The VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) is currently recruiting for the Environmental Protection Specialist position with the Safety and Emergency Management. The position performs practical duties associated with air quality, storm water, hazardous materials programs and sustainability programs. This includes developing and conducting public outreach and education activities, conducting inspections of the VAPAHCS, evaluating compliance status issues and drafting enforcement actions.

Duties

Incumbents in this class must be able to work cooperatively within a team setting to develop and implement compliance programs. The environmental protection specialist supports the further development and implementation of VA's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS), performs environmental reviews for construction projects, and also provides consultative support in the implementation of environmental sustainability programs. Work involves continual learning in order to understand and stay current on environmental compliance issues, enforcement strategies, and sustainable practices. Employees in this class perform related duties as required. The environmental protection specialist is responsible for the implementation of environmental policies and regulatory program activities. Assignments also include responsibility for the technical adequacy of plans, designs, and specifications concerning environmental activities within a facility. Major duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: The employee administers environmental programs to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulation for air emissions, wastewater discharge, solid and hazardous waste, fuel and oil storage, and spill prevention, among other areas. The employee manages the hazardous waste program at all V AP ARCS facilities including collection, segregation, manifesting, recordkeeping, and contract management. The employee interacts with federal, state, and local environmental agencies with respect to facility environmental issues. The employee leads environmental audits and incident investigations, conducts root cause analysis, develops corrective actions, and tracks incidents to closure. The employee trains employees and lower grade environmental staff. The employee leads construction projects reviews to determine environmental impacts, confirm environmental compliance requirements, and assess environmental risk control needs The employee participates in the facility GEMS committee. Monitor environmental compliance through ongoing review of operations and program management as they pertain to Federal, State and local environmental statutes, regulations and other related environmental requirements, Executive Orders, VA and VHA policies. Assess performance as it relates to regulatory compliance and GEMS program conformance, and informing facility management of findings. Act as the primary point-of-contact and speak on behalf of the V AP ARCS with Federal, State, and local regulatory and other agencies, tribal organizations and the public for environmental issues. Identify environmental aspects, including 'significant environmental aspects', in order to focus on and manage the activities that pose the greatest potential (positive and negative) with regard to environmental regulatory compliance. Develop and submit all required documentation to external regulatory agencies including but not limited to EPA. Incumbent will support the GEMS manager as it relates to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Work also requires a comprehensive knowledge of management practices and procedures to resolve problems of major significance on a regional and state scale. For example, they may include developing and maintaining certain environmental management activities, developing guidelines and operational procedures, and analyzing data pertaining to all VA healthcare facilities waste Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD00378-O, PD00379-O, and PD00380-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 11/09/2023. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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: GS-7 Minimum Qualifications: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: developing, analyzing, evaluating, and modifying environmental programs, policies, and procedures. Possessing the judgment and broad perspective to apply a thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices relating to environmental protection programs as they concern problems of organizing, planning, funding, and controlling environmental activities. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Superior Academic Achievement: The superior academic achievement provision is applicable to all occupations covered by this standard. See the OPM - "General Policies and Instructions" for specific guidance on applying the superior academic achievement provision. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of GS-9 Minimum Qualifications: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: schedule audits to identify and evaluate program implementation and compliance, train employees on subjects related to environmental topics, research environmental regulations and determine relationship between the guidelines and State and Federal needs and requirements are necessary in recommending changes to procedures to improve data, enhance services, correct deficiencies, plan, organize, implement and provide technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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 one year of graduate education. GS-11 Minimum Qualifications: 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: assist with facility GEMS program to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, complete permits and aids with facility self assessments, inspections and other environmental investigations, researches issues related to environmental statutes including Resource Conservation and Recover Act, Clean Water Act, Superfund, National Environmental Policy Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, etc., collaborates with Senior Leadership on the status of environmental problems and recommends changes in the design of facility work programs to meet requirements, interacts with federal, state and local environmental agencies with respect to facility issues, adapts various media to fit special and unique training requirements and participate in the development of novel or innovative environmental training and activities, assists with environmental impacts of human activities on air, land, water and other media. OR, 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 (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in the related field of the position to be filled. The education portion must include courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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 a master's degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationComplianceEnvironmental EngineeringPlanning and EvaluatingTechnical 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 may require some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable walking, stooping, bending, crouching, and climbing. These may be performed during regular, periodic construction activities, field inspections, or to observe and study work operations in an industrial, storage, or comparable work area. Work may also include frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds, such as equipment and samples.

Education

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/.

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 Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Desiree Carter
• Phone: 504-314-5492
• Email: [email protected]