Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

Full Job Description

The primary purpose of this position is to act as a safety resource for Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, in their medical Research and Development Service.

The Service functions as a field component of the Office of Research & Development within the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the objective is to develop strategies that enhance the delivery, quality, and cost efficiency of primary and specialty care among veterans.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/17/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Selective Factors/Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are knowledge, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of a particular position.

Applicants who do not meet a selective factor are ineligible for further consideration.

SPF: Possess knowledge to apply safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principals, theories, practices and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety.

You may qualify based on your specialized experience and/or education or certification as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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.

OR, Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have undergraduate or graduate education which includes 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, Certification: 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.

AND GS-11 Education and Specialized Experience Qualification: To qualify as a Safety & Occupational Health Specialist GS-11 you must have the below qualifying education, combination education/specialized experience.

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

OR Combination Education & Specialized Experience: Specialize experience and education beyond 2 years of graduate education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Conducts safety surveillance audits and inspections according to the required standards and regulations and depending on the degree of hazard.

Obtains immediate corrective action of conditions, which are of imminent danger to life or limb. The incumbent Investigates hazardous conditions, equipment, practices, etc.

to identify and analyze the nature and severity of hazards and possible remedial actions (i.e., elimination, correction, or protection).

Ensures corrective actions are initiated and consults with facility and medical center subject matter specialists and managers about changes in work processes and proposed methods to eliminate unnecessary risks and control hazardous conditions.

Investigates or assist investigators in investigating accidents/mishaps, obtains witness statements, photographs the accident scene, records circumstances and extent of injuries, estimates cost of property damages, and prepares a report of findings which includes recommendations to correct unsafe acts or conditions.

Independently schedules surveys of the Research office and laboratory areas to identify and evaluate the potential for risk, The incumbent determines if existing conditions comply with accepted JCAHO and local standards, which safety policies and procedures apply and if the procedures and policies are adequate to cover all hazards.

The incumbent certifies that specific safety practices are in place prior to beginning work.

The incumbent processes report's on accidents identified within the Research Service, assuring compliance with medical center policy.

Reviews the procedures for access to the facility to ensure access is restricted to authorized personnel.

Advises higher-level management on the status of the safety and occupational health programs and recommends changes in the design of work programs to meet new safety and occupational health standards.

Instructs employees on a variety of safety and occupational health topics to include chemical, biological, or physical safety, various laboratory safety needs, and ventilation requirements.

Instructs and assists research investigators in preparing and submitting biohazard statements for their associated grant proposals.

Identifies possible hazards, determines its use, any storage requirements, its bio-safety level, and necessary safety precautions to advise investigators in preparing grant proposals.

The incumbent investigates procedures and policies for unknown/unfamiliar chemicals and hazards and reports findings to Research management for action. Approves final biohazard statements.

Plans, develops, implements, and promotes safety campaigns, education materials, and training programs; selects appropriate medium (i.e.

lecture, safety meetings, posters, video, brochures, training assembly, etc.) for all research personnel, both paid and unpaid employees.

(Approximately 125-350 employees) that ranges from basic orientation in the general laboratory for new technicians, to more detailed, recurring instruction for the more experienced personnel.

Documents employee's training progress to ensure regular attendance and compliance with JCAHO accrediting regulations.

Works with research administrative staff and laboratory personnel in the establishment of realistic safety requirements and compliance with applicable directives and regulations.

Works with processing plans for records and the record systems to handle, control, operate, store, check and retrieve data.

Updates the required trainings as needed in Forms and Templates and tracks and approves training thru completion.

Writes/prepares safety guides and instructions for risks encountered in Research laboratories and offices to keep employees informed and safe.

As coordinator and Executive Secretary for the Sub-Committee on Research Safety, reviews issues prior to presenting them at the meeting. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD211580 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.