Environmental Protection Specialist

The Environmental Protection Specialist serves as the Green Environment Systems Manager (GEMS) for the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System located in Fort Meade, South Dakota or Hot Springs, South Dakota. The employee will apply specialized knowledge of planning and administering environmental compliance and environmental sustainability, using the Environmental Management Systems format.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include but are not limited to: Planning and implementing program policy and procedures ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations, as well as timely tracking of regulatory deadlines, shipping schedules, and hazardous waste locations and volumes. Inspecting proper documentation for the transportation of hazardous materials and waste. Maintaining one hundred percent (100%) accountability of waste manifests. Managing environmental permits, ensuring that permits are written, followed, and modified as needed and completes all required actions to avoid violating permit requirements. Working with other services, including Engineering, to ensure that permits are written, updated, and submitted as required. Leading facility self-assessments, conduct significant surveys and inspections to determine compliance with applicable state, local, and federal environmental regulations and evaluate program implementation. Advising organizations and services on procedural methods and process improvements, lead sustainability evaluations that cover a wide variety of environmental aspects and impacts and will oversee other environmental investigations and remedial actions. Developing and implementing quality control and quality assurance practices for existing processes as well as for any new processes introduced or modified. Solving problems and improving the methods and processes carried out at medical facilities requiring the development, adaptation, and modification of precedents, methods, and procedures. Advising senior level management officials within the health care systems on the status of environmental programs and recommends changes in the process to meet new environmental requirements and/or reduce environmental impact. Performing other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for ADHOC telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 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. Must possess a current, valid state-issued Driver's License (NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License.) 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.