Environmental Protection Specialist
What you'd do
This position is for an Environmental Protection Specialist within the Facilities Management Service at the Veteran Affairs Saginaw Healthcare System. The incumbent's major efforts include serving as the Medical Center's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator, developing and implementing a GEMS program at the Medical Center, and serving as a key member of the VAMC GEMS Committee.
Major duties
The listed duties below reflect the full performance level for this position. Duties may include but are not limited to: Developing and implementing a GEMS program at the VA Healthcare System and coordinating the efforts of staff involved with GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA policy and guidance. Manages environmental programs such as (SPCC Plan, Storm Water Plan, P2 Plan, clean air and clean water, safe drinking water, asbestos and lead management and abatement, mercury reduction, etc.). Conducts internal gap analyses of GEMS. Issues reports of gap analyses and tracks the status of corrective and preventive actions. Reviews implementation of GEMS policy and procedures and reports on the status to the Chief, Facilities Management. Discusses deficiencies and necessary remedial action with appropriate VAMC staff, including top management. Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection, and disposal of hazardous waste. Ensures that handling of all waste streams complies with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Advises management on how environmental policies, procedures, and systems will affect the operation of the hospital. Reviews how expansion, modification, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure, and new construction of structures and infrastructure will affect the environment and provides information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce facility vulnerability. Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends to the Chief, Facilities Management, modifications to existing programs as needed to meet changing environmental requirements. Serves as an expert on issues related to environmental statutes, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund, National Environmental Policy Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, etc. Participates in planning, organizing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Assignments include, but are not limited to, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste; release of hazardous material/spill response; air pollution control; environmental media permitting; toxic substances; and regulatory oversight. Provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Evaluates and implements pollution prevention alternatives to reduce the generation of waste. 5. Manages response to environmental emergencies, including releases/spills of hazardous materials. Coordinates response to VA and external environmental audits, surveys, inspections, etc. Develops promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of the Medical Center's environmental issues. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the 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. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD931720 and PD932900 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/24/2026. 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-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.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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade Gs-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience assisting with environmental protection program activities such as hazardous waste and universal waste inspections, updating labels, maintaining compliance documentation, and supporting waste tracking. Experience collecting environmental data, maintaining records, and preparing basic reports under close supervision. Experience assisting with GEMS or other environmental management system activities, including maintaining binders, participating in meetings, and helping develop training materials. Experience communicating environmental information to staff through written notes, reports, or discussions, and participating in group activities or briefings. . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and beyond one full year of graduate education. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade Gs-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience independently managing and implementing environmental programs, including GEMS, hazardous waste, SPCC, Storm Water, Pollution Prevention, Clean Air/Water, and Safe Drinking Water programs. Experience conducting inspections, audits, and environmental monitoring activities, including hazardous waste container checks, CEOC rounds, fuel tank inspections, and effluent testing. Experience advising leadership and staff on environmental policies, compliance issues, and environmental impacts of construction, modification, or operational changes. Experience developing environmental reports, training, and educational materials, and maintaining environmental records, databases, and compliance documentation. Experience collaborating with regulatory agencies, contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance and resolve environmental issues. . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond two full years of graduate education.. 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/.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.