The incumbent serves as the VISN 15 (VA Heartland Network) Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) Program Manager. This key program leadership position is responsible for ensuring that the medical facilities' environmental protection programs comply with applicable federal, state and local statutory and regulatory requirements, Executive Orders, VA and VHA Directives and VA Network-directed environmental program requirements in order to protect human health and the environment.

Duties

The VISN 15 Network Office is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans. Duties include but are not limited to: Overall responsibility for the development and employment of strategies that ensure effective coordination, integration and implementation throughout Environmental Management. Reviews and evaluates technical data, directives and guidance developed by private industry and government contractors, relevant to all aspects of the environmental programs, and keeps management informed of significant changes and/or problems which may impact the accomplishment of the VA mission. Visits medical centers, healthcare centers and clinics to determine efficiency of environmental programs and projects and makes recommendations for corrective actions. Consults and coordinates with environmentalists, engineers, economists, scientists and lawyers who are also considered subject matter experts. Serves as an advisor to the Network Director, recommends policy direction and provides program oversight on assigned areas of responsibility. Serves as a clearinghouse for facilitating the accurate and timely external regulatory reporting of environmental information to federal, state and local agencies, and internal VA and VHA EMS (ISO 14001 Environmental Management System) compliance reporting and national deficiency tracking (CP-TRACK database). Evaluates the VISN Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) program effectiveness and compliance with applicable U.S. environmental and waste management laws and regulations, and VA/VHA directives and technical requirements, by conducting or coordinating comprehensive facility environmental audits and periodic surveys to identify regulatory deficiencies and program gaps, and to recommend corrective actions. Audits or surveys include a review of environmental program documentation (e.g., permit applications, permit-required monitoring reports [e.g., wastewater]; hazardous waste manifests and land disposal restriction notifications). Routinely reviews and identifies program deficiencies and regulatory vulnerabilities and determines and pursues appropriate corrective actions. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm CST Telework: 100% within area Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD092120 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2024. 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-13 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ThinkingCommunicationComplianceEnvironmental EngineeringHazardous Materials 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: Facility inspections, audits, surveys and fact-finding investigations will periodically require moderate physical exertion, including walking, standing, climbing stairs and ladders, carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases. Such investigations may also require incumbent to observe work operations and identify existing hazards, such as leaking containers, in treatment, storage or disposal areas and come in contact with environmental and/or hazardous materials/situations. Occasional use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including respiratory protection is required. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address VHA VISN 15 Human Resources One Petticoat Lane, 1010 Walnut Street, Second Floor Kansas City, MO 64106-2149 US
• Name: Tonya Lovelace
• Phone: 316-469-0917
• Email: [email protected]