Summary The incumbent will serve as an Environmental Protection Specialist organizationally aligned to the Safety Section, Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The purpose of the position is to serve as the Medical Center's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator and being a key member of the VAMC GEMS Committee. This position reports directly to the Chief of Safety Service Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Developing and implementing a GEMS program at the VA Hospital and coordinating the efforts of staff involved with GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA policy and guidance. Manages environmental programs such as (SPCC Plan, Storm Water Plan, P2 Plan, clean air and clean water, safe drinking water, asbestos and lead management and abatement, mercury reduction, etc.). Conducts internal gap analyses of GEMS. Issues reports of gap analyses and tracks status of corrective and preventive actions. Reviews implementation of GEMS policy and procedures and reports the status to the Safety & Occupational Health Manager. Discusses deficiencies and necessary remedial action with appropriate VAMC staff, including top management. Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes. Ensures that handling of all waste streams are in compliance with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Advises management on how environmental policies, procedures and systems will affect the operation of the hospital. 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. Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends to the Safety & Occupational Health Manager modifications to existing programs as needed to meet changing environmental requirements. Serves as an expert on issues related to environmental statutes. Participates in planning, organizing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Assignments include, but are not limited to, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting; toxic substances; and regulatory oversight. Provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Evaluates and implements pollution prevention alternatives to reduce the generation of waste. Manages response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous materials. Coordinates response to VA and external environmental audits, surveys, inspections, etc. Develops promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of the Medical Center's environmental issues. Facilitates the exchange of environmental information to staff, including the development and implementation of training and educational programs related to environmental programs. Manages computer programs and databases to enhance management of environmental programs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD91808-0 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2026.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-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 based on your experience and/or education, as described below: Specialized Experience: 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: management, coordination, monitoring, oversight, or evaluation of routine programs, projects, or activities; assure environmental compliance and provide routine technical assistance to operating personnel and managers; assess and correlate environmental data, verify results, and discuss technical aspects of work with scientists, engineers, and other environmental experts; standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information on environmental activities or quality and to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature; prepare and conduct briefings or training programs, lead group conferences, and write reports and letters; planning, implementing, or monitoring environmental programs and services (e.g., determining needs, evaluating program effectiveness, 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 doctora
