Environmental Protection Specialist

Full Job Description

Employee will be assigned to Occupational Safety and Health Service, VA Health Care System, El Paso, TX, and will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist as the Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) Coordinator.

The GEMS Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the GEMS program across the healthcare system.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.

To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience includes: planning, implementing, and evaluating an environmental protection program; administering a green environmental management program/system; ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations; advising management and providing technical advice on environmental programs; developing and implementing environmental policies and procedures; conducting audits; and preparing reports.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required) - Applicants must possess a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required) - Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent audits of facility collection points for solid, medical, and hazardous waste storage areas requiring regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking, standing, bending, and stooping.

During audits and inspections, there is regular exposure to all the hazards and discomforts to which workers in the areas are subjected.

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/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Coordinates the efforts of healthcare system staff involved with the GEMS to ensure that it is developed and implemented in accordance with policy and guidance.

Plans and administers environmental programs, ensuring that the GEMS results in findings and conclusions that lead to continual improvement of environmental programs at the facility.

Plans, organizes, implements, oversees, and provides technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems by completing permits and leading facility self-assessments, inspections, and other environmental investigations.

Assignments include, but are not limited to, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting; toxic substances; and regulatory oversight.

Manages facility environmental program(s) and coordinates the efforts of the organization that relate to environmental matters. Develops and implements environmental policies, procedures, and systems.

Advises senior level management on the status of environmental programs and recommends changes in the design of facility work programs to meet new environmental policies, procedures, and systems.

Manages environmental management systems, respiratory protection programs, and decontamination programs.

Uses test equipment to monitor environments, structures, and systems to include but not limited to air, water, and waste streams to effectively manage and/or provide technical advice regarding response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous material.

Develops and implements training and educational programs related to environmental programs.

Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends additions to environmental program as needed to meet changing environmental requirements.

Develops promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of facility environmental issues.

Interacts with federal, state, and local environmental agencies with respect to facility environmental issues; and independently schedules and leads environmental audits to identify and evaluate program implementation and compliance activities.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized