Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA
EPA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for positions with the agency is based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences. On this page, you can learn:
- what we do to support a diverse workforce, and
- how we ensure equal opportunity in employment to individuals with disabilities
On this page:
Supporting a Diverse Workforce
At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve.
EPA recognizes and supports a number of voluntary employee organizations, or "affinity" groups, organized around shared interests or characteristics. Below, you'll discover a few examples of the initiatives and affinity groups that support the professional and personal development of our diverse workforce.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative
EPA is working to implement the goals of Executive Order 13515, to increase opportunities and improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Its long-term strategy is to promote opportunities for community partnership, economic development, education, and employment.
- Read entries from our blog It's Our Environment written by Asian-American employees Sharon Lin, Vance Fong, Andrew Chu, and Keith Takata.
Hispanic Initiative
Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing diversity group in America. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor, Hispanics are identified as one of two "severely under-represented diversity groups" in the federal government in terms of employment. At EPA, this endeavor is taken seriously. In the summer of 2007, EPA helped to author, establish, and lead a new and special partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in America - the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), to address critical issues paramount to Hispanics.
- 2007 MOU between EPA and LULAC and 2009 memo extending the MOU
- Read entries from our blog It's Our Environment written by Hispanic employees Lisa Garcia, Jose Lozano, and Lina Younes.
Non-Labor Employee Groups (NLEGs)
- African American Male Forum (AAMF)
- Asian Pacific American Council (APAC)
- Blacks in Government (BIG)
- Equality EPA
- Hispanic Advisory Council (HAC)
- Emerging Leaders Network (ELN)
- Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at EPA (RPCVs@EPA)
EPA's Special Emphasis Programs
EPA's Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Human Resources Diversity, Recruitment and Employee Services Division has leadership responsibility in advising National Special Emphasis Programs on agency initiatives related to equal employment opportunity and diversity and inclusion. Special Emphasis programs receive their authorized from federal statutes, federal regulations and executive orders which include, but not limited to, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Rehabilitation Act. These authorities require federal agencies to conduct affirmative recruitment. They are implemented primarily to ensure equal opportunity in employment and program activities intended to improve the workplace environment, promoting and fostering diversity in the EPA workforce through awareness and education. The programs include:
- American Indian/Alaska Native Employment Program,
- Asian American/Pacific Islander Employment Program,
- Black Employment Program,
- Disability Employment Program,
- Experienced Federal Workers Employment Program,
- Federal Women's Employment Program,
- Hispanic Employment Program,
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Program Employment Program,
- National Administrative Council for Excellence,
- Women in Science and Engineering Employment Program
Ensuring Equal Opportunity to Individuals with Disabilities
EPA prides itself in our efforts to hire people with disabilities, and in our efforts to accommodate employees with disabilities.
How Do I Get Hired?
Through amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, we can hire individuals with disabilities two ways:
- non-competitively through USAJobs.gov. If you are an applicant with a disability you can apply using the Schedule A hiring authority.
- Check the box in one of the USAJobs application fields to indicate that you want to be considered under this authority.
- Provide documentation of your disability.
- Upload the Schedule A documentation into your application on USAJobs (just like you can upload your resume). Recommendation: Send the documentation to the Human Resources Officer listed in the job announcement.
- non-competitively through a number of special appointing authorities available to federal agencies to fill jobs, we use the following:
- Special appointment authority to hire 30-percent-or-more-disabled veterans
- Schedule A hiring authority that allows job placements limited to individuals with psychiatric, intellectual or severe physical disabilities. You will need to provide documentation from:
- a licensed medical professional;
- a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or
- any federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
- Indicate on your resume that you are applying under Schedule A.
- Examples of Schedule A Letters (PDF)(2 pp, 101 K, About PDF)
- Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation assistance to apply for vacancies or need further assistance, please contact the Human Resources Specialist directly listed in the vacancies.
Related Federal Government Information
- U.S. Department of Labor
- USAJobs.gov information
- USAJobs Individuals with Disabilities Federal Hiring FAQ. To learn more, click on the following videos:
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
- FINAL RULE: Affirmative Action for Individuals With Disabilities in Federal Employment (PDF) (28 pp, 401 K) (January 3, 2017)
- EEOC’s ABCs of Schedule A for Applicants with Disabilities
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal Employment of People with Disabilities
- Main disability employment page for job seekers with disabilities
- Executive Order 13548 (July 2010) (PDF) (3 pp, 42 K) directs federal agencies to develop plans to promote employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.