Lead Environmental Protection Specialist

Full Job Description

The position serves as the Lead Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) Program Manager for the Ralph H.

Johnson VA Healthcare System (RHJVAHCS) and is responsible for the overall GEMS Program, which includes 12 community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) in South Carolina and Georgia.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/30/2026.

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-12 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying practices, methods, and techniques to control pollution and protect the environment during the construction, operation, and maintenance of health care facilities and systems.

Modifying standard practices and adapting various equipment and technical processes to solve environmental problems and abatement conditions.

Developing, guiding, and inspecting Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) programs. Integrating chemical, remediation, and regulatory compliance into design and construction projects.

Ensuring safe construction standards and operating conditions.

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 and responsibilities include: Analyzes GEMS-related issues and problems, resulting in continual improvement of environmental programs at the RHJVAHCS, and communicates/reports findings to medical center leadership.

Applies environmental science and technology to demonstrate relationships between the operation of the RHJVAHCS with human health, ecosystems, environmental media, and natural resources.

Provides leadership and direction to management, professional, and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of facility GEMS.

Plans, organizes, implements, oversees, and provides technical assistance for projects aimed at resolving environmental issues.

Assignments include but are not limited to: 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; tank management systems; pollution prevention and waste minimization; mercury reduction; sustainability; and regulatory oversight.

Serves as a subject matter expert responsible for the knowledge and understanding of federal, state (South Carolina and Georgia), and local environmental regulations, Joint Commission standards, and Office of Inspector General requirements for all facilities within the RHJVAHCS in order to maintain environmental compliance.

Leads other GEMS staff, including Environmental Protection Specialists, industrial hygienists, and other positions, identifying, distributing, and balancing workloads and tasks among employees.

Develops new or revised technical or management guidance material for RHJVAHCS use. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm.

Work schedule is subject to change based on agency need.

Position Description/PD#: Lead Environmental Protection Specialist/PD114600 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized