Industrial Hygienist Job in Hines, IL

Vacancy No. HN-12597116-25-PR Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $92,529.00 to $120,298.00 Grade 11 to 11
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/1/2024 Close Date 11/12/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Hines, IL


Summary

This Industrial Hygienist position is located at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital System in Hines, IL (578), a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility, and is organizationally aligned in the Safety and Occupational Health service, under Office of the Director.

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Primary purpose of the position is to investigate and analyze a variety of problems or conditions in the workplace which may adversely affect the health of workers and to provide or recommend ways of eliminating problems.

Major duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifies techniques and devices for controlling or eliminating safety hazards.
  • Ensures laboratories are appropriately decommissioned.
  • Ensures adherence to procedures when closing laboratories, disposing of chemicals, redistributing VA equipment, and decommissioning radioactive equipment.
  • Reviews vacated labs to assure compliance and provide an approval from Safety Section.
  • Chairperson of Hazardous Waste and Material Management Subcommittee.
  • Provides safety information to internal and external committees.
  • Prepares quarterly and annual reports regarding Industrial Hygiene program.
  • Annually reviews safety manual/chemical hygiene plan for Pathology, Laboratory, and Medicine Services (PLMS), to include review of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals in service, service line, and product lines; applicable hospital policies; basic safety guides, etc.
  • Maintains master inventory of on-hand chemicals and monitors chemical inventories of laboratories.
  • Monitors chemical inventory, discards chemicals, and ensures chemicals are appropriately stored, i.e., labeled properly, sealed securely, etc.
  • Manages industrial hygiene equipment, including performing annual inventory, advising on repairs, and arranging disposal.
  • Reviews and determines need for replacement equipment and ensures adequate space and resources.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Telework: Not Suitable
Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD04231A

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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

To qualify for this occupation and grade level, you must meet one of the following Basic - Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR).

Basic Requirements
A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science;
OR
A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene;
OR
Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).

Note: A copy of your transcript(s) and/or certification must be included in your application package to receive credit for meeting this basic requirement.
Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements you must meet one of the following specialized experience and/or education requirements:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal service, that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Industrial Hygienist position, and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position.
Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrated technical experience and knowledge of occupational safety, industrial hygiene and environmental standards, policies, and procedures; proven technical knowledge of the operation of clinical laboratories and duties of laboratory personnel; expertise and working knowledge of industrial hygiene programs and use of equipment to include confined space, indoor air quality monitoring, respirator program, hazardous materials and waste management, waste characterization, IH monitoring, medical surveillance, ethylene oxide, waste anesthetic gases, mold, hearing conservation, underground and above ground storage tanks, and compressed gases; professional knowledge and skill applicable to the performance of industrial hygiene duties related to a wide range of industrial settings.)
OR
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or LL.M. obtained in an accredited college or university, with a major field of study directly related to the position being filled. This graduate education must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of an Industrial Hygienist. (Transcript required)
OR
Combination: Applicants may also possess a combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate education directly related to the work of the Industrial Hygienist position to qualify at this level. (Transcript required)
Note: Only education in excess of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify at the grade 11 level.

Evaluation of Experience: Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.
Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well- being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

Evaluation of Education: All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.

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.

Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent inspections or surveys of industrial workplaces, requiring the employee to carry a considerable amount of equipment, and involve a good deal of walking, standing, bending, and climbing.
Work Environment: During inspections or surveys, there is regular exposure to all of the hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected, including a wide range of toxic chemicals, physical stresses, and safety hazards., The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing, such as respirators, ear plugs, gloves, coveralls, hard hats, etc.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Participation in seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • PCS Orders
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.
Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/12/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12597116.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Patricia Reynolds
Address
Edward Hines Junior Hospital
5000 South 5th Avenue
Hines, IL 60141
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.