Cumulative Impacts and Environmental Justice Support (Part-Time)

The EPA National Student Services Contract has an immediate opening for a part time Cumulative Impacts and Environmental Justice Support position with the Office of Research and Development at the EPA facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

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

EPA’s Office of Research and Development supports high-quality research to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues to help EPA achieve its environmental goals. EPA’s research is conducted in a broad range of environmental areas by scientists in EPA laboratories and at universities across the country.

As a team member, you will assist the director and deputy director of the Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) Research Program, which supports sustainable solutions to environmental problems. SHC is the lead national research program for the environmental justice and cumulative impacts cross-cutting research priorities, and as such coordinates research activities and encourages collaboration within ORD, across EPA, and with external stakeholders. The team member will provide administrative, communications, and analytical support to the director, deputy of SHC, the SHC team, and the cumulative impacts team.  This work includes creating developing plain-language descriptions of scientific research, which will be shared within and outside of EPA. The team member will also assist in tracking and reporting EPA research that addresses high profile research topics such as EJ and cumulative impacts. The team member may also participate in cross-Agency discussions on scientific activities and priorities related to remediation of contaminated sites, ecosystem services, environmental justice and cumulative impacts.

How you will apply your skills

Analytical responsibilities will include:  

• Understanding the state of the science related to environmental justice and cumulative impacts;
• Developing surveys and analyzing results;
• Sharing expertise related to qualitative research methods; and
• Sharing expertise related to communications.

Management and Administrative responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining records of meetings, correspondence, and documents;
• Assistance with scheduling and meeting logistics;
• Assisting with the logistics and coordination activities for briefings, meetings, workshops, and other collaborative efforts, including but not limited to scheduling, setup, and notetaking;
• Assisting with identifying and facilitating approaches for tracking research within the SHC program;
• Maintaining a system to track projects in progress;
• Assisting in promoting and coordinating the use of web-based and other mechanisms that promote collaboration among ORD scientists;
• Analyzing activities and processes across the federal government; and
• Use of Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, and OneNote.

Communications related responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the logistics and coordination activities for briefings, meetings, workshops, and other collaborative efforts, including setting up meetings, contacting potential presenters and participants, maintaining organizational materials (contact information, agendas, etc.), and taking notes;
• Assisting the team in the development and management of oral presentations (e.g., PowerPoint slides and talking points) of results and impacts using graphics and other interactive formats;
• Assisting in developing summary analysis documents of results and impacts from SHC and cumulative impacts/EJ activities; and
• Facilitating appropriate communication and outreach related to SHC and cumulative impact activities including: creating one-page summaries, developing longer pieces based on directed background research, and developing communication materials for wider audiences, such as the Healthy and Resilient Communities Research Webinar series and the quarterly SHC update.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• Experience giving presentations to varied audiences, including lay audiences and scientific audiences;
• Education and experience related to sustainable and healthy communities science and research;
• Experience writing for a lay audience about science, environmental issues, or public health concerns as evidenced by a writing sample;
• Strong leadership, time management, and organizational skills, including demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines;
• Experience in administration support functions (recordkeeping, filing, etc) and managing records (electronic and hardcopy) or databases;
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams & Outlook;
• Strong written, oral, and electronic communication skills; and
• Strong proof reading and editing skills.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Work Experience, and Education

• A demonstrated publication record related to cumulative impacts, risk assessment, sustainability, and communications.

Location:  This job will be located EPA’s facility in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Salary: Selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU and will receive an hourly wage of $29.09 for hours worked.

Hours: Part-time. 15 hours per week. 

Travel: Occasional overnight travel may be required.

Expected start date: The position is part time and expected to begin February 2025. The selected applicant will become a temporary employee of ORAU working as a contractor to EPA.

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 bachelor’s degree in environmental science or communications or related field plus one year of graduate school 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.