Physical Scientist (Environmental)-(GEMS Coordinator)

Summary This position is organizationally aligned under Office of the Director, Occupational Safety & Health Service, located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL (578) – a Level 1a complexity VHA facility. Responsibilities Physical Scientists function with a responsibility for planning, developing, measuring, analyzing, and describing air and water resources to include Air Quality, Water Quality, Solid Waste Management, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and impact assessments, and play a central role in planning and administering Environmental Protection Programs. Major duties of this position, include, but are not limited to: Responsible for facility Green Environmental Management System (GEMS). Ensures programs comply with Federal, State, and local requirements, Executive Orders, and VHA and VA environmental requirements. Serve as a regulatory specialist with technical expertise to organize, analyze, interpret, and evaluate scientific data in solution of scientific environmental problems. Perform all scientific environmental tasks required for design, operation and management of environmental management systems and projects related to operation of health care facility. Review engineering plans, drawings, technical specifications, and estimated cost of projects related to environmental compliance. Develop health care facility policy, guidance and procedures related to environmental requirements and regulatory and statutory analysis, as well as application of foregoing to improve EMS program. Monitors work progress and coordinates work efforts amongst staff planners and/or A/E consultants. Perform on-site surveys and provide technical advice. Plan, coordinate and carry out advanced long-term project assignments. Participate in coordination and implementation of financial and budget execution activities related to environmental programs. Compile and prepare technical data for use by a variety of sources. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Physical Scientist (Environmental)-(GEMS Coordinator)/PD20052O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/25/2024. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: In order to qualify for this position, qualified applicants must meet the Basic Requirement and the GS-11 qualification requirements Basic Requirement: A. Degree: Possess a degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. (Copy of Transcripts Required) OR B. Combination of education and experience: Possess combination of education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience, or additional education. (Copy of Transcripts Required) GS-11 Qualification Requirements: Specialized Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09) in the federal service, which equipped applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but are not limited to: Assess EMS program using advanced concepts, principles, and practices of environmental sciences; principal contributor for improvement and application of environmental technologies; develop approaches to achieve regulatory compliance; develop and revise environmental science and standards and technical guideline; provide advice colleagues and officials and recommend program or methods improvements; guide and coordinate environmental management systems. or Substitution of Education: Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. Your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in physical science, engineering, or a similarly related major. or Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. Reminder: Your application package must include documentation (transcript copy) when using education for qualification. Please review the Education section for detailed information. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Planning and Evaluating Project Management Technical Competence 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: Incumbent is required to perform office work as well as field work involving a good deal of walking. Field investigations and surveys involve moderate physical exertion, including carrying equipment and containers up to 50 pounds, climbing, standing, walking, crawling, and bending, as well as use of personal protective equipment, and occasional work in confined spaces. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Additional Information 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. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.