Environmental Protection Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/04/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the established principles, concepts, and methods of environmental protection program work, Skill in applying this knowledge in performing a variety of duties involving the management, coordination, monitoring, oversight, or evaluation of routine programs, projects, or activities, Knowledge and understanding of recognized reference standards, regulatory requirements, and pertinent statutes sufficient to assure environmental compliance and provide routine technical assistance, Knowledge of the policies, organization, operations, work practices, and environmental parameters of VA facilities sufficient to obtain information, evaluate compliance, and recommend necessary changes, control measures, best management practices, etc., Skill in using standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information on environmental activities or quality and to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature, Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to prepare and conduct briefings or training programs, lead group conferences, and write reports and letters, Knowledge of contracting or grants management procedures sufficient to oversee and/or monitor contracts or program grants, and knowledge of regulatory development and implementation procedures to assist in developing local policy. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. (Transcript required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond two (2) years of graduate education. 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience managing environmental programs such as (SPCC Plan, Storm Water Plan, P2 Plan, clean air and clean water, safe drinking water, asbestos and lead management and abatement, mercury reduction, etc.). Conducts internal gap analyses of GEMS. Issues reports of gap analyses and tracks status of corrective and preventative actions. Reviews implementation of GEMS policy and procedures and reports the status to the Safety & Occupational Health Manager. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged standing, bending, and stooping to observe work operations and identify leaking containers in a treatment, storage, or disposal area. 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/.
The Incumbent will serve as the Environmental Protection Specialist within the Safety Section at the VA Hospital. The incumbents major efforts include serving as the Medical Centers Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator, developing and implementing a GEMS program at the medical center, and being a key member of the VAMC GEMS Committee.