Environmental Protection Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Salisbury VA Medical Center (SVAMC), in Engineering Service. The incumbent's major efforts include serving as the Medical Center's Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the VAMC staff to ensure the GEMS program is developed and implemented. Responsibilities Responsible for ensuring that the GEMS program results, findings, and conclusions lead to continual improvements of environmental programs; applying environmental science and technology to demonstrate relationships between the operation of the VAMC and human health, ecosystems, environmental media, and natural resources; and providing leadership and direction to management, professional, and technical personnel regarding the development and implementation of the GEMS program. The incumbent holds certifications to signs manifest for the destructive /disposal or Pharmaceutical, Biological, Hazardous and Asbestos Waste. As the Environmental Protection Specialist, responsibilities include the following: Developing and implementing a GEMS program at the VA Hospital and coordinating the efforts of staff involved with GEMS to ensure that the GEMS is developed and implemented in accordance with VHA policy and guidance. Conducting internal gap analyses of GEMS. Issuing reports of gap analyses and tracks status of corrective and preventive actions. Review's implementation of GEMS policy and procedures and reports the status to the Safety & Occupational Health Manager. Discusses deficiencies and necessary remedial action with appropriate VAMC staff, including top management. Planning, organizing, implementing, overseeing and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. The GEMS Coordinator provides technical expertise for the design, modification, operation and maintenance of VA Medical Center facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Manages environmental programs and coordinates responses to VA and external environmental audits, surveys, inspections, etc. Serves as an expert on issues related to environmental statutes including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Superfund, National Environmental Policy Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, etc. Participates in planning, organizing, implementing, and providing technical assistance for projects to resolve environmental problems. Assignments include, but are not limited to, industrial wastewater treatment and disposal; safe drinking water; treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous 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 facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Develops, implements, and maintains effective programs for the identification, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes. Ensures that handling of all waste streams are in compliance with federal, state, and local governmental laws and regulations. Advises management on how environmental policies, procedures and systems will affect the operation of the hospital. Evaluates and implements pollution prevention alternatives to reduce the generation of waste. Manages response to environmental emergencies including releases/spills of hazardous materials. Facilitates the exchange of environmental information to staff, including the development and implementation of training and educational programs related to environmental programs. Manages computer programs and databases to enhance management of environmental programs. Reviews how expansion, modification, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure, and new construction of structures and infrastructure will affect the environment and provides information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce facility vulnerability. Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends to the Safety & Occupational Health Manager modifications to existing programs as needed to meet changing environmental requirements. Develops promotional and educational activities to promote stakeholder awareness of the Medical Center's environmental issues. Required to obtain COR certification so to manage all aspects of the Asbestos Abatement, Underground Storage Tank, and other environmental related programs. Additional Duties: Incumbent has back-up responsibility to various extents for all positions within Safety Management. This may include Safety Management, Fire Protection, Industrial Hygiene, and Emergency Preparedness functions. Promotion Potential:

Created: 2026-02-06