Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary

Environmental Protection Specialists play a central role in planning and administering environmental programs. Environmental protection programs deal with the environmental impacts of human activities on air - land - water - and other media. Environmental protection programs are designed to ensure compliance with federal - state - and local regulations governing air emissions - hazardous materials - non-hazardous and hazardous waste - oil spills - water quality - and the storage of regulated substances.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/02/2026. RECENT GRADUATE REQUIREMENT: The Pathways Recent Graduates Program is open to recent graduates who are legally permitted to work in the U.S. To be eligible.. You must have obtained one of the following qualifying degrees - certificate - career - or technical education programs: associates - bachelors - masters - professional - doctoral - or technical/vocational degree or certificate (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs - Job Corps - Climate Corps - AmeriCorps - and Peace Corps) from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years. This program is for one year; and An applicant within 9 months of completing qualifying education may apply - but they must successfully complete academic requirements prior to appointment. The servicing HR Office may use this flexibility at its discretion based on hiring needs and the timing of the recruitment. See the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions. Preference eligible veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree (certification and/or career/technical program) was completed. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.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 level. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level - you meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in federal service that demonstrates Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: an understanding of environment laws and regulations - practical knowledge of environmental science and related disciplines. Such experience may be gained in administrative - professional - technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e. - Government or military) or private sector. OR Education: Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). The S.A.A. provision is an educational achievement based on class standing - grade-point average or honor society membership. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond a bachelors degree) and specialized experience - as described above - to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level - you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge - concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative - professional - technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e. - Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: knowledge of how to plan - organize - implement - and evaluate environmental programs - specialized knowledge and a deep understanding of environmental laws - and/or regulations for one or more program areas to assist the facility in meeting compliance requirements ;.~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree - two full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree - or LL.B. or J.D. - if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience - as described above - to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level - you must meet one of the following: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in federal service that demonstrates HR management knowledge - concepts and principles and the performance of work in one or more of the specialty areas. Such experience may be gained in administrative - professional - technical or other responsible work positions in the public (i.e. - Government or military) or private sector. Qualifying specialized experience includes: knowledge of how to plan - organize - implement - and evaluate environmental programs - specialized knowledge and a deep understanding of environmental laws - and/or regulations for one or more program areas to assist the facility in meeting compliance requirements ;.~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a Docorate or equivalent graduate degree - two full years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to such a degree - or LL.B. or J.D. - if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. ~OR~ Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience - as described above - to meet the total requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: NOTE: Trainees cannot be promoted beyond the established promotion potential of the position(GS-11). Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree) - the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. Volunteer Experience: 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Duties

• The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field
• Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained - coached - and supervised by a preceptor
• Preceptors are selected annually - through an extensive application process - for their technical expertise - their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location
• *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility - Training - and Continued Service Agreements
• This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11 - performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision
• The selectee may be promoted tothe 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
• Major Duties and Responsibilities The trainee is responsible for GEMS program planning and implementation to assure compliance with environmental laws and regulation
• The trainee completes permits and leads facility self-assessments - inspections - and other environmental investigations The trainee administers the GEMS program and is responsible for management of GEMS activities and internal reporting activities
• The trainee advises senior level management officials within the facility on the status of environmental programs and recommends changes in the design of facility work programs to meet new environmental requirements
• The trainee interacts with federal - state - and local environmental agencies with respect to facility environmental issues
• The trainee independently schedules and leads environmental audits to identify and evaluate program implementation and compliance activities
• The trainee conducts site inspections - collects data - reviews documents - analyzes evidence - evaluates results - writes reports - recommending corrective action or procedures for compliance - and coordinating with VA officials
• The trainee trains other employees and lower grade environmental staff - providing instruction on a variety of subjects related to specific and specialized environmental topics
• The trainee adapts various available media to fit special and unique training requirements and participates in the development of novel or innovative environmental training and promotion activities
• Promotion Potential: This position is being hired at the GS-07/09 grade levels
• During this program - when trainees meet administrative and qualification requirements and have been in their hiring grade for a minimum of one year - they can be promoted to the next higher grade level
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday work schedule subject to change based on agency needs
• Compressed/Flexible: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: N/A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required