This position serves as the Chief of Safety Service and Atlanta VA Healthcare System (AVAHCS) Safety Officer, providing safety management and guidance for a level 1A medical center with 18 existing and future community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC) or other sites of care.

Duties

Duties for this position may include, but are not limited to: The incumbent is responsible to perform all Supervisory functions to include the assessment determination of staffing levels required to support the Safety and Occupational Health Program. The incumbent is fully responsible for developing position descriptions, performance standards and competencies, initiating recruitment efforts, evaluating, interviewing and selecting qualified candidates to fill vacancies within the Safety and Occupational Health Office. The incumbent will complete all formal performance evaluations of subordinate staff and competency assessments to identify developmental and training opportunities. The incumbent will also identify developmental and training needs for employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training. The incumbent of this position has full delegated authority and responsibility for the planning, coordination, operation and internal evaluation of the AVAHCS Occupational Safety and Health Program. The incumbent will provide administrative and policy direction to Service Chiefs and supervisors throughout the AVAHCS as well as providing expert advice and counsel to all members of the Executive Leadership Team including the Health Care System Director. Incumbent will make and or approving selections for subordinate nonsupervisory positions; hear and resolve group grievances or serious employee complaints; and review and approve serious disciplinary actions (e.g., suspensions) involving nonsupervisory subordinates. Incumbent exercises delegated authority to oversee the overall planning, direction, and timely execution of the Safety and Occupational Health Program and associated program segments such as the Green Environmental Management Program, Respiratory Protection and Monitoring Program, Stored Energy Management and Protection Program and Material Safety Program, Fire Safety and Training Program each of which is managed through separately The incumbent may also serve on Network and National committees or boards on matters related to Safety and Occupational Health. Incumbent directs the management of the inventory management listing (EIL) and records of inspection and calibration for all equipment to include portable fire extinguishment equipment. Directs oversight for the proper inspection, maintenance, hydrostatic testing and re-charging and documentation of all types of fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems and ensures they remain in compliance with OSHA, NFPA, TJC and VA regulations. The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of administrative duties to include the development and maintenance of historical documents for the AVAHCS related to the location of hazardous materials such as lead based paint and asbestos and the disposition of general and other hazardous materials in perpetuity as required by The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, which is the principal federal law in the United States governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste Incumbent direct the planning, preparation and implementation of facility specific employee training via VA-Talent Management System(VA-TMS) according to applicable standards and regulations on a variety of safety and occupational health subjects including, safety, electrical safety. fall protection, slips/trips, and falls, fire, vehicle, chemical, biological or physical safety, environmental, indoor air quality, and various laboratory safety needs or ventilation requirements. Incumbent directs the collection, analysis, trending, and reporting of workplace accident/illness data to the Environment of Care Committee, Employee Health Physician, and Human Resources Management Services Office of Workers Compensational Program (OWCP) Specialist. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM EST Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist - Chief of Safety/PD112180 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 02/19/2024. 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 GS14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS13. 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: Candidates must meet one of the following as well as the specialized experience in the next section. 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~ 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. In addition to the above Individual Occupational Requirement, you must meet the specialized experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Analyze and make recommendations on facility construction projects, verifying compliance with VA, Federal, NFPA, OSHA, EPA, ADA, State, local, and any other applicable safety codes or requirements. Developing, implementing, managing and monitoring a comprehensive Safety Program as defined by agency policy while meeting the Safety, Hazardous Material, and Life Safety Requirements of both the Department of Veterans Affairs and The Joint Commission. Oversee and ensure compliance with Joint Commission Environment of Care standards. Receives and coordinates the investigation of employee complaints related to Occupational Health hazards. Prepares formal reports and recommendations for resolution of these complaints as needed. Develop and advise facility management on process modifications for identified occupational safety and health, life safety, environment protection, disruptive behavior, and emergency management issues. Represent the organization at National conferences and intra-agency meetings on matters concerning National policies, guidance, problems, and issues related to safety. Develop AMC policy and program objectives, appraise programs, and provide consultative services to management and technical personnel on matters related to Industrial Hygiene. Communicating with facility, VISN, National organizations and outside stakeholder organizations using written, oral and presentation materials. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunicationComplianceHealth Risk AnalysisTechnical 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 regular and recurring field visits in order to complete investigations. The work requires some physical exertion, such as extended periods of standing, recurring bending, crouching, stooping or lifting light items such as manuals or briefcases, or driving or traveling by motor vehicle when conducting onsite evaluations or training. 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.

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 Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Emerson Mitchell
• Phone: 214-857-3991
• Email: [email protected]