Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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• Assists with developing, implementing, and maintaining effective programs for the identification, collection, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
• Ensures that the handling of all waste streams complies with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
• Resolves complex technical and organizational problems using innovative and original approaches.
• Provides expert technical advice to senior management on the appropriate application of environmental technologies to support the VHA mission.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on environmental regulations, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
• Applies technical knowledge to the development of environmental management information systems.
• Assists in planning, designing, constructing, modifying, improving, and maintaining environmental aspects of facilities, either in-house or through contracted services.
• Establishes and enhances environmental programs by developing policies, promoting improvements, evaluating compliance, and, when necessary, directing corrective actions to achieve satisfactory results.
• Develops new or revised technical or management guidance materials for facility use.
• Determines the need for such materials based on findings from field surveys, analysis of environmental reports, review of technical publications, assessments of problems, and other relevant sources.
• Provides environmental training sessions for facility personnel as appropriate.
• Plans and manages environmental projects and programs related to the development and implementation of environmental policy, guidance, and procedures for applicable environmental media.
• Develops policy, guidance, and procedures related to environmental management systems and regulatory compliance.
• Serves as the VAWNYHS GEMS Coordinator, responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of GEMS initiatives across organizational departments.
• Coordinates efforts of Medical Center staff involved with GEMS to ensure development and implementation in accordance with VHA and VA Medical Center policies and guidance.
• Ensures that GEMS findings support continual improvement of VAWNYHS environmental programs.
• Applies environmental science and technology to demonstrate relationships between facility operations, human health, environmental media, natural resources, and ecosystems.
• Provides direction to facility staff and senior management regarding GEMS development and implementation.
• Organizes, implements, oversees, and provides technical assistance for projects involving environmental issues. Assignments include, but are not limited to: waste disposal; safe drinking water; storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste; hazardous material releases and spill response; and air emissions review.
• Provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation, and maintenance of VAWNYHS facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
• Coordinates the efforts of VAMC organizations related to environmental matters.

Additional responsibilities include:

• a. Advises management on the impact of environmental policies, procedures, and systems on Medical Center operations.
• b. Evaluates, modifies, and implements pollution-prevention alternatives to reduce waste generation.
• c. Facilitates the exchange of environmental information among Medical Center staff, including developing and implementing environmental training and educational programs.
• d. Develops and presents budgetary information related to environmental programs to senior management.
• e. Reviews how expansion, modification, or closure of facilities and infrastructure, as well as new construction, may affect the environment. Provides information to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment and to reduce VAWNYHS vulnerability.
• f. Develops educational activities to enhance stakeholder awareness of environmental issues.

Work Schedule: 08:00 - 4:30p Mon - Fri
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 25654F

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical / assessment examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. 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

• 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

• 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.Foreign Education. To be creditable, engineering, architecture or related education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to a Bachelor's degree above.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).

Healthcare Engineer, GS-12.Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
• 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.
• Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards. 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.
• Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.
• Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.

Assignment. Employees at this level serve as Healthcare Engineers at the full performance level. Employees at this level serve as Healthcare Engineers at the full performance level. They work independently, under general supervision with wide latitude to exercise independent judgment. Healthcare Engineers demonstrate intimate grasp of high order healthcare engineering and capital subject matter. They serve as institutional resources for healthcare delivery processes and systems, working extensively with clinical stakeholders, acquisition staff, contractors and executive leadership by leading healthcare engineering programs, technology assessments, integration planning implementation of both current and emerging technologies. Healthcare Engineers support the delivery of healthcare to Veterans by contributing to the education of clinical staff, planners and leadership to ensure safe and efficient healthcare delivery. Healthcare Engineers plan, execute and document highly complex, multi-faceted healthcare facility construction projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets. They identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures, as it relates to the healthcare environment.


Preferred Experience:

• Certifications such as CHMM, REM, QEP, ISO 14001 Lead Auditor or Internal Auditor training, EPA RCRA Hazardous Waste Management certification, or OSHA HAZWOPER (24-hr or 40-hr).
• 5 years of experience in environmental compliance, environmental engineering, or environmental management.
• Experience managing or implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS/GEMS).
• Experience conducting environmental audits, inspections, or regulatory reviews.
• Experience developing or maintaining waste management programs (hazardous, universal, medical, solid waste).

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.

Physical Requirements: The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, training rooms, and libraries. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent must also work outdoors in all types of weather. There may be occasional exposure to moderate risks or discomforts in storage areas or hazardous waste sites.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.