Careers in the Water Program

The Office of Water employs highly motivated people from many backgrounds with a variety of professional skills. We employ recent college graduates, advanced degree candidates, and professionals who have been in the work place for a number of years.

Meet Our People

Rachel, Environmental Scientist

I first started at EPA as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) intern. I took this internship to decide if I wanted to pursue a career in environmental policy. I ultimately applied for and received a permanent position as an environmental scientist. I now work on issues related to stormwater runoff from industrial, construction, and municipal areas. I manage a wide range of projects, including writing technical fact sheets on stormwater best management practices, writing national stormwater permits, updating and creating electronic systems, and planning national meetings. These projects allow me to work with people from all over the United States, including other EPA offices, other federal agencies, states, tribes, and the public. Working here allows me to participate in developing national stormwater program goals to protect the nation's waters.

Jeremy, Attorney Advisor

I am the workgroup lead on two different rulemakings relating to the scope of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which is the permitting mechanism found in the Clean Water Act. My job has allowed me not only to learn about the policy making process but also work directly on the substance of that policy. Coming straight from law school, the EPA has provided me with much more responsibility than I anticipated I would have received in a law firm. This has been great for learning the issues (legal, policy, and scientific) and instilling confidence in myself.

Erica, Environmental Scientist

My position has both scientific and public communication components. Our national program provides technical guidance to state fish advisory programs and reviews the latest science on contaminants in fish and potential risks to public health. We make state fish advisories available to the public in a national database and I work with the states to update this database annually. A major part of my job involves disseminating information to the public about the benefits and risks of fish consumption. I develop outreach materials that teach people how to reduce their exposure to contaminants in fish and I travel to 6-8 national conferences each year to distribute this public health information and answer questions about fish advisories. I also help to plan and run EPA’s National Forum on Contaminants in Fish that brings together environmental and health professionals from around the country to discuss issues related to fish contamination.

Jennifer, Environmental Scientist

At EPA, I am able to work within the system, not against it, to achieve real environmental progress and better public health protection. As a staff member in the drinking water program, I lead the national effort to remove arsenic from public water supplies. I help states and local water utilities understand what levels are safe to drink and what cost-effective solutions exist to achieve those levels. My job keeps me on my toes every day as I manage contractors, expand my network of collaborators and develop new policies to help states implement EPA's regulations. It is consistently rewarding because I am able to work at the interface between science, policy, and the public.

Entry Level Programs for Recent College Graduates

In addition to hiring from individual vacancy announcements (see Applying for Employment in the Water Program), the Office of Water participates in a number of permanent, entry- level programs for recent college graduates:

EPA Intern Program (EIP)

The EPA Intern Program (EIP) is a comprehensive, entry-level, professional, full-time employment and career development program at EPA. The objective of the program is to help interns develop their potential for future advancement within EPA. Key components of this two-year developmental program are an orientation conference, multiple rotational assignments, an individual development plan, site visits and group projects, and a graduation conference.

The vacancy announcement for the EIP program is open for about two weeks in the early Spring. Applicants go through an initial screening process. Selected applicants are invited to Washington, DC for the interview process in June of each year, with travel expenses paid by EPA. EIPs begin their career at EPA in August. For more information, go to the EPA Intern Program page (http://www.epa.gov/ohr/eip.html).

President Management Fellows Program

Each year the Office of Water participates in the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. The PMF program emphasizes career development through a variety of work assignments. Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree (master’s, law, doctoral-level degree) from a qualifying college or university are eligible to be nominated by their school if the demonstrate certain leadership characteristics. The yearly application process takes place in the Fall of each year. For more information, go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website (http://www.pmf.opm.gov).

Special Noncompetitive Eligibility for Peace Corps and Vista Volunteers