Environmental Protection Specialist (TCF Trainee)

Summary

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. Environmental Protection Specialists play a central role in planning and administering environmental programs. Environmental protection programs deal with the environmental impacts of human activities on air - land - water - and other media.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/06/2026. Grade Determinations: Environmental Protection Specialist - GS-7 (Entry Level) 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. 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 education and/or experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement: Superior Academic Achievement is based on class standing - grade-point average - or honor society membership. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college - university - or major subdivision - such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration - based on completed courses; Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript - or as computed based on 4 years of education - or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond bachelor's degree. Environmental Protection Specialist - GS-9 (Developmental Level) 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. 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. 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 education and/or experience as described below: 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. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR - two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree - OR - LL.B or J.D. - if related Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Compliance Education and Training Hazardous Materials Stakeholder Management Technical Credibility 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. 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/. Preferred Experience: Recent graduate (within 2 years) with a degree relating to the Environmental Sciences. Physical Requirements: The work may require some physical effort (e.g. - walking - standing - carrying light items such as manuals or briefcases - or driving or traveling by motor vehicle).

Duties

• The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field
• Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained - coached - and supervised by a preceptor
• Preceptors are selected annually - through an extensive application process - for their technical expertise - their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location
• *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility - Training - and Continued Service Agreements
• This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11 - performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision
• 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
• At the GS-7 entry level - this is a 2-year long program - the incumbent performs general environmental protection specialist assignments to gain knowledge and experience necessary to support Veterans Administration's (VA) Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) implementation and one or more programs or functional areas of environmental protection work
• Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The trainee applies working knowledge and a general understanding of environmental laws and regulation to assure compliance with applicable laws and regulation (e.g. - for air emissions - wastewater discharge - solid and hazardous waste - fuel and oil storage - and spill prevention - among other areas)
• The trainee collects and evaluates environmental data and compliance using appropriate analytical methods and techniques
• The trainee recommends necessary changes - control measures - best practices - etc
• The trainee assists with hazardous waste and residual shipping
• The trainee prepares and conducts briefings and writes reports and letters
• The trainee supports environmental sustainability initiatives
• At the GS-9 Level: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The trainee applies specialized knowledge and a deep understanding of environmental laws and regulation for one or more program areas to assist the facility in meeting its compliance
• The trainee prepares portions of environmental plans - permits - and reports (e.g. - for air emissions - wastewater discharge - solid and hazardous waste - fuel and oil storage - and spill prevention - among other areas) and maintains proper recordkeeping
• The trainee manages with hazardous waste and residual shipping activities
• The trainee supports GEMS program administration - management - and internal reporting activities
• The trainee participates in environmental audits and incident investigations
• helps with root case analysis - development of corrective actions - and tracking incidents to closure
• The trainee assists with training employees and lower-grade safety staff in specific program requirements
• At the GS-11 Level: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The trainee administers the GEMS program and is responsible for management of GEMS activities and internal reporting activities.
• The trainee advises senior level management officials within the facility on the status of environmental programs and recommends changes in the design of facility work programs to meet new environmental requirements
• The trainee interacts with federal - state - and local environmental agencies with respect to facility environmental issues
• The trainee independently schedules and leads environmental audits to identify and evaluate program implementation and compliance activities
• The trainee conducts site inspections - collects data - reviews documents - analyzes evidence - evaluates results - writes reports - recommending corrective action or procedures for compliance - and coordinating with VA officials
• The trainee trains other employees and lower grade environmental staff - providing instruction on a variety of subjects related to specific and specialized environmental topics
• The trainee adapts various available media to fit special and unique training requirements and participates in the development of novel or innovative environmental training and promotion activities
• Work schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - PST Telework: This position is not eligible for telework
• Position Description Title/PD#: Environmental Protection Specialist (TCF Trainee)/PD99440S Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required