Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary The VA GEMS Program Manager is responsible for managing, administering, and advising facility employees and Leadership as well as VHA/VA Leadership organizations, the public, and other environmental related agencies on environmental program implementation to meet internal VA and external Federal, state and local requirements. The VA GEMS Program Manager develops, implements, and manages environmental goals, policy, and procedural documentation. Responsibilities The incumbent serves in a developmental capacity at the GS-11 level. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. - Establishes principles and concepts of environmental protection work at a routine level.- Standard environmental procedures, inspection techniques, compliance practices, and basic regulatory requirements that apply to most situations encountered.- Policies, operations, work practices, and environmental parameters found within regulated industries or government facilities sufficient to obtain information, verify compliance, and recommend routine actions.- Incumbent posses basic environmental science principles (e.g., biology, chemistry, ecology, hydrology, radiation physics, environmental law, real property, statistics).- Data-gathering methods and standard analytical techniques used to assess factual environmental information.- Effective oral and written communication methods to prepare reports, provide briefings, or deliver basic environmental training.- Supervisor provides assignment objectives, priorities, and deadlines.- Recurring assignments are carried out independently within established guidelines, precedents, and procedural frameworks.- The incumbent resolves routine problems using clear precedents; unfamiliar issues or deviations requiring significant adjustments are referred to the supervisor or technical specialists.- Completed work is evaluated for compliance with policy requirements and technical accuracy; methods used are not typically reviewed in detail. Program Management and Regulatory Compliance Environmental Controls, Planning, and Performance Management Training, Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement Project Support, Contracting, and Technical Expertise NEPA, Cultural Resources, and Historic Preservation Compliance Leadership, Coordination, and Independent Program Oversight Environmental Compliance, Regulatory Oversight, and NEPA Environmental Planning, Policy Development, and Project Support 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: Full time, Monday- Friday, 07:30am to 4:00pm Travel: May travel up to 25% Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist 497-03519-LS #03505-LS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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, 11/10/2026 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. 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. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. Specialized Experience for GS 09 Grade Level, PD #:497-03515-LS You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (To be creditable, the specialized experience must have been at the GS-07 grade level or higher, or an equivalent level of responsibility). Examples of creditable specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Knowledge of administrative functions that include administration, human resources management, budget and finance, management and program analysis, office support services, document control, logistics. Specialized Experience for GS 11 Grade Level, PD #:497-03505-LS 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: managing, supervising, administering, and advising facility employees and leadership, develops, implements and manages environmental goals, policy, and procedural documentation, identify and implement training, policies, operational requirements and engineering controls needed to comply with evolving and dynamic environmental regulatory requirements, establishes project goals and objectives, provide findings and recommendations. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Organizational Awareness Planning and Evaluating Quality Management Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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: The work may require some physical effort (e.g. walking, standing, carrying light itemssuch as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle). 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 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. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.