Safety and Occupational Health Manager Job in Cambridge, MA

Summary

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.

• 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.

Duties

1. Serves as the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s (SAO) technical expert in safety and occupational health, providing professional support for the planning, implementation, administration, and evaluation of SAO’s safety and occupational health program. Interprets occupational safety and health standards applicable to federal agencies, construction, and other Smithsonian activities and develops or revises procedures, directives, and memoranda to ensure consistent application across SAO. Conducts research to provide accurate and current data for decision-making, policy development, and best practices. Documents and develops standard operating procedures, safe operating limits, and reporting tools for inspections, audits, investigations, and design reviews.

2. Serves as the authority for safety oversight and training across all SAO facilities.
   • Prepares safety guides, instructions, and training materials addressing chemical, physical, fire, and electrical hazards. Identifies the need for new or revised guidance to improve safety practices and ensure compliance with evolving standards.
   • Serves as the primary point of contact for safety-related emergencies, coordinating initial response, notifying the Executive Leadership Team, and preparing required incident reports, summaries, and follow-up documentation.
   • Conducts Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and ergonomic assessments across offices, laboratories, maintenance shops, and telescope environments. Recommends hazard controls, ensures implementation, and determines appropriate PPE.
   • Oversees all safety and occupational health training, including telescope sites. Provides instructor-led and specialized training (e.g., CPR/AED/First Aid), leads required operational and personnel safety sessions, and ensures safe vehicle operation at mountain sites.
   • Provides leadership and oversight for safety programs at SAO-AZ, SAO-HI, and SAO-Greenland facilities. Guides local Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) managers, conducts on-site reviews, resolves deficiencies, assists with hiring and training, and ensures consistent enforcement of SAO standards.
   • Works with SAO personnel and contractors to ensure construction and maintenance projects meet safety and health standards with minimal impact on operations. Participates in meetings, site visits, and inspections.

3. Oversees the planning, organization, and execution of comprehensive inspection programs across SAO’s diverse work environments in compliance with OSHA, EPA, NRC, NFPA, and Smithsonian policies. Includes laboratories and telescope sites (AZ, HI, and Greenland). Oversees Smithsonian’s Management Evaluation and Technical Review (METR) at all sites and ensures findings are abated and documented in Smithsonian data management systems.

4. Investigates accidents, incidents, procedural deviations, and reports of unsafe or unhealthful conditions, including ergonomic hazards. Reports results to SAO and Smithsonian offices, recommends and implements corrective measures, and serves on Accident Review Boards for major incidents. Uploads data and abatement actions, assists with OSHA recordkeeping, ensures accurate determinations of recordability, maintains OSHA 300 logs, and prepares annual summaries of occupational injuries and illnesses in accordance with federal standards.

5. Serves as SAO Safety Coordinator for the management of Smithsonian safety and occupational health policy within SAO facilities and as a point of contact for the Smithsonian Emergency Operations Group. Works collaboratively with Smithsonian’s Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management (OSHEM).
   • Prepares required regulatory deliverables such as the Department of Labor Annual Report of Safety Program Activities and other Smithsonian documentation.
   • Plans and coordinates safety committee meetings at Cambridge facilities and oversees committees at SAO-AZ and SAO-HI.
   • Maintains required permits and registrations (e.g., flammable storage and gas permits, wastewater discharge, hazardous waste, and laser registrations).

6. Administers SAO’s electronic safety and occupational health management systems for injury/illness reporting, inspections, and incident investigations. Grants and modifies access, assists users, ensures compliance with 29 CFR 1904 and Smithsonian policy, and provides or coordinates training.
   • Recommends improvements to enhance the accuracy and management of safety and occupational health data.
   • Maintains orderly central files for active and archived records.
   • Analyzes data from inspections, investigations, and ergonomic assessments to identify trends and evaluate program performance. Recommends corrective actions for rising injury or illness rates.
   • Prepares analytical reports, charts, and presentations for management and safety committees.

7. Performs other duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s safety and occupational health program.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for managers.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Pre- and post-appointment background investigation
• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer

Conditions of Employment

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

How to Apply

Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:

• You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
• You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
• The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
• If you are unable to apply online, paper applications may be accepted with prior approval of the Contact Person listed below.

Next steps

At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.
Additional Information:

• Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at https://www.si.edu/OHR/howtoapply.
• The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses but recruitment incentives may be authorized.
• The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer. Additional information can be found on our website at (www.si.edu/oeesd).