Environmental Protection Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/05/2024. 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. For a GS-12 position you must have service 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11: 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: Planning and implementing of program policy and procedures ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations; managing current files of local, state, and federal pollution control regulations and ensures that documentation is maintained; implementing quality control and quality assurance practices; and reviewing training materials and providing advice and consultation services to other organizations. 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 three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time study requirement). Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED – must have Conferred date of degree for full credit). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience, as described above, which meets the total qualification requirement for the GS-11 grade level. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. GS-12: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Planning and implementing of program policy and procedures ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations; managing environmental permits, ensuring that permits are written, followed, and modified as needed and completing all required actions; leading facility self-assessments, conduct surveys and inspections to determine compliance with applicable state, local, and federal environmental regulations; advising organizations and services on procedural methods and process improvements, lead sustainability evaluations that cover a wide variety of environmental aspects and impacts; developing and implementing quality control and quality assurance practices; managing an environmental program; and reviewing training materials and providing advice and consultation services to other organizations. Driver’s License: A current and valid State Driver’s License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid Commercial Driver’s License. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Compliance Standards Technical Competence 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. 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 cleanup 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 the hazards and discomforts to which workers in the areas are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals, biohazards, physical stressors, and safety hazards. Working Conditions: Much of the work is performed in an office setting. The work does include frequent audits of waste storage areas, storm water drains and outfalls, environmental audits and inspections within and outside the health care system facilities and involves a good deal of walking, standing, bending, lifting, and climbing. During audits and inspections, there is regular exposure to all hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals, physical stresses, and safety hazards, such as working at a storage, disposal, or spill site where there is risk of exposure to pesticides, hazardous chemicals, radioactive materials, or other pollutants. The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing or gear. 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/.
This position serves as the Green Environmental Systems Manager for the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System. Environmental Protection Specialists, also known as GEMS Program Managers, play an essential role in the GEMS Program and apply specialized knowledge of planning and administering environmental compliance and environmental sustainability, using the Environmental Management Systems format.