The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. **This position may be filled at any VISN 21 Sierra Pacific Network, Veterans Health Administration location**

Duties

The Technical Career Field (TCF) program represents technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually through an extensive application process for their technical expertise, commitment to training and suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. This is a developmental position potentially leading to GS-11 for the successful incumbent. Expectations and duties are to perform assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. See below for promotion information. Trainee serves as Industrial Hygienist (IH) in VISN 21 Occupational Safety and Health Program under mentorship of the network Industrial Hygiene Program Manager. This is a career progressive position with various duties to gain knowledge of work practices and environmental conditions for a large scope of hazards to improve health and safety of workers. Trainee will assist during industrial hygiene review and other duties, as appropriate as designated in the training program. Major duties listed below represent the full performance level at GS-11. At GS-7 level, performance of assignments includes a more limited scope with less independence. Knowledge and background experience necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11 occurs progressively. Promotion is at the discretion of supervisor and contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Following are some duties expected at the full performance level: Ability to perform various duties to identify and evaluate work practices, environmental conditions, and injury and illness risk to protect the health and safety of workers. Conduct IH surveys to evaluate potential exposures, determine compliance with established occupational exposure limits, and advise on control measures and changes in work procedures or schedules to comply with established health requirements to reduce or limit hazards. Surveys will provide information for documentation and evaluation purposes. Perform analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic material present. in a variety of materials, such as personal and environmental samples, and industrial products. Interpret results of studies for work environment in terms of possible impairment to health, nature of health impairment, potential for medical center damage, and present specific conclusions and recommendations to appropriate management and health officials. Determine measurements to be made and methods to be used to evaluate hazards. Calibrate and readily use various kinds of IH equipment, including, but not limited to sound level meters, air monitoring equipment, heat stress instruments, quantitative respiratory protection fit-testing devices, ventilation measurement tools, photoionization meters and similar type equipment. Conduct studies of work operations and processes, examine work environments, analyze findings, propose recommendations, and prepare various reports in order to communicate hazards to management and workers. Consult with and advise occupational health personnel on matters of epidemiology and toxicology relative to health hazards. Regularly inspect work areas to identify potential occupational health and safety hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys. Determine need for and effectiveness of control measures and changes in work procedures. Recommend procedures suitable and effective for the environment and feasible for the mission. Assist in receipt and disposal process of hazardous waste and maintain appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards, state law and VA regulations. Prepare legally sufficient written reports of monitoring activities performed and incorporate into comprehensive reports prepared to assess overall effectiveness of the IH program. Ensure proper notification of employee exposures and coordinate documentation of employee exposures in medical records. Provide training and education to staff as needed regarding worker exposures and hazards in the workplace including proper use of controls, work practices, and PPE. Work schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not suitable Remote: Not remote position. Promotion Potential: GS-11. Selectee may be promoted to full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist (Technical Career Field)/PD00987A

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/20/2024. 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 7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 5. 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. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; OR Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH). *If using education to qualify for the Basic Requirements, please see additional information included under "Education" below. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of industrial hygiene concepts, principles, and practices applicable to the performance of portions of industrial hygiene inspections of a variety of private industrial concerns to include use and calibrating of sampling equipment and techniques. knowledge of safety and occupational health principles, practices, procedures and standards applicable to the performance of the safety and occupational health responsibilities at a workplace Knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls. Experience conducting occupational health and safety studies, analyzing findings, recommending suitable controls based on the analysis, and preparing various technical reports and memoranda; Experience in the collection and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative data . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: 1 year of graduate-level education OR meet the provisions of a Bachelors Degree with Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). Superior Academic Achievement is a designation which indicates a student has done one of three things: graduated with a specified class standing, met an overall grade point average requirement, or have been a member of an accepted honor society. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled. For more information on meeting SAA, please see more information included under "Education" below. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCompliance InspectionEnvironmental EngineeringHealth Risk Analysis 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. 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/. Physical Requirements: The employee is exposed to a wide range of hazardous and unpleasant conditions during investigations, including toxic materials, high noise levels, and temperature extremes. Use of protective clothing and equipment is required. Industrial hygiene surveys are frequent and require the employee to carry moderately heavy equipment. Investigations also involve a good deal of standing, walking and bending. Use of all appendages, good vision and hearing are necessary. Emotional and mental stability are required.

Education

If using education to meet the "Basic Requirements" of this occupational series, please review the additional information provided below:

• Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable;
• All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.

Education used to meet Basic Requirements or Specialized Experience must also comply with the following:

• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained;
• 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.

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA):Link: Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.) | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)

S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
   1. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
   2. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

The G.P.A should be credited in a manner that is most beneficial to the applicant. For example, applicants may list their G.P.A. as recorded on their final transcript, or they may choose to compute their G.P.A. The specific provisions are detailed below:

1. G.P.A. as recorded on the final transcript. The final transcript must cover the period being used to determine G.P.A., i.e., all 4 years or last 2 years.
   • G.P.A. including course work after bachelor's degree. Undergraduate course work obtained after an applicant has received a bachelor's degree can be credited in computing the G.P.A. of applicants who need those courses to meet minimum qualification requirements, i.e., the courses are required by the standard or by the individual occupational requirement. They are treated as described in the following example:
     • An applicant for a Biologist position has a bachelor's degree that included no biology course work, but has taken 24 semester hours in undergraduate biology courses after obtaining the bachelor's degree. The grades earned in the biology courses should be included in the computation to determine this applicant's eligibility for GS-7 under the Superior Academic Achievement provision. These courses should be counted in determining (1) the overall grade-point average, (2) the average obtained during the final 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum, and/or (3) the average in the major field of study. For purposes of this example, biology would be considered the major field of study.
   • G.P.A. excluding pass/fail courses. Applicants usually cannot claim credit based on their overall G.P.A. if more than 10 percent of their total credit was based on pass/fail or similar systems rather than on traditional grading systems. However, if they can document that only their freshman-year courses (25 percent or less of their total credit) were credited on a pass/fail or similar system, they can use their overall G.P.A. to claim Superior Academic Achievement. If 10 percent or fewer credits or only freshman-year courses were based on pass/fail or similar systems, such credits can be ignored and the G.P.A. computed on the graded courses. Applicants can, however, still claim credit based on their last 2 years if 10 percent or fewer credits were based on pass/fail or similar systems. Applicants who cannot claim credit under the G.P.A. requirements may claim credit for superior academic achievement only on the basis of class standing or honor society membership.
2. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (external link). Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

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/.

Contacts

• Address VISN 21 SIERRA PACIFIC NETWORK 391 Taylor Blvd Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 US
• Name: Odarius Pouncil
• Phone: 559-231-3372
• Email: [email protected]