Senior Policy Advisor for Regulatory and Programmatic Development

Summary

This Senior-Level (SL) position is in the Office of Water. About the Office of Water. This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

Duties

This position is located within the Office of Water (OW). As the Senior Policy Advisor for Regulatory and Programmatic Development for OW, the incumbent works directly with the Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) for Policy, the OW Assistant Administrator, and other senior level officials. The position provides advice and counsel on policy and strategic development and manages matters as they relate to OW's areas of responsibilities within the Agency. Specific duties of this position may include, but are not limited to: - Providing policy advice, expertise, and recommendations to senior leadership on projects and programs relating to water quality, drinking water, groundwater, wetlands protection, and marine and estuarine protection under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. - Providing policy and technical oversight for the development and implementation of complex, interdisciplinary efforts that involve multiple stakeholders and that impact OW. - Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with both internal and external partners that may include, but are not limited to: other Federal agencies, Congressional contacts, State, local, and Tribal governments, academia, private industry, non-governmental organizations and the public at large. - Representing the Office and the Agency on and at seminars, conferences, meetings, committees, and other gatherings in order to promote and explain the Agency's point of view and decisions to partners. - Serving as the primary liaison regarding OW policies and programs with key management officials and experts in OW program offices and the Office of the Administrator, including staff from the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations and the Office of Public Affairs. Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen. If you are selected, you must complete a one-year probationary period. The Ethics in Government Act, P.L. 95-521 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SL position, annually, and upon termination of employment. REAL ID requirements became effective on 05/07/25. If you are 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). You will receive information about alternative acceptable documents (e.g., passport) prior to onboarding. For more information about REAL ID, see Dept. of Homeland Security and REAL ID FAQs. 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. #LI-Onsite Qualifications

We are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: To qualify for this SL position, you need to have at least one year of full time experience equivalent to the GS-15 level defined as providing advice, consultation, and/or recommendations to senior management on the application of, regulations within, and compliance with the nation's Water laws, including, but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Water Quality Act of 1965. You will be evaluated on the mandatory Technical Qualifications listed below. Your descriptions should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility. Technical Qualifications (TQs) - Mandatory for all applicants - Failure to address these factors within the required 2-page resume will result in your application being disqualified. TQ 1 - Demonstrated experience applying knowledge of the mission, functions, and applicable laws relevant to the Office of Water, as well as major substantive administrative, technical, and policy issues and matters affecting major operations of a complex organization. TQ 2 - Demonstrated experience leading program coordination activities that include the ability to advise and counsel senior leaders on the programmatic planning, coordination and management of a complex organization or a multi-disciplinary scientific or technical organization. TQ 3 - Demonstrated experience in communicating effectively with high-level officials in Congress, Federal, State, Tribal or local governments, public interest groups, representatives of industry, and other public and private institutions and/or the general public (any combination) on complex, sensitive policy issues.

How You Will Be Evaluated

We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on the experience described in your resume with the required Technical Qualifications (TQs). You are being evaluated under the category rating method which means, if you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the 'Best Qualified', 'Well Qualified', or 'Qualified' category. Benefits

Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, 26 days of paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA. If you are selected for this position, situational telework may be approved by your supervisor if you meet eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy. Other Information

Time in grade requirements do not apply to SL/ST positions. EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: E-Verify. If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.