Scientific Policy Specialist

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a Master's level full time Scientific Policy Specialist position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Washington, D.C.

The Office of Research and Development 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.

What the EPA project is about?

The Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement (OSAPE) supports the Agency's Science Advisor and integrates and coordinates science across ORD and the Agency, with key external partners, and into the regulatory process. This work includes leading EPA's scientific integrity and innovation programs; managing ORD's extramural research programs and regional science programs; coordinating ORD's partnerships with tribes, other federal agencies and international organizations, and state and local partners; and serving as ORD's lead on science policy issues. Within OSAPE, the Scientific Integrity Program leads the agency's implementation of the scientific integrity policy, promotes a culture of scientific integrity, conducts training and outreach and provides both a vision and a roadmap for scientific integrity at the Agency.

As a team member, you will help to develop and implement cross-agency strategies that support the Scientific Integrity Program and the functions listed above. The team member will assist with the analytical and administrative duties required to support and maintain a robust Scientific Integrity Program. Specific duties and/or responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Assisting the Scientific Integrity Program in conducting analysis of data and information collected for the various functions, preparing materials under the direction of the Team leader;
• Assisting the Scientific Integrity Program with the development of products, the conduct of meetings, storing and properly managing the records, and timely search and retrieval of information;
• Performing research on related topics that support the Scientific Integrity Program and/or various OSAPE functions and responsibilities;
• Tracking products, trainings, and activities in a shared database for annual reporting;
• Technical review of written materials to correct or improve grammar, syntax, quality and understanding of content. Review includes proofreading and offering suggestions to improve communication of subject matter for broad audience;
• Assisting the Scientific Integrity Program in developing oral presentations using graphics and other interactive formats, preparing web related and other communication materials;
• Working in a team environment that supports cross learning and maximizes the student opportunity to learn about the functions of OSAPE, as well as other components of EPA; and
• Perform other tasks as required to accomplish office objectives.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience writing about science, environmental issues, public health concerns or other technical or public policy subjects as evidenced by a writing sample;
• Demonstrated education and/or experience in both science and policy;
• Demonstrated leadership, clear communication and critical thinking skills and experience working in teams;
• Experience conducting analysis of data and information to address specific applications;
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, including demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines;
• Strong proof reading and editing skills; and
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office applications including Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience with program evaluation and logic models;
• Experience administering a large-scale survey, including development of survey instrument, methodology, testing, field management, data collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting; and
• Demonstrated skill with survey and analytical software tools in at least one of the following tools: Qualtrics, IBM SPSS Statistics or NVivo.

Location: This job will be located EPA's facility in Washington, D.C.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $33.14 for hours worked.

Hours: Full-time

Travel: No travel is expected

Expected start date: The position is full time and expected to begin November 2023. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA. The contract renews each May through 2025.

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

• Be at least 18 years of age and
• Have earned at least a Master's degree in the Biological, Environmental or Physical Sciences, Environmental Policy 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.