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Image: Are you the nationally recognized scientific leader that can turn global climate change around, make the air more breathable for millions of people in the world, save our failing water systems, or create a better world for future generations?

If your answer is yes, our nationally renowned laboratory wants you!


We Want You!

We are bringing together some of the world's foremost authorities on the science, study, and application of environmental research. The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) is the premier provider of risk management research, using both science and engineering to develop unique approaches as well as new technologies to solve the world’s largest environmental problems. We are seeking the best and brightest—exceptional and visionary senior leaders who are authorities on environmental science or engineering—to lead research teams in investigating and defining emerging environmental issues and the science and technologies needed to resolve them.

The selected candidates will lead the implementation of future research needs for a national laboratory, monitor research results, evaluate their effectiveness, and serve as a highly visible international expert in one of the following areas:

Qualifications and Evaluation

You are qualified to fill this position if you have extensive specialized experience and a doctoral degree in a pertinent field. You will be evaluated based on these qualifications. In determining the degree to which candidates possess the required or desired knowledge, skills, and abilities, an evaluation panel will consider related experience, education, training, awards, and professional references.

How to Apply

Your application must include:

  • A one- to two-page cover letter that describes your experience in leading an environmental research program and how your experience relates to the duties of the position for which you are applying
  • Your curriculum vitae
  • The names of three references
  • Your citizenship status
  • Your compensation requirements
  • How you heard about this vacancy
  • Announcement number NRMRL-08-42-02

E-mail your application to title42@epa.gov or mail it to:

Ms. Dorothy Carr
U.S. EPA
HRMD, MD-C639-02
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

Electronic submission of application materials is encouraged. Applications sent via e-mail must be submitted in a common readable format such as MS Word, portable document format (PDF), rich text format (RTF), or plain text (TXT). Use of any format we cannot read may make your application invalid.

For additional information, contact Ms. Carr at (800) 433-9633.

For technical questions about this vacancy, contact Dr. Subhas Sikdar at (513) 569-7528.

This position is part of a larger EPA effort to use state-of-the-science approaches and technologies in its mission to protect human health and the environment. The director must have the vision, experience, and capacity to advance a highly complex and challenging environmental research program. The director achieves mission goals in large part by actively garnering support from stakeholders and collaborates with members of the national and international community to address sustainability and land issues.

FAQ

What is the position?
Director of the Sustainable Technologies Division
Director of the Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division

What are the qualifications for the position?
To satisfy the eligibility criteria, the applicant must have a doctoral degree in a pertinent science discipline, an outstanding record of original research, and extensive specialized experience leading an environmental research program. In addition, the applicant should be the recipient of recognition within the scientific community for original and significant contributions to research and high-impact collaborative efforts.

Must I be a U.S. citizen to apply?
No. Non-U.S. citizens may be considered, provided they are citizens of nations with a treaty aligned with the United States or citizens of nations that have a legal employment arrangement with the United States. All non-U.S. citizens must have the appropriate employment visa. Appointments of non-U.S. citizens may not exceed the expiration date of their employment visa. Visit: U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Citizenship Requirements for Employment

Is this a permanent position?
This is a full-time position with a renewable term of up to five years. ORD is filling this position using EPA’s Title 42 authority. These appointments will be made initially for a period ranging from one year and one day to five years. Such appointments may be extended for varying periods indefinitely, not in excess of five years for each period.

Who will make the decision on the extension?
The assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development or designee will make the final decision, after a written request by the Title 42 appointee's immediate supervisor is submitted for consideration.

What is the size of the budget and staff?
Sustainability
Budget: $6 million, including salaries
Staff: 38 principal investigators

Land
Budget: $12.5 million, including salaries
Staff: 27 principal investigators

Will the director be responsible for all aspects of management, including administrative aspects?
The director will have a direct-report administrative assistant. The director will also have an assistant director to manage the division’s day-to-day activities. The director's primary functions will be scientific leadership and spokesperson for the research.

Where can I find more information about NRMRL research?
Visit: Risk Management Research

Who We Are

EPA's Goals
  1. Clean Air and Global Climate Change
  2. Clean and Safe Water
  3. Land Preservation and Restoration
  4. Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
  5. Compliance and Environmental Stewardship

Established in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) functions as both a scientific and regulatory agency of the United States. Our mission is to protect human health and safeguard the environment—the air, water, land—on which life depends. EPA works with our federal, state, tribal, and local government partners to advance its mission. Together, we have made tremendous progress in protecting and restoring the nation’s air, water, and land. Visit: About EPA and 2006–2011 EPA Strategic Plan

Office of Research and Development (ORD)
EPA relies on sound science to safeguard both human health and the environment. ORD is the scientific research arm of EPA. Our cutting-edge research in pollution prevention, protection of human health, and risk reduction helps provide a solid foundation for EPA science and technology. The work at ORD laboratories, research centers, and offices across the country helps improve the quality of air, water, and soil, and the way we use our natural resources. Applied science at ORD builds our understanding of the relationship between humans and the earth’s ecosystems, providing the basis for environmental policies and programs. Visit: Research and Development – Basic Information

Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center, Cincinnati, OH

National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
As part of ORD, NRMRL is the laboratory for risk management research and plays a vital role in the scientific research mission at EPA. NRMRL focuses on environmental problem solving, spanning EPA's five goals.

