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Summary The primary purpose of the Environmental Protection Specialist position is to serve as the facility's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Program Manager (PM) for the Western Colorado Health Care System. Responsibilities Major Duties Include but are not limited too: Serves as the Medical Center's Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) Manager leading in developing and implementing a viable GEMS (ISO) program at the Medical Center, its four VA Clinics (located in Colorado and Utah) three additional leased facilities and one Community Living Center. Meets with top management regarding administrative matters on behalf of the Service chief and Section Chiefs regarding GEMS program. Oversees a variety of administrative programs, including the distribution and dissemination of incoming mail, internal controls, records management, publication and forms management, and timesheets. Directs administrative support services to ensure that inquiries, correspondence, and actions for the area of responsibility are addressed appropriately. Serves as primary interface with Federal and State of Colorado and City/County of Grand Junction environmental regulators on all environmental compliance and management issues and topics and permits at the Medical facility. Assures that all the Environmental Memorandums and procedures are current and applicable, including annual safety plans and review, environmental plans and Medical Center Memorandums and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Reviews and evaluates completed staff actions (memos, reports, studies, fact sheets, information papers) for overall quality of the document, appropriate levels of coordination, consistency, logic, soundness of recommendations, and compliance with policy. Contacts the originating office to recommend changes, etc. before documents are forwarded to higher levels. Implements administrative policies and procedures for facility-wide areas of responsibility. Proposes improvements to administrative directives and policies. Provides advice and guidance on the interpretation and application of administrative directives and instructions. Analyzes management plans to determine the impact on administrative processes. Performs various duties to assess work practices and evaluate environmental conditions or stresses for hazards to the health and safety of workers, including recommending and working to implement preventative measures or controls. Employs sound and effective communication and interpersonal skills for foster teamwork and employee morale and to facilitate problem and conflict resolution. Leads in planning, organizing and implementing and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Provides technical expertise as the GEMS Program Manager for the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS)facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Conducts monthly and quarterly environmental and industrial health committee meetings within National and WCHCS standards. Identifies developmental training needs of employees and develops strategies to meet the environmental needs. Coordinates with the Medical Center Education staff to assure environmental educational needs are identified and provided and the Mandatory training requirements are completed. The incumbent is responsible for knowledge in tracking, trending and analyzing administrative processes, methods, techniques, to evaluate issues concerning efficiency and effectiveness of service administration. Gathers data and performs analysis and interprets policy and procedural information in order to give advice and guidance and make decisions or recommendations on management and technical issues involving personnel, resources and /or systems. 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. *RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE AVAILABLE UPON APPROVAL** Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Available on Ad-Hoc Basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist (GEMS)/PD144800 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement (GS-09): 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. 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. Time-In-Grade Requirement (GS-11): 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-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. You may qualify for GS-09 grade level 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 is defined as: Possessing a high level of skill in applying this knowledge in solving complex problems involving diverse aspects of environmental protection. Must possess the ingenuity to identify and find creative and unique solutions to a wide variety of environmental concerns and problems (both simple and complex) involving diverse aspects of environmental protection program work. Solutions may require modifying or adapting established methods and procedures or making significant departures from previous approaches to solve similar problems. Knowledgeable in the statutes, regulations, licensing/permitting requirements, and precedent decisions governing environmental operations. Actions will routinely pertain to the storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, universal wastes, regulated medical wastes, recyclables, used waste oil, solid and radioactive wastes etc. Position will also require permitting activities for Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Must be familiar with designing and conducting investigations, inspections, and performing corrective actions and related environmental management activities of greater than average difficulty. knowledge and understanding of statues, regulations, licensing/permitting requirements, and precedent decisions governing environmental operations sufficient to assure environmental compliance and for planning, implementing, and monitoring facility wide environmental programs and services. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you 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 Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a dree OR, an LL.B. or J.D., if related. Specialized Experience (GS-11): 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 is defined as: Possessing a high level of skill in applying this knowledge in solving complex problems involving diverse aspects of environmental protection. Must possess the ingenuity to identify and find creative and unique solutions to a wide variety of environmental concerns and problems (both simple and complex) involving diverse aspects of environmental protection program work. Solutions may require modifying or adapting established methods and procedures or making significant departures from previous approaches to solve similar problems. Knowledgeable in the statutes, regulations, licensing/permitting requirements, and precedent decisions governing environmental operations. Actions will routinely pertain to the storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, universal wastes, regulated medical wastes, recyclables, used waste oil, solid and radioactive wastes etc. Position will also require permitting activities for Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Must be familiar with designing and conducting investigations, inspections, and performing corrective actions and related environmental management activities of greater than average difficulty. knowledge and understanding of statues, regulations, licensing/permitting requirements, and precedent decisions governing environmental operations sufficient to assure environmental compliance and for planning, implementing, and monitoring facility wide environmental programs and services (e.g., determining needs, evaluating program effectiveness, and assuring compliance with regulations). 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., 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 Master's or equivalent graduate degree You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Administration and Management Communications Computer Skills Quality Management Technical Competence 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. Note: 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. 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Physical Environment: The work requires regular physical exertion relating to surveys and inspections on a reoccurring basis. This requires considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, and stooping movements. Occasionally there may be a need to lift, light, medium, and heavy weighted objects. Protective clothing and equipment may be necessary on occasion. Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurrent exposure to hazards, unpleasantness, and discomforts such as moving machine parts, shielded radiation sources, irritant chemicals, acid fumes, physical stresses, high noise levels, adverse weather conditions, and high temperatures from steam lines. Protective equipment and clothing may be needed, including hard hat, metatarsal shoes, earmuffs or plugs, goggles, respirators, and gloves. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.