Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Full Job Description

The Safety and Occupational Health Specialist develops or recommends and implements policies, programs and activities pertaining to emergency response, safety initiatives and/or compliance with the regulations governing the possession, use, and/or transfer of biological select agents and toxins (BSAT) regulated by the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP).

There are 2 vacancies in Raleigh NC, Fort Collins CO, Salt Lake City UT, or Minneapolis MN and 1 vacancy in Ames IA.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for 0018 job series: 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: 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.

These examples are not all inclusive.

OR Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5.

Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience.

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. 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. Major 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.