Environmental Protection Specialist

Full Job Description

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.

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/.

Major Duties:

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