Job Details

Materials Handler - Waste Management

This position is responsible for the collection and preparation of Hazardous Waste, Regulated Medical Waste (RMW), Universal Waste, recycling, and solid waste for proper disposal in accordance with regulatory and legislative environmental requirements.

Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 02/26/2026 to 05/26/2026

Salary $27.25 - $31.80 per hour

Location 4 vacancies in the following location: Portland, OR

This job is open to Federal employees - Competitive service Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales. Federal employees - Excepted service Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Land and base management Current or former employees of a base management agency. Veterans Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference Military spouses Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty. Individuals with disabilities Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A. Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA. Special authorities Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Special authorities include: Former overseas employees and foreign service employees. Clarification for these authorities is provided in the questionnaire. First AOC (Area of Consideration) is Facility employees; Second AOC is VA Agency; Third AOC are all other eligible applicants.

Duties This is an open-continuous announcement. It establishes a standing register of eligible applicants which closes on May 26, 2026 or until all positions have been filled. Positions will be filled as they become available. There will be multiple cut-off dates used to consider applications for referral to the selecting official. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be March 12, 2026, the remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals. Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Works independently and acts as the Waste Management Material Handler collecting, processing, packaging, and preparing solid waste/hazardous waste/RMW waste for temporary storage and disposal.
• Provides guidance on the proper standard operating procedures for the management, handling, storage, and disposal of regulated hazardous wastes and substances under the strict control of the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1976; and subsequent amendment established by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 40 CFR Part 265 Interim Status Standards For Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.
• He/she must evaluate and make initial identification and assessments of routine hazardous wastes to determine their nature (e.g., flammability, toxicity), and containment characteristics (e.g., repercussions of long-term storage).
• He/she must evaluate every solid waste to determine if it is a solid hazardous waste under RCRA and must determine all applicable waste codes and underlying constituents.
• He/she must determine if it is exempt using regulations, knowledge of Process, and Analysis to make hazardous waste determinations.
• He/she determines if F, K, P, or U-listed waste, and determines if wastes are characteristic (i.e. Ignitability, Corrosiveness, Reactivity, and Toxicity). The incumbent documents all waste collected and weights.
• He/she collects waste as needed through observation, Sanitation Request or phone notification ensuring that all items transported and/or stored have proper waste identification labels. He/she verifies that all waste is properly packaged and containerized; identification labels include the shop of origin number, waste information, dates, categories, and type of waste.
• Corrects incomplete or improper labels and ensure hazardous wastes are properly stored.
• He/she performs specialized and nonstandard processing and disposing procedures.
• He/she may be required to repack, consolidate, and/or blend hazardous wastes into proper containers for containment and shipment.
• He/she manages container/drum usage, labeling, and storage.
• Ensures all RMW and hazardous waste materials shall be disposed of in containers that accept the chemical without degradation effects.
• He/she operates manual and power lifting devices, compactors, cardboard bailers, and motor vehicles to pick up, transport, and temporarily store industrial waste and other types of hazardous waste.
• He/she performs safety and operational checks on inventories of all waste handling equipment such as pumps, mixing tanks, and automatic sampling devices.
• He/she will be required to assist in the containment, treatment, and cleanup operations resulting from hazardous spills.
• He/she operates computer terminals to access databases for processing, storing, and shipping requirements.
• He/she properly maintains manifests, catalogs, and accounts for all hazardous, and non-hazardous waste streams for shipment and disposal.
• Develops and implements appropriate controls for safeguarding program materials and assuring the integrity of material custody.
• Performs weekly inspections of the Waste Storage locations to ensure proper containment and physical separation of incompatible wastes.
• He/she serves as the Recycling Coordinator for location assigned, handling day-to day coordination of the recycling program. The incumbent has three primary functions: Provision of recycling services and operations to all areas of the facility; Reduction in the overall costs related to solid waste disposal through recycling.
• Responsible for adhering to the Medical Center's Waste Management and Recycling Programs and the required compliance reporting. The collection, removal, and control of all recyclables and wastes generated in the health care facility are essential for ensuring a clean, aesthetically pleasing, and odor-free environment.

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 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( ). 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 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 probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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