As a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist you will be responsible for providing oversight and technical consultation on all environmental, health, safety and security issues with the goal of providing and ensuring a safe and healthful environment for employees and visitors of the National Centers for Animal Health.

Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to: Assists the Biosafety Manager in the planning, formulation, coordination, and integration of all biological safety program activities pertaining to compliance with laboratory safety regulations. Provides input and guidelines on proposed and existing structures to ensure compliance with all components of the biological safety regulations. Interacts and coordinates with the Facilities Engineering Unit on equipment and laboratory space ventilation and biological safety cabinet design. Performs safety inspections of various laboratory and support service areas providing recommendations to assure compliance with applicable USDA, Federal, State, local, and consensus regulations. Evaluates, makes recommendations, and provides assistance for correcting any violation or unsafe condition. Performs basic risk assessments involving the use of personal protective equipment and provides guidance to personnel on the use of the equipment. Coordinates testing and certification of Biological Safety Cabinets. Organizes the annual certification of biological filter systems and coordinates with laboratory staff to ensure compliance with USDA, Federal, and local requirements.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Valid state driver's license is required at the time of application.
• The work requires an average degree of dexterity and strength associated with the movement and placement of equipment needed to evaluate safety systems and /or equipment.
• Work may require use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, respirators, hearing protection, eye protection, boots, gloves and coveralls.
• Exposure to disagreeable odors, working around frightened, unpredictable, and ill-natured animals.
• Exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents.
• Immunization against diseases being studied which are transmissible to humans may be required.
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) database check required for work involving Biological Select Agents and Toxins.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-07 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level) that demonstrates: Utilizes standard operations procedures (SOPs) to complete work Employs basic biosafety principles Reports experiment or test results to supervisors OR 1 full year of graduate level education in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) OR Superior Academic Achievement: To qualify based on superior academic achievement, you must have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution AND 1) have a class standing in the upper third of the graduating class, 2) membership in a national scholastic honor society (excluding Freshman honor societies), or 3) must meet certain GPA requirements. GPA requirements: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on official transcripts or as computed based on 4 years of education, or courses completed during the final 2 year of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required course completed in the major field or courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 2.95 rounds to 3.0 and 2.94 rounds to 2.9). Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. You are qualifying for this position based on Superior Academic Achievement. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-07 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]