Environmental Protection Specialist

This position will require travel between Zorn campus and CBOCs on a routine basis. The position functions as the technical environmental authority as the Environmental Protection Specialist with the responsibility for assuring full compliance for interpretation and implementation of GEMS policies and programs in accordance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and RRVAMC policies and guidance.

Major duties include but not limited to the following:

• Participates in the preparation of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and standards.
• Analyzes GEMS related issues and problems resulting in findings and conclusions that lead to continual improvement of environmental programs at RRVAMC.
• Provides guidance and direction to leadership management and professional and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of facility GEMS>
• Plans organizes implements oversees and provides technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems.
• Develops and implements environmental policies procedures and systems.
• Advises management on how environmental policies procedures and systems will affect the operation of the RRVAMC.
• Evaluates modifies and implements pollution prevention alternatives at the RRVAMC to reduce the generation of waste.
• Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommend additions to environmental program as needed to meet changing environmental requirements.
• Develops promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of RRVAMC environmental issues.
• Serves as expert on issues related to environmental statutes including the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act Clean Water Act Clean Air Act Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks Superfund Statutes Toxic Substances Control Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Provides support to the industrial hygiene program for RRVAMC on matters such as toxic and hazardous substances control measures for reducing exposure to hazardous agents and disposal of hazardous chemical agents.
• Investigates accidents which may include those involving fatalities and serious injury and complaints of employees concerning unhealthful work condition and determines corrective measures prepares necessary reports and records.
• Develops maintains and sustains a comprehensive Hearing Conservation Program for Louisville VAMC to include policy development and training.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Ad-hoc only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD404030
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

NOTE: Must possess a valid state-issued drivers license have a safe driving record and demonstrate that you are medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Please do not upload a copy of drivers license.

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
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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)

• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 02/10/2026.

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. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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 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.

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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:
• 1. Knowledge of the principles practices and methods of program or administrative work relating to environmental protection program.
• 2. Knowledge of one or more environmental sciences or related fields (e.g. biology ecology chemistry hydrology radiation physics environmental law real property functions or statistics) sufficient to assess and correlate environmental data verify results and discuss technical aspects of work with scientists engineers and other environmental experts.
• 3. Knowledge of environmental laws and regulations.
• 4. Ability to plan organize implement and evaluate environmental programs.
• 5. Knowledge of the policies organization operations work practices and environmental parameters of regulated industries.

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must meet one of the following education requirements:
  • Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree
  • 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate work leading to such a degree
  • LL.M. (if related to Environmental Protection). 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 a masters degree.

• Administration and Management
• Communications
• Computer Skills
• Project Management