Environmental Protection Specialist

SummaryThe purpose of this position is to perform the full range of responsibilities of an Environmental Protection Specialist in accomplishing a wide range of complex assignments that require extensive training and experience in planning and administering environmental programs.QualificationsTo qualify for this position - applicants must meet time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement - 05/12/2026. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. Driver's License Requirement: Applicants must possess a current - valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs - therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested - you will be required to provide a copy of your current - valid state-issued Driver's License. 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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Investigating - developing and implementing a wide range of plans in support of environmental programs; Understanding and using technical material - rules - laws and regulations pertaining to environmental management of solid waste - hazardous materials - etc.; Providing scientific or technical guidance - support - coordination - or oversight to governmental agencies.; Identifying and analyzing problems - generating alternative solutions - evaluating findings and recommendations to support mission requirements; Making recommendations supported by facts by gathering - analyzing and organizing information and conducting comparative analyses. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. - in a course of study directly related to this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education beyond the second year (36 semester hours) to qualify. To determine if you met these requirements - total your qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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/. 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. Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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.DutiesMajor duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive GEMS program at the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS)assumes a lead role in the development of facility environmental policy and procedural documentation for the main campuses of Portland and Vancouver - offsite locations - and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) in West LinnSalemNewportHillsboroNorth CoastBendFairviewThe Dalles - and CRRCThe environmental protection specialist completes permits and leads facility self assessments - inspections - and other environmental investigationsHe/she works with facility leadership to integrate environmental considerations into planning and operational activitiesDirects - supports - and is a primary contributor to the development of facility environmental policies - programs - and procedural documentation that meets or exceeds compliance with federal - state - and local statutes - ordinances - and regulationsResponsible for GEMS program management (ISO 14001) 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 areasChairs the local GEMS Committee - participates in VISN and VA national level GEMS committees - including the GEMS National Advisory Group (GEMSAG) and/or other national policy determining committees or groupsInteracts with federal - state - and local environmental agencies with respect to facility environmental issuesThe employee's routine contacts not only include local staff - management - and senior management - but also VISN and VACO level committees and workgroups as well as Federal - state and local agenciesInvolved with disaster planning and planning groups for potential national and local environmental disastersRoutine and independent contact includes - but is not limited to - meeting with agency representatives to discuss permit conditions and renewals - serving as a liaison for VAPORHCS during both routine and unannounced inspections and audits of VAPORHCS - and negotiating finesLeads environmental audits and incident investigations - conducts root cause analysis - actively participates in Environment of Care Round inspections - develops corrective actions - tracks incidents to closure - supports environmental sustainability initiatives - develops contracts for and manages hazardous waste and other environmental safety related program management - serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) - and generates appropriate procurement actions and supporting documentation for products and servicesAmongst contracts and procurement - the employee is responsible for monitoring and ensuring facility permits with regulatory agencies are maintained - current - and paid in a timely manner so as to avoid fines/penaltiesProvides training on a host of environmental laws - regulations and policies to VAPORHCS employees of various disciplines - educational backgrounds - and experience ranging from department managers - physicians - nurses - technicians - and other staff at higher - equivalent and lower gradesLeads - construction project reviews to determine environmental impacts - verify and confirm environmental compliance requirements - and assess environmental risk controlsHosts and coordinates VISN 20 GEMS conferences with the support of the VISN 20 GEMS ConsultantWork Schedule: Monday - Friday7:30a.m- 4:00p.m(PST) Telework: This is not a telework positionVirtual: This is not a virtual positionPosition Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD214610 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not AuthorizedCritical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not ApprovedPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.