EPA Safe & Healthy Communities Assessment Tool Support Associate

Organization
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Reference Code
EPA-SSP-0008-5R
Description

The EPA Environmental Research and Business Support Program has an immediate opening for an EPA Safe & Healthy Communities Assessment Tool Support Associate with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA Research Triangle Park facility in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

The Office of Research and Development at the EPA supports 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.

The ORD National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Systems Exposure Division (SED) integrates exposure data, tools, models, and methods to assess cumulative exposures to inform systems based approaches capable of organizing current knowledge, simulating potential futures, and synthesizing results to inform decisions. The Division translates information into decision making frameworks integrating human and ecological, multimedia, socioeconomic, and cumulative risk considerations to address sustainability, the built environment, and human ecology. Tools, products and data developed by SED researchers provide EPA program and regional offices, states and local communities and tribes with science-based information to inform decision making.

SED is conducting research to develop web-based community assessment tools within ORD’s Safe and Healthy Communities Research Program (SHCRP). The selected candidate will assist HEASD in developing and refining C-FERST (Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool) and Tribal- FERST (Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk and Sustainability Tool). He/she will provide scientific, technical and administrative support for developing and managing the C-FERST and T-FERST tools, which include GIS (geographic information systems), IT (information technology) and scientific databases that support those tools. This research is covered under “Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) – Development of ORD/NERL’s Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) and Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk and Sustainability Tool (Tribal-FERST)” (dated: June 13, 2013).

Scientific/Technical responsibilities will include:

  • Developing familiarity with C-FERST and other EPA community decision support tools (e.g., Tribal-FERST, EnviroAtlas, EJSCREEN, NEPAssist),
  • Adapting, revising, and updating the underlying information technology (IT), geographic information systems (GIS), and website development supporting those tools, including EPA’s Geoplatform,
  • Developing and revising metadata as necessary to support C-FERST modifications and updates,
  • Understanding how C-FERST and other decision support tools are used by EPA, the EPA Regions and communities,
  • Developing and implementing recommendations on how these EPA web-based decision support tools for community assessment could be improved (e.g., through increased harmonization/integration, accuracy, coverage, efficiency, “user-friendliness” and impact/effectiveness).
  • Assisting in Agency outreach and integration of CCAT (Community Cumulative Assessment Tool); enhancing integration with HIA (Health Impact Assessment), and
  • Incorporating tools for citizen science, cumulative risk and vulnerable populations, results from environmental and exposure models, and applying decision analysis tools.

Communications-related responsibilities will include:

  • Updating website development and content,
  • Assisting with C-FERST demos and training,
  • Assisting in the logistics and coordination activities for briefings, meetings,  workshops, and other collaborative efforts, and
  • Assisting the team in developing oral presentations results and impacts using graphics and other interactive formats.

Administrative-related responsibilities will include:

  • Assisting in administrative functions in the development and operation the C-FERST website and related databases and GIS; helping to identify future content and functionality needs and methods, and
  • Maintaining records of meetings, correspondence, and action documents, and maintaining a system to track projects in progress.

Location: This job will be located at EPA’s Research Triangle facility in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

Salary: The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $20.65 for hours worked.

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Working Conditions: This position will involve work in an administrative setting and is not expected to involve exposure to hazardous elements.

The selected candidate shall be supervised by a mentor who will provide day-to-day direction, as well as coach, advise and counsel the student, and review the student contractor’s work.  The mentor for this position will be a federal EPA employee. 

Expected Start Date: The position start date is August 2016. The selected applicant will be temporary employees of ORAU working as contractors to EPA. The initial contract period is through May 14, 2017. EPA may elect to renew the contract for an additional three 12-month optional periods.

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

Qualifications

Eligible applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age and
  • Have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or environmental science, public health or other closely related fields 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 will have:

  • Demonstrated education and/or experience in computer programming to design, display and communicate webpage content to average public users (specifically, knowledge and experience with JavaScript, JQuery, and metadata editing).
  • Leadership skills,
  • Experience working in teams, and
  • Strong written, oral and electronic communication skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience and Education

It is desirable for candidates to possess knowledge and/or experience with Oracle SQL, ColdFusion, ESRI ARC/GIS Online, and Widget-building (custom map-making) programming.

How to apply

  • Submit application and supporting documents by clicking on Apply Now button.
  • For more information, contact EPAjobs@orau.org. Do not contact EPA directly.
Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 month(s).
  • Overall GPA: 2.00
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (1 )
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
    • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
    • Engineering (27 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (2 )
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (1 )
Affirmation

I certify that I am at least 18 years of age; a recent graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or environmental science, public health or other closely related fields 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.

ORAU is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability); visit the ORAU website for required employment notices.


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