The Environmental Protection Specialist is responsible for applying environmental science and technology to demonstrate relationships between the operations of the Medical Center with human health, ecosystems, environmental media and natural resources. The incumbent provides direction to management, professional and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) initiatives and Recycling Programs throughout the facility.

Duties

The Environmental Protection Specialist assists with planning, organizing, implementing, overseeing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Assignments include but are not limited to, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting toxic substances; and regulatory oversight. The incumbent provides technical expertise for design, modification, operation, and maintenance of VMHCS facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Duties include but are not limited to: Develop and implement environmental policies, procedures and systems. Advise management on how environmental policies, procedures and systems will affect the operation of the VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS). Evaluate, modify, and implement pollution prevention alternatives at VAAHCS to reduce the generation of waste. Manage and/or provide technical advice regarding response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous material. Facilitate the exchange of environmental information to Medical Center staff including the development and implementation of training and educational programs related to environmental programs. Manage computer programs and databases to enhance management of environmental programs. Review how expansion, modifications, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure and new construction of structures and infrastructure will affect the environment, provide information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce Medical Center's vulnerability. Measure the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommend additions to environmental program as needed to meet changing environmental requirements. Develop promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of VAAHCS environmental issues. Participates in training sessions for VAAHCS personnel. Serves as a technical expert for the VAAHCS, with responsibility for providing guidance, technical assistance and evaluation for matters involving decontamination, environmental technology, environmental compliance, and environmental management systems. Based on sampling results, observation of hospital operations and knowledge of toxic or hazardous materials, prepares technical reports citing non-compliance with environmental regulation and/or policies and setting forth recommended actions for their control or elimination. Assists the GEMS Coordinator in effective implementation of the Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) programs at VAAHCS at both Uptown and Downtown locations and CBOCs. Performs work related to the management and operation of VAAHCS facilities and programs that are needed to: protect the environment, protect human health from environmental pollution and improve air, land, and water resources. The work requires knowledge of the organization of the facility, as well as the construction, operation, and maintenance of healthcare facilities. Also required is the knowledge of all systems related to controlling pollution and protecting the environment. Responds to inquiries and provides technical assistance. Advises on the interpretation and implementation of (and compliance with) environmental management policy directives and applicable procedures and involves subjects directly related to GEMS, pollution and environmental compliance. Advises on subjects related to decontamination of patients and staff resulting from hazardous materials, WMD or other emergency incidents including risk assessment, emergency management response, personal protective equipment selection, and training. Conducts internal annual gap analysis of GEMS Programs at VAAHCS in preparation for evaluation by the VISN. Reviews implementation of GEMS policy and procedures and reports the status to Chief of Safety. Discusses deficiencies and necessary remedial action with GEMS Coordinator. Recommends preventive and corrective action. Interprets new or revised technical or management guidance material provided by VHA organizations, regulatory and advisory agencies. Reviews and comments on technical reports or studies that relate to or impact on the operation and maintenance of the VAAHCS. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:40 PM, Monday - Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD110620 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 09/11/2023. 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: In addition to meeting the time-in-grade requirement, applicants must meet the Specialized Experience/Education as follows: 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: Experience in positions that required specialized knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods of program or administrative work relating to environmental protection program(s); experience that applied specialized knowledge of one or more program or functional areas of environmental protection work; experience demonstrating an understanding of environmental laws and regulations, knowledge of how to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate environmental programs, practical knowledge of environmental sciences and related disciplines, and the relationship between environmental factors and human health and well-being; experience interpreting a variety of environmental management circumstances and adopt proven environmental protection techniques to control, minimize or eliminate hazardous situations. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major field of study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level GS-09 may be used to qualify applicants for this GS-11 position. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Compliance Hazardous Materials Written Communication Analytical Reasoning Oral Communication Technical Competence Computer Skills 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 involves a good deal of walking, standing, bending, and climbing. Working Conditions: During audits and inspections, there is regular exposure to all the hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals, physical stresses, and safety hazards. The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing. 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

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]