PDF versionJob Summary
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, located 12 miles west of downtown Chicago on a 147-acre campus, offers primary, extended and specialty care and serves as a tertiary care referral center for VISN 12. Specialized clinical programs include Blind Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, Neurosurgery, Radiation Therapy and Cardiovascular Surgery. The hospital also serves as the VISN 12 southern tier hub for pathology, radiology, radiation therapy, human resource management and fiscal services.
Major Duties
The Physical Scientist is responsible for the facility the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS); ensures that Environmental Management Systems (EMS) program at the facility and clinics comply with Federal, State and local requirements, Executive Orders, and VHA and VA environmental requirements. The incumbent coordinates the environmental compliance program with VISN, health care facility management, supervisors, safety managers and others, as required.
Major Duties:
-Utilizes professional knowledge of the theories, practices and methodologies of natural, physical and social sciences as they relate to the natural and human environment to serve as a regulatory specialist with technical expertise to organize, analyze, interpret and evaluate scientific data in the solution of scientific environmental problems.
-Works independently with minimal supervisory control to perform all scientific environmental tasks required for the design, operation and management of environmental management systems and projects related to the operation of a health care facility. Duties include, but are not limited to: potable water supply and distribution; wastewater collection and treatment; solid and hazardous waste storage, handling, sampling, treatment, transport, and disposal; environmental statute, regulation and permit compliance; waste minimization; environmental health risk assessment and mitigation; pollution prevention and cleanup and development of VA facility policy and procedures related to environmental requirements and regulatory and statutory analysis.
-Review of engineering plans, drawings, technical specifications and estimated cost of projects related to environmental compliance.
-Development of health care facility policy, guidance and procedures related to environmental requirements and regulatory and statutory analysis, as well as the application of the foregoing to improve EMS program at the VHA facility.
-Performs on-site surveys to identify environmental compliance deficiencies and pollution prevention opportunities, and to provide technical advice in the assigned areas of responsibilities.
-Participates in the coordination and implementation of financial and budget execution activities related to environmental programs at the VHA facility.
-Compiles and prepares technical data for use by a variety of different sources, such as upper-level facility management, supervisors, engineers, safety managers, technical managers or other interested parties.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Physical Scientist (Environmental)/ PD#20052O
Physical Requirements: Incumbent is required to perform office work as well as field work involving a good deal of walking. Field investigations and surveys involve moderate physical exertion, including carrying equipment and containers up to 50 pounds, climbing, standing, walking, crawling, and bending, as well as use of personal protective equipment, and occasional work in confined spaces.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Basic Requirement: A. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience: education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
GS-11 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes:Broad professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of scientific theories, concepts, principles, standards, and methods sufficient to determine and/or execute actions for a wide range of assignments involving combinations of complex features; devise, customize, operate, oversee, and/or evaluate specialized information technology systems, processes, and applications pertaining to the performed work and the delivery of its design, end products, or services; formulate, execute, advise on, and explain recommendations or solutions to modify standard practices, equipment, devices, processes, and techniques and resolve a wide variety of complex problems; adapt precedents or existing strategies to meet unusual needs or special demands; act as a principal contributor on team-based projects or coordinate a team project and provide technical oversight and direction; and prepare, present, and evaluate plans, designs, reports, and correspondence. Knowledge of the principles of chemical, physical, and biological disciplines and related fields. Ability to provide advice to colleagues and/or agency officials responsible for program operations and to provide recommendations for improving programs and/or methods. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. (Transcript Required) OR A combination of equivalent specialized experience as stated above and graduate level education leading to a Ph.D (Transcript Required) To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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.
Pay Range
$70,987.00 - $92,281.00