Supervisory Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist

Environmental Protection Agency; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Protection Agency in Region 4, Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, Laboratory Services Branch, seeks a Supervisory Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist to plan, organize, and direct laboratory operations and supervise staff to support mission goals.

You will act as a technical advisor on laboratory analysis, interact with stakeholders, and lead efforts across contracts and interagency work as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines.
• Professional engineering degree or licensure (Engineer) / combination of education and training providing knowledge of physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering.
• Bachelor's degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with 24 semester hours in physical science/engineering sciences.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct organizational priorities and resources to manage and oversee laboratory operations.
• Exercise supervisory responsibilities to empower employees to participate in and contribute to mission success.
• Represent the Agency to stakeholders by building effective working relationships, providing policy and procedural guidance, and resolving issues as they arise.
• Serve as a technical advisor on environmental laboratory analysis, procedures, and results.
• Spend less than 25% of time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements.

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines

Professional engineering degree or licensure (Engineer) / combination of education and training

Bachelor's degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics with 24 semester hours in physical science/engineering

Job description

Supervisory Life Scientist/Environmental Engineer/Physical Scientist

• Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

This position is in Region 4, Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, Laboratory Services Branch. About this organization: Region 4 This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

Key Responsibilities

You will: Plan, organize, and direct organizational priorities and resources to manage and oversee laboratory operations. Exercise supervisory responsibilities to foster an environment that empowers employees to participate in and contribute to mission success. Represent the Agency to stakeholders by building effective working relationships, providing policy and procedural guidance, and resolving issues as they arise.

Serve as a technical advisor and on issues related to environmental laboratory analysis, procedures, and results. You will spend less than 25% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Requirements & Education

Biologist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR a combination of education and experience with courses equivalent to a major, as listed.

Environmental Engineer: You must have one of the following: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree at an accredited university or college OR Combination of college level education or training AND technical experience that has furnished you with (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration as an engineer. Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training written test. Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.

Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field and at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications.

Physical Scientist: You must have a bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; OR a combination of education and experience with education equivalent to one of the majors listed that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

For information about accreditation requirements, visit Accreditation.

Benefits will not change for current permanent EPA employees. 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 and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement. EPA policy only allows telework to be approved situationally. Situational telework is for work or assignments of specific limited duration on an occasional, emergency, or ad hoc basis.

NOTE: If you are an EPA employee who currently works at a remote work location (i.e., full-time telework), your approval for remote work does not transfer to this position, subject to Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Environmental Protection Agency, Other Agencies and Independent Organizations.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $156451 – $197200/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-13.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.