Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

This position is a Night Shift.

Major Duties:

Safety Inspections

Evaluates working conditions for construction projects and develops job hazard analysis.

Applies knowledge of hazardous (e.g. lead paint and solvents), universal (e.g. lamps and batteries, and/or non-hazardous (e.g. oil and polychlorinated biphenyl) waste management requirements to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Reviews project design drawings and contractor shop drawings and submittals for adequate safety features and safe working conditions; Ensures that existing safety features are not compromised during construction.

Serves as a senior technical advisor managing safety and occupational health requirements, criteria and compliance strategies for construction, renovation, and operational activities.

Prepares site-specific safety and health program guidelines, instructions and standard operating procedures related to construction and renovation projects.

Serves as a technical safety official responsible for the identification of training requirements, coordinating training, and maintaining safety training records;  Ensures that workers have appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are medically cleared and trained to access and monitor construction activities and project sites.

Oversees safety and health requirements criteria and compliance strategies for contract operations that may require coordination with emergency responders, other Federal agencies, specialized private contractors, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

Develops and maintains relationships with Federal, State, local and private-sector safety and health professionals.

Safety and Occupational Health Operations

Coordinates and independently schedules and conducts a full range of inspections throughout the portfolio of construction projects.

Develops plans of action to identify and prevent exposure to HAZMAT’s and other hazardous construction activities to ensure the safety of staff, public and protection of government property.

Determines the extent to which mechanical and physical conditions comply with safety standards; Renders professional advice on accident hazards and methods of control.

Surveys construction sites to observe actual construction and proper observance of safety rules and regulations; Evaluates and assures the application of safety policies and criteria in all plans, designs, specifications, and training programs.

Prepares and implements procedures and guidelines applicable to complex work operations and specialized heavy equipment use; Recommends and implements new techniques and methods and resolves critical problems resulting from unique, changing work processes and numerous hazards found on project sites.

Advises top-level management of the status of the safety and occupational health program and recommends changes to meet new safety and occupational health standards.

Instructs employees and contractors on a variety of safety and occupational health subjects including regulations, practices and procedures appropriate to their work.

Complies with national safety and occupational health laws, policies, regulations, and standards.

Safety and Occupational Health Program Management

Manages and administers the safety and occupational health program for construction projects.

Formulates policies and provides program direction by issuing technical guidance; Advises management on safety and occupational health matters; Recognizes gaps and trends for proactive safety monitoring and updates processes and procedures to reflect these changes.

Manages surveys, evaluations, studies, audits, and accident investigation reporting; Develops and justifies resource requirements.

Evaluates status of progress toward meeting safety and occupational health program objectives and initiates appropriate actions.

Participates in the collection and preparation of data and quality assurance of reports of workers compensation occupational accident/illness cases.

Integrates safety and occupational health program with local management systems, mission, and applied programs.

Assesses contractor compliance with contractual safety and occupational health requirements.

Conducts activity hazard analyses and surveys corresponding operating activities to assure the proper application of appropriate safeguards and controls.

Serves as safety and occupational health advisor to contracting officer.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
 
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.
 
Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-12) grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience must demonstrate at least 3 of the following:

• Professional knowledge and experience planning, developing, coordinating, administering, evaluating and overseeing a comprehensive safety, occupational health and/or environmental health program.
• Conducting safety inspections and developing job hazard analysis to identify critical failures and prevent exposure to hazardous materials and other hazardous construction site activities; and developing corrective actions as necessary.
• Evaluating health and safety/accident prevention plans and project design drawings to ensure compliance with organizational and national safety and occupational health laws, policies, regulations, and standards.    
• Assessing contractor safety performance and compliance with contractual and safety and occupational health requirements.

How you will be evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. 

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

Comprehensive knowledge of safety and occupational health management rules, concepts, principles, practices, procedures, laws, and regulations.

Ability to perform safety and occupational health inspections

Problem Solving

Oral Communication

Written Communication  

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.

Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.

If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).

Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

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