Location: Washington,DC, USA
Summary The incumbent serves as the Environmental Protection Specialist for the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, it's tenants, and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Responsibilities include implementing a comprehensive environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 ensuring that the station is in compliance with Federal, State and local environmental regulations. Responsibilities Responsibilities include implementing a comprehensive environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 ensuring that the station is in compliance with Federal, State and local environmental regulations. The station consists of approximately 180 acres of mixed use: medical administration, rehabilitation residential and facility maintenance activities which include but are not limited to: well-water pumping, treating, and distribution; industrial waste water discharge to the county; storm water management; air discharges requiring permits; boiler operations; electrical power generators for backup power and associated permits; new construction and renovations; hazardous waste generation; medical/infectious waste; regulated waste; and universal waste.Major Duties Include but are not Limited to: Advising station and/or tenant activities and contractors on the interpretation, implementation of and compliance with Federal, State, local regulations and VA/VHA direction. Providing guidance on environmental compliance and in developing, coordinating and executing solid waste, hazardous material, industrial wastewater and water quality programs. Responding to inquiries concerning the interpretation and application of policy directive and regulations pertinent to the stations environmental compliance. Analyzing status of compliance through on-site inspections, review of procurement actions, identifying factors affecting non-compliance and providing guidance to resolve deficiencies. Oversees and directs corrections of deficiencies for assigned programs which involve a wide range of environmental laws and regulations such as the Clean Water Act, Toxic Substance and Control Act, Environmental Planning and Community Right to know Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Storm Water Management, Underground Storage Tanks, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, Soil Erosion and Control Clean Air Act and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act. Recommending to supervisor the most feasible corrective actions for environmental deficiencies such as maintaining compliance for industrial wastewater discharge by developing and/or implementing procedures for toxic reduction/pollution prevention and process modifications without interference production. Developing, coordinating and executing several environmental programs to include storage tanks, asbestos disposal, hazardous material, solid waste infectious waste, industrial waste and ground and surface water. Overseeing the development, coordination and implementation of the installation's Hazardous Material Management System. Managing all required permits and plans such as National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits, Air Permits, Industrial Waste Water Permits, Spill Presentation Control and Countermeasures Plan. Maintaining the installation's spill plan to include all hazardous material/waste activities and ensures the activities s are prepared and quipped for cleanup. Ensuring that proper spill reporting is accomplished to state, local, and federal agencies. Coordinating and negotiating with Federal, State, county and local regulatory agencies to resolve environmental issues. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Speci/PD250020 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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, 12/02/2024. 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. 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 GS11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing subject matter expertise on United States Environmental Protection Agency and other federal, state and local environmental regulations; ensuring compliance with facility environmental management systems; developing plans and guidance on performance improvement efforts; providing oversight to activities related to environmental compliance; and providing environmental compliance training and guidance. Incumbent must possess a valid state driver's license. Incumbent must be able and willing to operate a government motor vehicle. Incumbent must be able and willing to wear a respirator as part of HAZMAT spill cleanup. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Compliance Environmental Engineering Planning and Evaluating 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. Physical Requirements: Moderately strenuous work, involving some physical exertion - such as standing for long periods, bending and stooping to observe and study work operations in an industrial, storage or comparable work area. There are regular and recurring field visits where there is considerable walking, bending, and climbing to inspect facilities and to evaluate their conditions, construction and operation.For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at 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.