Incumbent serves as the Environmental Protection Specialist within the Safety Department at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMC VAMC). Incumbent's major efforts include serving as the Medical Center's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator, developing and implementing a GEMS program at the medical center, and being a Co-Chair of the CMC VAMC GEMS Committee.

Duties

As the Environmental Protection Specialist, incumbent responsibilities include overseeing and managing the respiratory protection fit test program to include all necessary documentation associated with the program. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Developing and implementing a GEMS program at the VA Medical Center and coordinating the efforts of staff involved with GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA policy and guidance. Serves as an expert on issues related to environmental statutes including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund, National Environmental Policy Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, etc. Participates in planning, organizing, overseeing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Assignments include, but are not limited to, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste and precious metals; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting; toxic substances; and regulatory oversight. Provide Contracting Officer Representative (COR) duties to develop and administer contracts, writing task orders, preparing scopes of work, independent government cost estimates, managing necessary invoices associated with executed work and ensure work is performed per the awarded contract requirements. Provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Manages 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.). Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes. Ensures that handling of all waste streams are in compliance with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Provides necessary training to staff to ensure compliance and internal customers are educated on the process and procedures. Developing and implementing an industrial hygiene program with Standard Operating Procedures. Basic characterization that collects and organizes information on the workplace, worker, task, agent, and exposure potential or estimate. Establishing similar exposure groups having the same or general exposure profile for agents being assessed. Conducting Exposure Assessments performed qualitatively or quantitatively. Qualitative Exposure Assessment must be recorded with the information gathered in the basic characterization with a rationale and determination that the exposure(s) are acceptable, unacceptable, or uncertain. A Quantitative Exposure Assessment requires at a minimum that sampling strategies and monitoring plans must be developed and based upon the Qualitative Exposure Assessment. Sampling strategies and monitoring plans must be developed and based upon the Qualitative Exposure Assessment. Ensure sampling equipment is calibrated and maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Communication of exposure results in accordance with VHA Handbooks and Directives. Establishing exposure controls and strategies for controlling exposures in order of priority are engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD016020 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 8/25/2023. 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: 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: Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes. Ensures that handling of all waste streams are in compliance with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Collaborates with services to ensure proper hazardous drug industrial hygiene practices such as "Compounded Sterile Preparations" and removal of hazardous waste are followed. Ensures compliance with Handbooks, Directives, and OSHA Standards related to GEMS and Industrial Hygiene. Advises management on how environmental policies, procedures and systems will affect the operation of the hospital. Participates in planning, organizing, overseeing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Facilitates and educates the appropriate work practices of both internal and contracted staff when performing work duties associated with lead and asbestos. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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, if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Environmental Protection Specialist position, which may be used to meet the experience requirements for GS-11. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsEnvironmental EngineeringHazardous MaterialsStandardsTechnical Documentation 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 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/.

Education

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Contacts

• Address Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Sylina Conley
• Phone: 2158235800
• Email: [email protected]