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Posted: March 23, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Director, Great Lakes Coastal Science Branch

Environmental Protection Agency

Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

Fresh

Location

Salary

$197,201 - $228,000

per year

Closes

April 6, 2026More EPA jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a team of scientists at the EPA to conduct research on the ecology and health of the Great Lakes coastal areas, developing solutions to protect the environment and public well-being.

The role requires overseeing research programs, managing resources, and collaborating with partners to address coastal issues.

It's ideal for experienced leaders with a strong background in environmental science and management who are passionate about conservation and public service.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience in managing scientific research organizations focused on environmental or public health
  • Progressively responsible leadership experience demonstrating senior-level management capability
  • Executive Core Qualifications including commitment to the rule of law, driving efficiency, merit and competence, leading people, and achieving results
  • Technical Qualification: Experience overseeing research-based organizations promoting human, environmental, social, or public health well-being
  • General management skills in organization, administration, and resource allocation
  • Ability to physically report to the duty station in Duluth, Minnesota on a regular basis

Full Job Description

This Senior Executive Service (SES) position is in the Office of the Administrator, Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions, Coastal Science Solutions Division, Great Lakes Coastal Science Branch.

About the Office of the Administrator. This is an office-centered position--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

The work of this position is classified in the Program Management, 0340 series where the qualifications include both general management skills and characteristics that are applicable to all SES positions and technical or program responsibilities specific to this position.

Applicants must have substantive general experience which provides a good basic or general knowledge of the principles of organization, management and administration; and substantive specialized (operating administrative or managerial) experience in a type of work or a combination of functions directly related to this position.

All applicants must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that demonstrates the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform in this role.

Typically this experience can be found in work within this field or a field that is closely related.

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service, applicants must also provide evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under the Executive Core Qualifications and Technical Qualifications listed below.

A.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) - Mandatory for competitive applicants - Failure to address these factors within the required 2-page resume will result in your application being disqualified, unless you are a noncompetitive eligible applicant.

ECQ 1 - COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING.

Involves demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2 - DRIVING EFFICIENCY.

Involves demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 - MERIT AND COMPETENCE. Involves demonstrated knowledge, ability, and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4 - LEADING PEOPLE.

Involves demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5 - ACHIEVING RESULTS.

Involves demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Your responses should be clear and concise and show a level of accomplishment and a degree of responsibility. Leadership competencies for each ECQ can be found in OPM's Guide to SES Qualifications.

B. Technical Qualifications (TQs) - Mandatory for all applicants - Failure to address these factors within the required 2-page resume will result in your application being disqualified.

TQ 1 - Demonstrated experience managing, operating, or overseeing a scientifically research based organization that focuses on human, environmental, social, or public health environments in order to promote the overall wellbeing of both the general public and the physical environment.

Major Duties:

The Great Lakes Coastal Science Branch (GLCSB) is responsible for conducting place-based research to deliver environmental solutions for EPA and its partners along the Coast of the Great Lakes in the United States.

GLCSB has a primary focus on freshwater coastal ecology, linking the ecological integrity of receiving waters to watershed effects, and developing indicators and sampling protocols for freshwater ecosystem condition assessments.

GLCSB utilizes environmental, social, and public health indicators for assessing and predicting outcomes of contaminant remediation, ecosystem service restoration, and community revitalization.

Intrinsic to this branch's mission is the functional resiliency of watersheds and coastal systems to human-mediated flows of chemicals, sediment, and biota (e.g., invasive species).

The Director, Great Lakes Coastal Science Branch works with counterparts both internal and external to the agency, including other Federal and nonfederal organizations, relative to branch programs and services.

The branch also works closely with EPA Program Offices to deploy models and disseminate data within a corporate information technology architecture.

Specific duties of this position may include, but are not limited to: - Planning, developing, organizing, directing, leading, and implementing the short and long term needs, goals, budgets, policies, priorities, procedures, projects, extramural agreements, and personnel matters for the branch.

- Representing the agency on interagency committees, working groups, conferences, seminars, and meetings.

- Overseeing the development, assessment, and improvement of management control systems in order to safeguard programs and achieve results while adhering to the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act.

- Providing oversight of and direction for the organization and facility located in Duluth, MN.

- Ensuring that procurements, contracts, grants, and assistance are managed in accordance with agency and office policies, regulatory requirements, and budgetary constraints.

- Performing the full range of supervisory human resources functions for the branch and subordinate employees.

Grow your career for the good of our planet The environmental challenges we face today are urgent.

At the Environmental Protection Agency, we need professionals like you to join our team dedicated to safe, clean, and healthy communities.

Our agency is built upon a commitment to protect human health and the environment. The work we do here changes the world.

That's why there has never been a more crucial moment to be one of the scientists, engineers, community leaders, IT specialists, communicators, administrative professionals, technicians, problem solvers, and innovators united in our mission to protect our land, air, water, and people.

Join us. Be EPA. Discover how you can apply your skills to make an impact. Explore careers and learn more about EPA at epa.gov/careers.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/23/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/23/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: EPA-SES-2026-0029