Environmental Protection Specialist

About the role

The Kansas City VA Medical Center is recruiting for a well‑qualified Environmental Protection Specialist – planning and administering environmental programs. This position functions as the Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) coordinator and is a key advisor to the Occupational Health and Safety Service. The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate the efforts of organizations that relate to environmental matters within the facility.

Qualifications

• Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/24/2026.
• Time‑in‑Grade Requirement: Current Federal employees who have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time‑in‑grade requirements by the closing date. For a GS‑11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑09 grade (the grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in Federal service). An SF‑50 showing time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with the application; if the most recent SF‑50’s effective date is within the past year and does not clearly demonstrate one‑year time‑in‑grade, an additional SF‑50 must be provided. The same requirement applies to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and to current employees applying for a VEOA appointment.
• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples include planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental protection programs; administering a green environmental management program; leading environmental facility inspections to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; advising management on environmental program status; preparing reports; and training others on specific environmental topics.
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to such a degree. This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position (transcript required).
• Combination: Applicants may combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the next lower grade (transcript required).
• 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.
• 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/.

Responsibilities

• Administers the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) program.
• Identifies areas of risk for the facility as it relates to environmental regulations and programs.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing air emissions, fuel storage, solid waste, regulation medical waste, drinking water quality, hazardous waste, storm water, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and waste water discharge.
• Manages and provides technical advice regarding responses to environmental emergencies, including releases or spills of hazardous materials.
• Develops policies and procedures related to the methods, techniques, and procedures necessary to integrate the Green Environmental Management Systems into the facility.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing hazardous pharmaceutical and non‑pharmaceutical waste.
• Evaluates, modifies, and implements pollution prevention alternatives.
• Develops and implements training and educational programs related to facility environmental regulation risks.
• Develops and implements a quality management plan to provide a systematic and rational process for the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of environmental compliance issues.
• Provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
• Sets qualitative and quantitative standards to improve environmental performance.

Schedule

Monday‑Friday 7:30am‑4pm CST. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.