This position is located at a VA Medical Center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 6) and is organizationally aligned under the Facilities Management Service. The primary purpose of the position is to execute a comprehensive fire safety program that includes but not limited to fire prevention, fire protection, and fire inspection.

Duties

Major Duties Performs fire prevention inspections of the medical center including buildings, structures, storage areas, equipment, and other facilities to eliminate fire hazards and to institute fire prevention measures. Inspects for proper storage of supplies and equipment, as well as adequacy and condition of fire protection equipment, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, fire escape and exits, and other fire control mechanisms. Assures the proper handling and storage of such items as gasoline, solvents, acids, paints, oil, lubricants, chemicals, etc. Renders technical advice and guidance to all elements of the fire and safety program and initiates on-the­ spot corrective action to eliminate existing or potential fire hazards and conditions. Performs required scheduled testing of all fire prevention and alarm equipment and sprinkler system equipment in accordance with NFPA code and frequency of testing. Conducts continuing fire and safety surveys and investigations. Analyzes contractor's safety plans to ensure that adequate provisions are made for all safety requirements. Recommends changes and/or additions to ensure compliance with fire protection and prevention requirements. Evaluates the technical safety aspects of construction operations and insures compliance with the life safety codes, procedures, regulations, and approved safety plans. Projects range from construction of non­complex structures to projects of unusual difficulty and complexity such as multi-story buildings, hospitals, and related structures. Works with other staff in setting up proper controls to eliminate or minimize accidents or potential unhealthy conditions. Develops and recommends changes in, or inclusion of, certain safety measures and processes, adaptation of various safety provisions, and alternate work methods, techniques, and equipment necessary to correct, control, or minimize hazards. Provides technical information, training, and materials; develops and disseminates safety promotion material, literature, and films; and provides assistance in implementing safety rules and regulations of local and higher authority. Prepares technical reports on fire and safety surveys and makes follow-up investigations as necessary to determine if corrective action has been taken. Makes field inspections of offices, and operational facilities, insuring compliance with all safety regulations. Monitors all safety checklists and reports for compliance and insures compliance during field visits. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety Technician/PD015330 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/19/2024. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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. 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-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that involved: (l) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker. Safety Technician Series, 0019 Individual Occupational Requirements Experience Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that involved: (l) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationFire ManagementPlanning and EvaluatingSafety EngineeringTechnical Competence 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 requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities while performing inspections or demonstrations during training sessions. 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.

Contacts

• Address WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Quanetta Caudle
• Phone: 202-745-8000 X53524
• Email: [email protected]