Summary The Environmental Health Coordinator (EHC) is responsible for the management of Environmental Health program at the Washington DC VAMC. The EHC liaisons with the Comprehensive Assessment for Respiratory and other service Exposures (CARE) on the Washington DC VAMC's behalf. VACO-HOME is a VA-delivered Foundational Service, meaning its work is fundamental to VA's mission and is rarely found outside of VA. Responsibilities The VACO-HOME manages the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) which provides clinical care, research, and education for Veterans with deployment-related health concerns. The VA's emphasis on foundational services ensures that Veterans receive quality care for those conditions most attributed to military service and best provided by VA that optimizes their health, well-being, and quality of life. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Serve as a subject matter expert on environmental exposures. Attends Post Deployment Health Services/War Related Illness and Injury Study Center Environmental Health Clinicians and Coordinators Education Conference, Webinars and other training to increase knowledge about exposures to environmental hazards. Provide detailed information to Veterans and their family members on environmental exposures during military service and associated health effects. Develops and displays educational program information for various environmental issues and health outcomes related to military exposures. Attends local (i.e., VA Town Hall) and community outreach events and participates in network development. Disseminates information Environmental Health programs to Veterans and their family members, to VA staff and other interested parties via health fairs, newsletters, fact sheets, websites, etc. Enters the information into the Environmental Agents Service (EAS) Registries database maintained at the Austin Information Technology Center (AITC). Gathers, reviews, analyses, monitors and maintains assigned registry programs system independently identifying discrepancies and providing quality assurance of registry worksheets prior to submission to the Environmental Agents Service (EAS) database located at the Austin, TX Corporate Franchise Data (CFD) Center. Ensures the establishment of a health record for each Veteran who receives a registry exam, if one does not already exist. Ensures registry examination worksheets, letters, and other records pertaining to the environmental health exam are included in the patient's electronic health records, Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). Ensures compliance with federal regulations and directives with respect to the Environmental Health programs. Maintains daily contacts (face-to-face, telephone, e-mail, correspondence, etc.) with Veterans, family members, Veterans Service Organization, public officials to explain VA policies and procedures. Interviews Veterans, determines eligibility for Environmental Health Registry exams, provides explanation of the purpose of the examination, and the examination process and assists Veterans in completing the appropriate examination worksheet. Refers Veterans to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) if interested in filing a claim for service connection. Schedule National Referral Program appointments in advance, typically a month. Contacts Study participant (Veteran) with time and date derived from medical consult/referral. Contacts Veteran with time and date of scheduled appointment and verifies patient demographics. Keeps EH clinician and other administrative staff informed on all matters pertaining to daily office functioning and alerts the EH clinician and other administrative staff on concerns related to office management. Ensures follow-up for the EH clinician and other appropriate VA staff re: outstanding correspondence, initiatives and meetings. Oversees and monitors the regular tracking of staff education and training. Works closely with other administrative staff and other offices within the VA Medical Center, the VISN and VACO to coordinate interoffice meetings and communications. Prepares summary reports, memorandums, official letters, etc., in response to requirements or tasks on behalf of the EH clinician or designee. Familiarity of time and leave validation in VATAS and approved Purchase Card holder for procuring supplies and services. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for AD HOC telework as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Statistical Assistant/PD688-24099A 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 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 identification 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 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, 08/28/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. A 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-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Maintain/update Environmental Health registry records (EAS/CPRS), draft/maintain facility SOPs and policy memos; communicate changes, analyze registry datasets; identify health trends, prepare data reports/visualizations (Excel, PowerPoint), conduct outreach/education (health fairs, town halls); develop materials, interview Veterans for eligibility; explain registry exams, coordinate procurement of supplies/equipment, and schedule NRP appointments; verify demographics; coordinate with clinicians. 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. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides 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 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/. Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.
