Program Specialist (Special Assistant)

This position is in Region 9. About this organization: Region 9 This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

You will: Serve as a senior special assistant to the Regional Administrator that plans, directs and executes a number of significant policy and/or programmatic-related directives. Represent the Regional Administrator and lead special projects and cross-organizational teams on behalf of the Regional Administrator on a variety of environmental issues throughout the region's states and territories, including managing long-term strategies, responses to high-profile and controversial issues with significant political, press and/or community interests. Serve as the Senior liaison between the Divisional program offices and the Immediate Office of the RA/DRA. Coordinate with the Administrative Specialist to ensure that the regional Administrator's appointment schedule for meetings and events is in accordance with the RA's priorities. 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.

#LI-Onsite You must be a U.S. citizen. You must meet time-in-grade requirements no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period if appointed as Competitive Service or a two-year trial period if appointed as Excepted Service. This position is designated as Moderate 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. 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. 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. If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter.