Safety Occupational Health Specialist

Summary

As a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist at Moore Air Base (MAB) in Edinburg, TX you would be filling a critical role in support of the nation's New World screwworm response activities. This position is part of the Health and Safety Occupations at MAB. APHIS will also be accepting applications and conducting interviews in-person Nov 17-19 in McAllen, TX. Please see "How to Apply" and/or this site for more information.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Manage and implement comprehensive safety, occupational health, biosafety, and select agent compliance programs across APHIS facilities, ensuring adherence to Federal, State, and local regulations and agency policies.
• Conduct safety, health, biosafety, and/or select agent compliance inspections and surveys of facilities (e.g., offices, laboratories BSL/ABSL 1–3, mechanical spaces, animal facilities), identify hazards, and develop corrective action plans.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, releases, thefts, losses, and inventory discrepancies involving select agents or workplace hazards, determine causal factors, and recommend prevention and corrective strategies.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement safety, biosafety, and select agent policies, plans, and procedures (e.g., biosafety plans, security plans, emergency response plans, hazard communication plans).
• Deliver safety, health, biosafety, and select agent training; certify required competencies; and ensure compliance with training, respirator programs, and medical monitoring requirements throughout the Agency.
• Oversee inventory control and accountability for biological select agents and toxins, conduct compliance reviews, and coordinate with federal, state, and local partners on security and emergency matters.
• Provide technical consultation, represent the Agency in liaison activities, and collaborate with industrial hygiene, ergonomics, environmental protection, and other specialists to reduce hazards and improve occupational safety and health outcomes.

Qualifications

First priority will be given to applicants who apply in-person or on-line by an initial applicant cut-off of 12:00 PM Central Time on November 17. If the position is filled after the first cut-off, this announcement may close prior to the posted closing date. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. OR: Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. In addition to individual occupational requirements for the 0018 job series, applicants must meet the following: FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Review safety regulations, policies, and standards to proactively identify safety program needs. Interpret and implement federal guidelines governing the possession and use of biological materials. Assist in the development and delivery of safety and occupational health training, educational materials, and awareness activities for workers, supervisors, managers, and safety personnel. Lead projects involving the collection, analysis, and interpretation of technical data to inform decisions, recommendations, corrective actions, and process improvements. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR LL.M. if related Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information. How You Will Be Evaluated

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any specialized experience and/or selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred. Before a certificate is issued, your application is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. An unranked list will be used; veteran's preference will apply. This announcement is in support of an on-site hiring event. Priority will be given to applicants who apply in-person or on-line by an initial applicant cut-off of 12:00 PM Central Time on November 17. If the position is filled after the first cut-off, this announcement may close prior to the posted closing date. CTAP/ICTAP applicants may be required to take a manual assessment and must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 to be eligible for selection priority. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be well qualified, which means having knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies that exceed the minimum qualification requirements for this position. CTAP/ICTAP applicants may be required to take a manual assessment and must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee.