Environmental Protection Specialist

Note: This position requires a valid state driver’s license. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes: planning, implementing, and evaluating an environmental protection program; administering a green environmental management program/system; ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations; advising management and providing technical advice on environmental programs; developing and implementing environmental policies and procedures; conducting audits; and preparing reports. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required) – Applicants must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required) – Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience, as described above, may be used to meet total qualification requirements. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Communication Compliance Standards Technical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent audits of waste storage areas and many other areas of the health care system, collection, and consolidation of wastes across the health care system, and clean-up of hazardous materials and wastes. The work involves walking, standing, bending, hand dexterity, climbing, carrying of items, and driving of government motor vehicles. During audits and inspections, there is regular exposure to all hazards and discomforts to which workers in the areas are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals, biohazards, physical stressors, and safety hazards. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Employee will be assigned to Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS), Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, providing professional technical services related to environmental issues and program planning to achieve compliance with regulations, requirements, and conformance with environmental management system programs. The Environmental Protection Specialist facilitates the facilitys Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) implementation.