NRMRL follows ORD's leadership and adheres to its principles. These principles are aligned with NRMRL's core values and are embodied in our mission, goals, and strategies.

NRMRL has research facilities at its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio; Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina; Ada, Oklahoma; and Edison, New Jersey. NRMRL's staff includes several hundred scientists and engineers devoted to solving a wide range of environmental problems. Our strengths lie in:

  • Science and engineering expertise
  • State-of-the-science facilities
  • Innovative technology testing
  • Collaboration and partnerships

Our Values

We value our environment. We work at EPA because we believe that the prosperity and security of our families, our country, and our world depend on the health of the natural systems that surround us.

We value the trust and respect of the American people. As a part of the federal government, we understand that the work we do is for the public good and we must meet the high expectations the American people hold for their public servants.

We value our research. We take pride in our work and conduct research that is scientifically sound and meets quality assurance standards.

We value our people. Our ability to find solutions for environmental problems and to communicate the results depends on a talented and dedicated workforce with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Visit: Risk Management Research

What We Do

No one could have predicted the impact NRMRL would have on the nation and the world. We have taken on many unique challenges and delivered outstanding results. There are amazing success stories to tell from each of NRMRL's research areas:

Air Pollution Prevention and Control
Smokestacks
NRMRL has extensive experience in air pollution research, developing and demonstrating prevention and control technologies for key industries, electrical power plants, incinerators, indoor environments, and sources of greenhouse gases. Our leadership has created a breakthrough technology for measuring dioxins and other toxic air emissions, established the state of the science for mercury control, and formulated methods to measure mercury in the environment.

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Drinking Water Protection
Water Facility
NRMRL’s leadership in drinking water treatment continues to improve our nation’s water supply and keep it secure. We are responsible for ORD’s largest national treatment technology demonstration and education program, setting the foundation for public health protection of small water systems contaminated by arsenic.

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Watershed Management and Restoration
Watershed Diagram
We are a leader in establishing the science to design best management practices for watersheds. These practices yield important improvements to water quality and support ecosystem restoration.

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Ground Water and Land Remediation
Riparian Restoration
NRMRL leads the world in providing practical guidance for remediation of hundreds of Superfund and other contaminated sites. Our researchers provide scientific knowledge to better understand how to remediate contaminated ground water and assess vapor intrusion into the home, both potentially significant risks to the public.

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Environmental Sustainability
Stream
The United States continues to “go green” and seeks new methods of environmental protection. The catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina served as a wake-up call and triggered enormous environmental policy challenges. EPA recognizes that an intricate web of regulatory and voluntary programs has evolved. We see the challenge of cross-media efforts and recognize the need to put the pieces together. Sustainability is the path forward.

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Environmental Technology Assessment and Verification
ETV Technology
Our Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation and Environmental Technology Verification programs have set the global standard for demonstration and performance verification of environmental technologies. We stand uniquely poised to help EPA and the world take on the next set of major environmental challenges. We will deliver results that safeguard the environment, save millions in compliance costs, and create economic prosperity.

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Our Challenges

It is a time of enormous challenge and change. Funds and well-trained scientists are in short supply; however, there are still opportunities for NRMRL to impact the world:

  • We are at the forefront of EPA’s commitments to environmental sustainability and environmental technologies.
  • EPA has entrusted NRMRL to bring about technological and engineering solutions to address the problem of aging water and wastewater infrastructure. Our work in wastewater peak flow blending will establish the scientific basis for future policy deliberation.
  • We are part of a cooperative partnership to bring sound science to near-roadway exposure.
  • We have been asked to lead a major effort with the Office of Water to advance nutrient trading via wetlands.
  • We are exploring the potential of nanotechnology in risk management approaches to environmental protection.
  • Working with EPA headquarters, we have completed the architecture for sustainability science and are bringing sustainability to real-world situations.

Title 42 Info

The Title 42 Program is a flexible hiring and pay program with competitive salaries that enable ORD to recruit highly talented, senior environmental research scientists and engineers. ORD is able to compete with the private sector and other federal agencies (such as the National Institutes of Health) currently using Title 42 authority or a similar authority for established and recognized scientists and engineers.

Product Documentation

EPA’s Title 42 Authority, 40 CFR Part 18

Citations for Agency’s Authority Under 42 USC (MS Word) (2 pp, 22 KB)

Title 42 Special Hiring Authority – Policy, Responsibilities, Requirements (PDF) (5 pp, 40 KB)

Guidance

EPA Title 42 Operations Manual (PDF) (21 pp, 108 KB)

Appendix 1 – Position Description Template (PDF) (2 pp, 24 KB)

Appendix 2 – Recruitment/Selection Process (PDF) (3 pp, 40 KB)

Appendix 3 – Sample Title 42 Candidate Evaluation Framework (PDF) (7 pp, 40 KB)

Appendix 4 – Initial Total Compensation Form (PDF) (4 pp, 32 KB)

Appendix 5 – Performance Ratings and Changes in Pay (PDF) (3 pp, 84 KB)

Appendix 6 – Voluntary Conversions and Employment Notice (PDF) (1 p, 12 KB)

Title 42 Performance Guidance (MS Word) (1 p, 34 KB)

Title 42 Resources: Visa, Personnel Security (MS Word) (1 p, 34 KB)

E-3 Visa Process (MS Word) (1 p, 37 KB)


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Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory


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