Summary The employee of this position serves as a GEMS Coordinator - Environmental Engineer, assigned to the Safety Office, Engineering Service. He/she is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the VA GEMS across VAMC organizational elements. Responsibilities The GEMS Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the efforts of VA Medical Center staff involved with the GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA and VA Medical Center policy and guidance. Responsible for ensuring that the GEMS results in findings and conclusions that lead to continual improvement of environmental programs at the VA Medical Center. Responsible for applying environmental science and technology to demonstrate relationships between the operation of the VA Medical Center with human health, ecosystems, environmental media and natural resources. Provides leadership and direction to management, professional and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of the facility GEMS. Plans, organizes, implements, oversees, and provides technical assistance to maintain compliance with current federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Assignments include, but are not limited to, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid 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 VA Medical Center facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Responsible for managing VAMC environmental program(s) and coordinating the efforts of VAMC organizations that relate to environmental matters. The GEMS Coordinator develops and implements environmental policies, procedures and systems. Evaluate, modify and implement pollution prevention alternatives at the VA Medical Center to reduce the generation of waste. Manage and/or provide technical advice regarding response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous material. Facilitate the exchange of environmental information to VA Medical Center staff, including the development and implementation of training and educational programs related to environmental programs. Develop and present to upper level VA Medical Center management budgetary information related to environmental programs. Manage computer programs and databases to enhance management of environmental programs. Review how expansion, modifications, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure and new construction of structures and infrastructure will affect the environment, provide information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce the VA Medical Center's vulnerability. Measure the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends additions to environmental program as needed to meet changing environmental requirements. Develop promotional and educational activities to promote awareness of VA Medical Center environmental issues. The GEMS Coordinator is an integral member of the Safety Office reporting to the Safety Officer, and works in concert with other members of the Safety Office. The work includes a variety of different processes and methods, e.g. performing site inspections, collecting data, reviewing documents, analyzing results, writing reports, recommending corrective action or procedures for compliance. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #10224 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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 dentification 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). Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: GEMS Coordinator candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f) Education: a. Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time; OR b. Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score; OR c. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Healthcare Engineer (Full Performance Level) Experience Requirement: 1. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-12 you must possess at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). 2. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment. b. Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering. c. Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards. d. Skill in researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures. e. Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets. f. Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work may require some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable walking, stooping, bending, crouching, and climbing. These may be performed during regular, periodic construction activities, field inspections, or to observe and study work operations in an industrial, storage, or comparable work area. Work may also include frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 50 pounds, such as equipment and samples. The work may involve regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts, such as high noise levels. Potential hazards in the work environment may include infectious materials, toxic or irritating chemicals, dust, noxious fumes, flammable liquids or ionizing and non ionizing radiation. Special safety precautions (e.g., training, protective clothing, respirators, etc.) are required. 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/. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. 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 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.