Summary The position is located within the Safety and Emergency Management Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fresno, CA. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Please Note: This announcement has been extended. The new closing date is February, 2nd. 2024. Applicants who previously applied do not need to reapply. However, they may update their application materials during this time. The Environmental Protection Specialist, is responsible for addressing all environmental performance in a manner that meets the requirements of federal, state, and local environmental statutes and regulations. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Manage, supervise, administer, and advise facility employees and leadership on environmental program implementation Serve as Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) program manager Identify and implement training, policies, operational requirements, and engineering controls needed to comply with evolving and dynamic environmental regulatory requirements Provide guidance, oversight, and consultation to management and address, resolve compliance findings Prepare and submit annual management review report of the GEMS program following established protocols Develop and carry out environmental training plans for affected staff Serve as healthcare system liaison to regional EPA office, and other federal, state, and local government entities related environmental issues Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm. Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified individual Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Communications and Media Compliance Compliance Inspection Creativity and Innovation Environmental Engineering To qualify for this position, you must possess the following specialized experience: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in Federal Service that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of an Environmental Protection Specialist GS-12. Specialized experience includes: providing technical expertise for the design, modification, operation and maintenance of facilities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations; providing oversight and technical assistance on a range of environmental activities; conducting training on environmental management systems; advising management on how environmental policies/procedures will affect operations; conducting audits, inspections and surveys of environmental programs; measuring effectiveness of environmental programs and recommending modifications to meet changing requirements; and creating professional reports for publication. NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements/Work Environment: The work may require some physical effort (e.g. walking, standing, carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted heated, and ventilated. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (559) 225-6100. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.