What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Protection Specialist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Environmental Protection Specialist serves as the Green Environment Systems Manager (GEMS) for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. The employee will apply specialized knowledge of planning and administering environmental compliance and environmental sustainability - using the Environmental Management Systems format.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 04/20/2026. 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-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. Minimum Qualifications: You must 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 (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience includes: planning and implementing program policies and/or procedures; ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations; managing environmental permits; leading facility self-assessments or conducting surveys/inspections to determine compliance with applicable regulations; advising organizations and services on procedural methods and/or process improvements; and collecting - maintaining - or evaluating data for significant trends. Driver's License: A current and valid State Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs - therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. 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/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. The work includes frequent audits of waste storage areas and many other areas of the health care system - collection and consolidation of wastes across the health care system - and clean-up of hazardous materials and wastes. The work involves walking - standing - bending - hand dexterity - climbing - carrying of items - and driving of government vehicles. During audits and inspections - there is regular exposure to all the hazards and discomforts to which workers in the areas are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals - biohazards - physical stressors - and safety hazards. Work Environment: Much of the work is performed in an office setting. The work does include frequent audits of waste storage areas - storm water drains and outfalls - environmental audits and inspections within and outside the health care system facilities and involves a good deal of walking - standing - bending - lifting - and climbing. During audits and inspections - there is regular exposure to all hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals - physical stresses - and safety hazards - such as working at a storage - disposal - or spill site where there is risk of exposure to pesticides - hazardous chemicals - radioactive materials - or other pollutants. The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing or gear.
Duties
The Environmental Protection Specialist serves as the Green Environment Systems Manager (GEMS) for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. The employee will apply specialized knowledge of planning and administering environmental compliance and environmental sustainability - using the Environmental Management Systems format.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 04/20/2026. 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-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. Minimum Qualifications: You must 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 (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience includes: planning and implementing program policies and/or procedures; ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations; managing environmental permits; leading facility self-assessments or conducting surveys/inspections to determine compliance with applicable regulations; advising organizations and services on procedural methods and/or process improvements; and collecting - maintaining - or evaluating data for significant trends. Driver's License: A current and valid State Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs - therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. 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/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. The work includes frequent audits of waste storage areas and many other areas of the health care system - collection and consolidation of wastes across the health care system - and clean-up of hazardous materials and wastes. The work involves walking - standing - bending - hand dexterity - climbing - carrying of items - and driving of government vehicles. During audits and inspections - there is regular exposure to all the hazards and discomforts to which workers in the areas are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals - biohazards - physical stressors - and safety hazards. Work Environment: Much of the work is performed in an office setting. The work does include frequent audits of waste storage areas - storm water drains and outfalls - environmental audits and inspections within and outside the health care system facilities and involves a good deal of walking - standing - bending - lifting - and climbing. During audits and inspections - there is regular exposure to all hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected. This may include toxic chemicals - physical stresses - and safety hazards - such as working at a storage - disposal - or spill site where there is risk of exposure to pesticides - hazardous chemicals - radioactive materials - or other pollutants. The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing or gear.
Duties
- Major duties include but are not limited to: Provide professional and technical services related to environmental issues and program planning to achieve compliance with regulations and requirements
- Inspect proper documentation for the transportation of hazardous materials and waste
- Correct issues at time of inspection or develop corrective action plans to close out any findings
- Advise organizations and services on procedural methods and process improvements
- Develop and implement quality control and quality assurance practices for existing processes
- Author reports documenting any regulatory non-compliance issues
- Evaluate the need for additional or improved facilities and personnel development
- Review construction project plans and specifications for pollution control features to ensure compliance
- Serve as an expert on the interpretation of environmental regulations and technical issues
- Advise senior level management officials within the health care system on the status of environmental programs and recommend changes in the process to meet new requirements and/or reduce environmental impact
- Adapt various media to fit special and unique training and promotion activities
- Identify process improvement projects to reduce environmental impacts
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework
- Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD23530A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
- This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
- As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
- This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
- This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
Salary : $89,508 - $116,362