Summary This position has been established to oversee and implement the Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) programs within the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS), Temple, TX. by ensuring the various clinical and administrative operations carrier out comply with all applicable regulations pertaining to environmental management, public health and safety, and the GEMS program and support and achieve VHA, VISN, and HCS GEMS performance requirements and goals. Responsibilities The GEMS Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the efforts of VA Medical Center staff involved with the GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA and VA Medical Center policy and guidance. The GEMS coordinator is further responsible for ensuring that the GEMS results in findings and conclusions that lead to continual improvement of environmental programs at the VA Medical Center. The GEMS Coordinator is responsible for but is not limited to the following programs - asbestos control and abatement, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, nitrous oxide, mercury, hazardous and infectious waste management, water testing and treatment, and anti-neoplastic drugs. The GEMS Coordinator provides leadership and direction to management, professional and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of the facility GEMS. Performs various duties to assess work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to the health and safety. of workers. Duties include conducting studies of work operation and processes, examining work environments, analyzing findings, promulgating recommendations, and preparing various reports. Environmental conditions involve a variety of hazards including physical, chemical and biological hazards; ionizing and nonionizing radiation; and other environmental agents. Assigned work areas include industrial shops, surgical suites, production areas, laboratories, research areas, confined spaces, and outdoor work sites. Receives and disposes of hazardous wastes and maintains appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards, state law, and VA regulations. Prepares comprehensive and legally sufficient written reports of all monitoring activities performed which are subsequently incorporated into comprehensive reports prepared to assess the overall effectiveness of the industrial hygiene program. Identifies and requisitions test equipment used in performing industrial hygiene tasks. Performs or arranges for proper calibration and maintenance of equipment. Accompanies, assists, and advises contract certified industrial hygienists in monitoring activities and IH investigations. Conducts program for the education of workers in the prevention of occupational exposures and diseases at the medical center (hazard communication program). Documents all training provided. Performs on-site inspection of new construction to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and standards. Actively participates in and advises the facility Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Subcommittee and the Executive Safety Committee on matters related to industrial hygiene. The GEMS Coordinator is also responsible for managing VAMC environmental program(s) and coordinating the efforts of VAMC organizations that relate to environmental matters. Additional responsibilities of the GEMS Coordinator relate to management of the VAMC environmental program(s) are: Develop and implement environmental policies, procedures, and systems. Advise management on how environmental policies, procedures, and systems will affect the operation of the VA Medical Center. Evaluate, modify, and implement pollution prevention alternatives at the VA Medical Center 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 VA Medical Center staff, including the development and implementation of training and educational programs related to environmental programs. Develop and present to upper level VA Medical Center management budgetary information 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 the VA 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 VA Medical Center environmental issues. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; Compressed tour- 9 hour days and one 8 hour Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD076370 Physical Requirements: The work requires the employee to carry a good deal of equipment and involves walking, standing, bending, climbing, or crawling during surveys. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; OR Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). CERTIFICATION REQUIRED In addition to the above, 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: Knowledge of safety and occupational health principles, practices, procedures and standards s applicable to a full range of complex safety and occupational health management responsibilities; Knowledge of healthcare work processes, procedures, equipment, facilities, materials, and activities sufficient to anticipate and control hazards, to evaluate and determine causal factors contributing to accidents and resulting hazardous working conditions; and Knowledge of environmental management systems, respiratory protection programs and decontamination programs sufficient to establish, develop and continually improve these programs at a VA medical center. 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 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as stated above. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Chemistry Environmental Engineering Health Risk Analysis Safety Engineering Managing Human Resources Information Management 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. 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. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. A supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
