The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. The federal agency lives this mission in a variety of ways – including regulation enforcement, grants funding, environmental studies and reports, and public education. USF MSEM students were recently able to get a firsthand view into this work – and learn about career pathways at the agency – during a webinar with USF alum Camille Weber and CJ Mishimia (USF MSEM ‘20).
Why the EPA?
The opportunity to take on different roles, explore various areas of interest, and learn new skills is a big part of what Camille and CJ love about their jobs. The agency encourages people to try new things and creates growth opportunities within and beyond employees’ current division and region.
Both Camille and CJ started their careers at the EPA on the Student Trainee Pathway – a paid internship program for currently enrolled students. For each, that experience resulted in a full-time position following graduation, and they’ve now been with the EPA for nearly 5 years. Camille is now Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, and CJ is now Environmental Justice Coordinator.
Both work in the downtown San Francisco office of EPA Region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, and 148 federally recognized tribes in those areas. The agency operates 10 regions nationwide, and each region has a special program for which it is responsible – in Region 9, that’s the U.S.-Mexico Border Program. Consistent across all regions are divisions focused on: 1) Air and Radiation, 2) Enforcement and Compliance, and 3) SuperFund and Emergency Management.
Environmental Justice Journey
CJ has been at the center of the agency’s increased focus on environmental justice. He’s now part of a 15-person team focused on running environmental justice programs and helping other divisions with their community engagement initiatives. But his team and his role didn’t even exist when he joined the agency in 2019. “We’re really focused on being out in the communities we serve – they’re the experts. We’re listening to learn what we’re missing and how we can do better,” says CJ.
The skills that make him well-suited to this role include being able to facilitate conversation – even in difficult circumstances – as well as things like budgeting, planning, and project management. And he underscores that the EPA is looking for people who can learn quickly, adapt to new challenges, and apply skills in different situations. “They don’t expect you to know everything out of the gate, it’s really about being open to new opportunities and learning on the job.”
Before CJ moved into his current role, he worked as an Environmental Specialist in the Tribal Branch and was involved with programs including grant funding, conference planning, and community engagement. He deems his career very fulfilling so far and appreciates the work-life balance, professional development, and leadership growth opportunities he’s found at the EPA.
How to Get Started
Camille encouraged members of the MSEM community who are interested in exploring potential opportunities with the EPA (and other federal agencies) to set up notifications on USA Jobs – to receive alerts about relevant roles and find tips on things such as tailoring a federal resume. When an interesting opportunity pops up, she underscored the importance of moving quickly as each job posting remains open to applications for 5-10 days.
For many, the three primary paths to kickstart an EPA career:
- Student Trainee Pathway: paid internships for current students (which can lead to a permanent position)
- Recent Graduates Pathway: 1-year developmental training period with personalized milestones, skills, and certifications created in collaboration with an agency supervisor and mentor (which can lead to a permanent position)
- Special Hiring Authorities: preferred opportunities for veterans, persons with disabilities, and former Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers
She also emphasized that the EPA – which offers a strong total compensation package with desirable benefits – has a wide range of positions available, including:
Environmental Positions
Environmental Engineer
Physical Scientist
Life Scientist
Environment Protection Specialist
Business & Administrative Positions
Grants Specialist
Contract Specialist
Accountant
Budget Specialist
IT Specialist
Program Analyst
Management Analyst
Legal Positions
Attorney-Advisor
General Investigator
“Not everyone at the EPA is coming from a technical background,” said Camille. “We’re looking for people with a wide variety of skills and experiences, who want to put them to work for the agency’s mission.”
