Summary This position, located at the VA Eastern Oklahoma HCS, serves as the Green Environment Management System (GEMS) Manager and provides subject-matter expertise and advice to facility management, including senior leadership, on a myriad of areas to include environmental protection programs, compliance with environmental laws and regulations related to environmental protection activities, pollution prevention program management, and green environmental management. Responsibilities Major duties of this position include but are not limited to... Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes. Collaborates with services to ensure proper hazardous drug industrial hygiene practices such as "Compounded Sterile Preparations" and removal of hazardous waste are followed. Facilitates and educates the appropriate work practices of both internal and contracted staff when performing work duties associated with lead and asbestos. Ensures that handling of all waste streams are in compliance with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Ensures compliance with Handbooks, Directives, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards related to Green Environmental Management and Industrial Hygiene. Acts as a Contracting Officer Representative 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. Evaluates and implements pollution prevention alternatives to reduce the generation of waste. Communicates and coordinates with subject matter experts such as Occupational Health Provider, Infection Prevention and Control, Biological Safety, and Radiation Safety while performing basic characterization and exposure assessments. Reviews how expansion, modification, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure, and new construction of structures and infrastructure will affect the environment and provides information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce facility vulnerability. Advises management on how environmental policies, procedures and systems will affect the operation of the health care system. Participates in planning, organizing, overseeing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Manages response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous materials. Develops and implements environmental program policies and procedures. Manages computer programs and databases to enhance management of environmental programs ensuring that all documentation is updated, current and relevant. Documents, prepares, and responds to accrediting body environmental surveys. 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, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD132310 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The incumbent must stand, walk or sit for extended periods. Work in poorly heated and air-conditioned buildings and outside environments in inclement hot summer and extreme winter weather is also periodically required during portions of the EOVAHCS work year. The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/23/2026. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. 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 (GS-09): 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...Knowledge of the principles and practices applicable to the investigation, analysis and evaluation of operational healthcare programs related to treatment, storage and disposal of medical and hazardous and solid wastes, air emissions and water quality, safe drinking water, wastewater, and pollution prevention; ability to conduct environmental pollution control studies and surveys; knowledge of Federal, State, and local environmental control and regulatory reporting regulations germane and applicable to Facility operations; and the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently both orally and in writing to all levels of facility leadership, internal and external stakeholders, and the public on all GEMS-related issues....OR, Education (GS-09): Applicants may substitute specialized experience with education. To be creditable with education at the GS-09 level, applicants must have a 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 the graduate level of education. Specialized Experience (GS-11): 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 the principles and practices applicable to the investigation, analysis and evaluation of operational healthcare programs related to treatment, storage, and disposal of medical and hazardous and solid wastes, air emissions and water quality, safe drinking water, wastewater, and pollution prevention; ability to conduct environmental pollution control studies and surveys and investigating compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State of Oklahoma and City of Muskogee/Tulsa-specific environmental regulations as they pertain and/or potentially impact the Facility; knowledge of Federal, State, and local environmental control and regulatory reporting regulations germane and applicable to Facility operations; ability to communicate effectively and efficiently both orally and in writing to all levels of facility leadership, internal and external stakeholders, and the public on all GEMS-related issues; ability to troubleshoot environmental compliance issues and potential pollution problems requiring investigation of questionable conditions to resolve Facility and additional hospital operational issues related to all environmental media (air + water + groundwater + sediments + soils); and the ability to periodically measure and document the effectiveness of existing facility environmental programs and provide recommendations to facility management....OR, Education (GS-11): Applicants may substitute specialized experience with education. To be creditable with education at the GS-11 level, applicants must have a 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...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 the graduate level of 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/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. 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. 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 qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
