.
• Updating P3 and SBIR program statistics and metrics.
• Assisting in fostering collaboration among EPA sustainability programs.

Communications-related Responsibilities

• Assisting with the logistics and coordination activities for briefings, meetings, workshops, the annual National Sustainable Design Expo and other collaborative efforts.
• Assisting the P3 and SBIR teams in developing oral presentations to demonstrate program results and impacts using graphics and other interactive formats.
• Assisting with the development of summary analysis documents of P3 and SBIR program sustainability-related projects and impacts from innovation activities supported by these programs.
• Facilitating the appropriate communication and outreach related to innovation activities including: creating one-page summaries developing longer pieces based on directed background research, and developing communication materials for wider audiences.

Outreach Responsibilities

• Attending conferences as requested.

Location: This job will be located at EPA’s facility in Washington, DC.

Salary: Selected applicants will become temporary employees of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $22.46 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-Time.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be expected.

Expected Start Date: The position is full time and expected to begin September 2018.  The selected applicant will be a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The initial contract period is through May 14, 2019. EPA may elect to renew the contract for an additional one (1) 12-month optional period.

For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at a minimum a Bachelor’s degree in a Sustainability or Environmental Science/Policy/Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months and
• Be a citizen of the United States of America or a Legal Permanent Resident.

EPA ORD employees, their spouses, and children are not eligible to participate in this program.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

Successful candidates shall:

• Demonstrate education and/or experience in environmental science, policy or engineering;
• Demonstrate leadership skills and have experience working in teams; and
• Possess strong written, oral and electronic communication skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

It is desirable for candidates to have:

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook), desktop publishing, and the Internet;
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills;
• Experience in administration support functions (i.e., recordkeeping, filing) and managing records (electronic and hardcopy) or databases;
• Experience with administrative procedures;
• A high level of attention to detail; and
• Strong communication skills (i.e., written, oral, telephone etiquette, presentation abilities), including effective multi-media technical communications.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.00
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (1 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (4 )

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at a minimum a Bachelor’s degree in a Sustainability or Environmental Science/Policy/Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited university or college within the last 24 months; a citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States of America; and not a current employee of EPA ORD or the spouse or child of an EPA ORD employee.