The purpose of this position is to plan, organize, implement and execute the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), Fire and Construction Safety Programs, including its geographically separated sites. The complexity of the medical facilities supported by this position requires expert application of technical solutions in the construction safety field over a wide variety of directives, regulations and activities.

Duties

Major Duties: Independent planning, maintenance, and repair of the Kerrville Division Fire Alarm and Fire Suppression Systems to include all associated equipment. The equipment consists of complex computer and electronically -controlled devices which are ll integrated into one system and managed at a central multi-computerized controlled work station. Thorough knowledge of microprocessors, logic circuits, electronic controls, electricity, (AC/DC), electromechanical units, gears, motors, pumps, compressors, hydraulics, pneumatics, and mechanical systems. Must be able to troubleshoot problems, order supplies and parts, and repair these items. Must be skilled in the schematics, logic diagrams, and mechanical drawings in order to trace signal flow throughout an integrated system while troubleshooting malfunctions of complex systems which incorporate different manufacturing components with different design theories. Must be skilled in the interpretation of standard mechanical/electric schematics and blueprints, as well as often using industry standard and non-standard practices. Incumbent must be familiar with integration of old and new as well as electrical and electronic systems to maximize production in the face of limited capital resources. Must be able to evaluate equipment systems in order to design, build, and implement system/subsystem modifications as required. Knowledge of sophisticated electronic test equipment, power tools, meters, hand tools, and basic knowledge of lathes and milling machines. Incumbent must have skill and knowledge of various trades, including plumbing/pipefitting, electrical, and structural. Will install, repair, modify, evaluate, and perform preventive maintenance and service on a wide variety of complex medical center equipment, which includes automated electronic and computer controlled equipment. Will be responsible for updating and creating lock out/ tag out procedures for all equipment he/she utilizes. Will be responsible for Fire Alarm System: Test, troubleshoot, repair, and inspect all components of the Kerrville Va fire alarm system in compliance with NFPA and Joint Commission standards to ensure VA is compliant. All documentation needs to be current and correct. Fire Sprinkler System: Test, troubleshoot, repair, and inspect all components of the Fire Sprinkler System in accordance with NFPA and Joint Commission Standards. Fire Hydrants: test, troubleshoot, repair, and inspect all 14 fire hydrants at Kerrville VA to ensure compliance with NFPA and Joint Commission standards, document all inspections and ensure that documentation is current and correct. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD3539-0 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, 10/19/2023. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement: 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. OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): 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 Certificates Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledgeable of safety and occupational health principles, practices, procedures and standards applicable to a full range of complex safety and occupational health management responsibilities at a multi-facility health care system and requiring the planning, organizing, directing, operating and evaluation of a safety and occupational health program related to modern medical care and compliant with the Joint Commission; Knowledgeable of medical fire and construction standards, methods, practices, techniques, materials, equipment, and utility systems sufficient to determine compliance with life safety standards and devise hazard control measures applicable to health care facilities and supporting buildings; managing the implementation of construction safety programs and reduces the potential for injuries and illnesses to patients, employees, and visitors from unsafe construction activities conducted by contractors and VA employees, including operations and maintenance crews and permanent construction crews; AND directing all construction safety program activities and recommends and implements interim life safety measures (ILSM) as needed. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. Major Study in 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Troubleshooting Operation of Equipment/Machinery Physical Strength and Agility Use Prints and Drawings Plan and organize work Knowledge of Different Relevant Lines of Work 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

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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]