Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This is a Merit Promotion announcement for Department of the Interior (DOI) employees who are eligible under the hiring paths listed. For further clarification please click here: https://www.bsee.gov/what-we-do/administrative-services/human-resources/eligibility

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Missouri Basin Regional Office, Regional Safety and Health Office in Billings Montana.

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Provides technical assistance, in coordination with the Regional Industrial Hygienist, on the anticipation, identification, evaluation and control of occupational health hazards.
2. Serves as the technical safety and health advisor to the Regional Office employees and office supervisors.
3. Conduct training or assists training coordinator in finding a qualified instructor. Provides technical assistance in various safety meetings; distributes safety information and visual aids.
4. Serves as the Regional coordinator of the Medical Monitoring Program, administering the program and providing consultation and advice to Regional Office staff, Regional Safety and Health Manager, Area Office Managers and staff, Area Office Safety and Health Specialists, occupational medicine physician, and other Reclamation offices. Administers the Medical Monitoring Program assuring that all employees in arduous and/or hazardous occupations are physically fit and capable of performing their duties without undue risk to themselves or others.
5.Coordinates with supervisors to revise the Intake Form when needed. Notifies supervisors, employees, MB servicing HR Office, and local Safety Specialist when medical clearances have been received and employee is cleared to perform the duties described in the PD. Coordinates with the point of contact (POC) to maintain employee physical examination schedules.

Salary Range Information (Per Annum):

GS-9: $61,722 - $80,243 per annum

GS-11: $74,678 - $97,087 per annum

*First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.
6. You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
7. You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
8. You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements. If using education to qualify, you must attach transcripts to your application. (see Qualifications).
9. You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
10. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as applicable) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements, please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants must possess a degree with a major in safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, or a closely related field; OR a degree in another field that includes at least 24 semester hours of coursework in any combination of the following disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, industrial psychology, or related fields.

To qualify for the GS-9: You must possess at least One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level applying occupational safety and health principles, practices, and regulations to construction, operations, and maintenance activities. Experience may include assisting with or administering safety and occupational health programs; conducting safety training; providing safety guidance to managers and employees; supporting medical monitoring programs; maintaining safety records and databases; preparing safety reports; and promoting compliance with safety and occupational health requirements through effective oral and written communication. OR 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree. (Degree must reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.) OR a combination of graduate level education beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements.

To qualify for the GS-11: you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level applying occupational safety and health principles, practices, and regulations to complex construction, operations, and maintenance activities. Experience may include providing technical safety and health guidance; developing and delivering safety training; evaluating contractor safety and occupational health programs and contract requirements; leading accident investigations and recommending corrective actions; administering complex medical monitoring programs; and coordinating occupational safety and health activities with multiple Federal, non-Federal, and organizational stakeholders to ensure compliance and reduce workplace hazards. OR have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree. (Degree must reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.) OR combination of graduate level education beyond the first two years of progressive graduate study and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirement.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the following additional assessment: USA Hire assessment. Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the cut off dates of this announcement (indicated in qualifications section). You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that will interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12987089

Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.

RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: You must submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current and/or former federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, Transfer, Reinstatement, etc. You must submit a copy of your SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. If you are applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within-grade Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s with an effective date more than one year old). For more information, click here.

CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information, click here.

VETERANS: VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program. If you are claiming eligibility based on veterans preference entitlement, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If claiming disability preference, you must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15. For more information, click here.

LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: Current or former land management agency appointees. You must submit (1) a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; (2) a copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (3) a copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information, click here.

PUBLIC LAND CORPS: Former PLC members. You must provide a copy of your signed Certificate of Non-Competitive Eligibility and clearly state in your resume time served and duties performed on an appropriate conservation project. For more information, click here.

OTHER HIRING AUTHORITIES: Applicants claiming eligibility based on a Special Hiring Authority must submit applicable proof of eligibility as outlined in the following site(s): Special Hiring Authorities, Schedule A, Peace Corps & AmeriCorps, Interchange Agreement, Military Spouse.

Next steps