Duties

Applies environmental science and engineering practices and technology in order to demonstrate the relationships between the operation of the VAMC and human health, ecosystems, environmental media, and natural resources.

Plans, organizes, implements, oversees, and provides technical assistance with projects in order to resolve environmental problems.

Assignments include, but are not limited to, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water requirements; treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting; toxic substances (hazardous waste and universal waste); and environmental regulatory oversight.

Provides technical expertise in the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of VAMC facilities and infrastructure in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Evaluates, modifies, and implements pollution prevention alternatives in order to reduce the generation of waste.

Manages and/or provides technical advice regarding responses to environmental emergencies, such as the release/spill of hazardous material(s).

Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends additions or modifications to environmental programs as needed in order to meet changing environmental requirements.

Interacts with Environmental Management Services on proper Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency training for regulated medical waste. Serves on Safety and Facility committees, boards, and work groups as assigned. Participates in Environment of Care and Construction Safety rounds as required.

Serves as the technical authority for the Hampton VAMC with responsibility for ensuring the adequacy of the facility's GEMS, respiratory protection program, and decontamination program.

This involves advising the overall planning and programming requirements for the operation and maintenance of such programs at the Hampton VAMC. The advice rendered: pertains to the interpretation and implementation of (and compliance with) environmental management policy, directives and applicable procedures; involves subjects directly related to GEMS, pollution, and environmental compliance; involves subjects related to the management of respiratory programs for occupational health, especially in the healthcare setting, which includes the selection of appropriate protective devices, user training, and the evaluation of new devices; and involves subjects related to the decontamination of patients and staff resulting from hazardous materials, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), or other emergency incidents, which includes conducting risk assessments, emergency management responses, the selection of personal protective equipment, and the provision of training, healthcare decontamination team in compliance with VA, OSHA, EPA and Joint Commission (JC) requirements, regulations, directives, and policies. Works with Federal, State, and local environmental and occupational safety and health organizations in areas of mutual interest. Keeps abreast of the latest developments in the field of environmental management systems, respiratory protection, and healthcare, decontamination by reviewing technical publications, attending technical conferences or professional society meetings, and by conversing with industry representatives.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. Must have the flexibility to work outside the normal tour of duty which may include weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Position Description/PD#: Environmental Engineer/PD026610
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/14/2021.

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Managing safety or occupational health program elements; Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management; Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements; Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards; Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses; Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability and outcome of hazards; Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other system's to control or eliminate hazards; Inspecting or surveying workplaces; Training or workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel; Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal Service to qualify at the Grade-11. NOTE: Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held. Please provide such documentation on resume. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, Applicants may substitute education for experience. You must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral Degree or successful completion of three (3) full years of progressively higher level education leading to such a degree or a LL.M., if related, obtained in an accredited college or university. TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Applicants can combine education and experience. Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work the position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for the position. For example, nine (9) months (75 percent of the required experience) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level and 2 1/2 (50 percent of the required education, the first two years are not qualifying at the GS-11 level) years of creditable graduation level education would exceed the total required education and experience for this position. TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED.

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 GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS9. 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.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

Physical Demands. The work of this position involves both prolonged periods of regular and recurring sitting and periods of moderate physical strain/activity. The incumbent is required to carry a wide variety of equipment / items weighing up to 50 pounds (radiological nuclear pigs are heaviest items). The work of this position also requires regular and recurring periods of walking, standing, bending, climbing, or crawling.

Work Environment. The work of this position exposes the incumbent to the risks and discomforts associated with the environmental/safety activities of the agency. This includes exposure to hazardous materials, such as biological, chemical, and radioactive agents. This exposure requires the incumbent to use protective clothing and equipment, such as respirators, hardhats, and ear protectors. The routine pick-up of hazardous materials and universal wastes throughout the facility is required.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

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.

Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. 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/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .