Summary
The overall purpose and intent of this position is that of an Environmental Protection Specialist, primarily performing work as the CTVHCS's Recycle Program Coordinator. Incumbent is in support of program elements related to the facility's Industrial Hygiene and GEMS (Green Environmental Management Systems) programs, and in providing primary oversite and management of the system's recycle program.
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Duties
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Major duties include, but are not limited to:
- Administer the services and day-to-day operations of the Recycle Program, in providing primary over site and management of the system's recycle program.
- Coordinates efforts throughout the program area to identify potentially recyclable materials; obtains information from other recyclers on markets and pricing; conducts cost analysis and feasibility studies; selects items for collection; develops and published announcements regarding items selected; establishes procedures for collection; and monitors efforts.
- Maintains current and projected data on program revenues and expenses; develops program budgets and net income targets. Makes recommendations on allocation of recycling proceeds and reviews all projects funded with the proceeds of recycling sales.
- Oversees the daily work performance of the Recycling Program crew. Coordinates the staffing at various collection sites; coordinates work schedules and recommends personnel decisions, including pay increases and reassignments.
- Maintains current and projected data on program revenues and expenses; develops program budgets and net income targets. Makes recommendations on allocation of recycling proceeds and reviews all projects funded with the proceeds of recycling sales.
- Performs various Industrial Hygiene duties, assesses work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to the health and safety of workers.
- Develops, coordinates, and presents public information and education programs and promotional materials on waste reduction and recycling.
- Conducts cost analysis and feasibility studies; selects items for collection; develops and published announcements regarding items selected; establishes procedures for collection; and monitors efforts. Prepares written and oral reports.
- Track receipt of all recyclable materials from time of collection on site to local processing to delivery to local recyclers
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 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available; Compressed tour - 9 hour days and one 8 hour day per pay period. Tours beginning as early as 0600
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist/PD003550 and PD003540
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Approved
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- 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.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
- 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)
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.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/31/2026.
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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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:
Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-09
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge of the established principles, concepts, and methods of environmental protection program work, and skill in applying this knowledge in performing a variety of duties involving the management, coordination, monitoring, oversight, or evaluation of environmental programs, projects, or activities; skill in using standard data gathering and analysis techniques to collect and review technical information on environmental activities and to identify and solve problems of a procedural or factual nature; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to prepare and conduct briefings or training programs; practical knowledge of government procedures for obtaining effective contract services. 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 directly related to the work of the position (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). 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 higher level graduate education.
Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-11
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the Department of Veterans Affairs agency requirements for recyclable materials pertaining to identification of materials within the program accounting practices used in maintaining records of the quality and types of materials sold; Knowledge of solid waste and recycling management systems, techniques, equipment, and markets; identify potentially recyclable materials; obtain information from other recyclers on markets and pricing; conduct cost analysis and feasibility studies; Ability to conduct research, analyze information techniques, methods, materials, and objectives; practical knowledge of the scrap and salvage business; practical knowledge of government procedures for obtaining effective contract services. 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 directly related to the work of the position (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). 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 higher level graduate education.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Flexibility
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
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 Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.
Functional Requirements: Individuals, including wage-grade drivers, title 5, title 38, and hybrid title 38 employees or volunteers who are required to operate a government owned or leased vehicle to successfully carry out their assigned duties must be medically cleared prior to appointment (positions that require a CDL are covered under a separate OF-178).
Assessment must be made for any acute or chronic medical/physical condition or medication use which interferes with the ability operate the appropriate Government-owned or -leased vehicle safely and without undue risk to themselves or others. The following requirements must be met:
- distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction,
- field of vision 70 degrees,
- ability to distinguish red, green and amber,
- whispered voice at five feet, or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs. at 500, 1000 and 2,000 Hz.
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
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/.
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Additional information
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's 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.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opp
