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Environmental Protection Specialist - Green Environmental Management System (GEMS)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Buffalo, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 4/20/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/20/2026
Summary

The purpose of this position is to plan - implement - administer - and continuously improve the facility's GEMS/Environmental Management System (EMS) - ensuring compliance with all VA/VHA environmental directives - Federal and State regulations - and applicable Executive Orders. The person in this position is the primary technical authority for environmental compliance - waste management - NEPA planning - and pollution prevention across all clinical and administrative operations.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level - applicants must meet at least one of the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position - and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable - this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes planning - implementing - and evaluating environmental protection programs; administering a green environmental management program; leading environmental facility inspections to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; advising management on environmental program status; preparing reports; and training others on specific environmental topics. ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree possess or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position? This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Possess equivalent combinations of education and specialized experience (as described above) to meet the requirements at the GS-11 NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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/.

Duties

  • ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include but are not limited to the following: Serve as GEMS Coordinator and technical lead Maintain Environmental Management System (EMS) scope and environmental policy Develop - implement - and update aspects/impacts register and legal requirements matrix Conduct internal EMS gap analyses and issue written findings
  • open corrective actions /notices received
  • assemble evidence logs
  • and manage responses - etc
  • Coordinate internal environmental audits and external inspections Serve as SME on Federal and state environmental laws Manage multimedia environmental programs such as Spill Prevention - Control and Countermeasure Plan - Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan - Clean Air compliance - asbestos and lead management - etc
  • Provide technical expertise for the design - modification - operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations Develop/update SOPs and compliance plans Develop - implement - and maintain programs for the identification - collection - storage - accumulation - transportation - and disposal of hazardous - universal - pharmaceutical - regulated medical - and solid waste streams Conduct universal waste training - maintain training rosters - and evaluate effectiveness Analyze waste trends Review proposed construction - renovation - demolition - infrastructure modifications - and space changes for potential environmental impacts Provide technical environmental input on materials - design choices - operational controls - etc
  • Lead or support spill responses and ensure spill response procedures Perform all other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Salary : $78,091 - $101,524

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