This position functions as the VISN 17 Safety Program Manager and serves as the principal source of technical expertise in the Safety, Comprehensive Environment of Care and Fire Protection program areas for a federal agency providing healthcare services to diverse client groups.

Duties

The Safety manager directs the planning, coordination, administration, evaluation and management of a comprehensive safety, Comprehensive Environment of Care inspection program, employee safety, and fire protection program for VISN 17 tracks and directs facilities to comply with all safety, comprehensive environment of care inspection initiatives and fire safety measures/monitors identified in the Network Director performance standards provides professional interpretation of new regulations and guidelines and assures that specific policies are consistent with state and local regulations and procedures that may affect VA related activities Participates in emergency and disaster planning and program implementation as needed, to help protect patients and staff from both natural and manmade disasters The Safety Manager provides guidance to VISN committees on all Safety, Comprehensive Environment of Care, Fire/Life Safety issues throughout the Network The Safety Manager formulates strategic planning goals for the VISN Safety program and develops performance goals to measure these activities on an annual basis Organizes, plans, and administers a comprehensive series of safety, Comprehensive Environment of Care, and fire protection inspections of VA facilities within the Network through the Annual Workplace Evaluation program reviews facility construction drawings and project specifications for compliance with applicable life safety codes, OSHA or VHA specific criteria and acts as the authoritative safety and fire safety consultant when the need arises Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety and Occupational Health Manager (VISN Safety Manager)/PD006290 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/10/2023. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. Candidates must meet the following Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): Specialized Experience: Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: 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 nurse. Or Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education: 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provides professional interpretation of new regulations and guidelines and assures that specific policies are consistent with state and local regulations and procedures that may affect VA related activities, will also be called upon to provide consultation and technical assistance to field station safety and engineering personnel at VA facilities throughout the Network, responsible for continued integration of a VISN wide safety and fire protection program and facilitates a broad range of activities to involve facility safety staff and engineering staff in VISN Safety activities, Organizes, plans, and administers a comprehensive series of safety, Comprehensive Environment of Care, and fire protection inspections of VA facilities within the Network through the Annual Workplace Evaluation program, reviews facility construction drawings and project specifications for compliance with applicable life safety codes, OSHA or VHA specific criteria and acts as the authoritative safety and fire safety consultant when the need arises, Coordinates between headquarters and the network, to provide information on any potentially hazardous condition that may cause damage to property or cause injury to patients, visitors, or employees You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Public Safety and Security Risk Management Communications Compliance 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address VISN 17 VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network 2301 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 650 Arlington, TX 76006 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]