The Technical Career Field (TCF) Trainee is an integral member of a Safety and Health program covering a wide range of responsibilities, including topics such as fire safety to radiation safety and industrial hygiene. The trainee serves in the role of supporting safety and health staff in regulatory compliance, research, training, program development, accident prevention and safety surveys in a healthcare environment.

Duties

TCF is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for 2 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, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.* This position has a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. You will ultimately acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-11. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Duties includes but is not limited to the following: The trainee administers safety and occupational health activities. The trainee performs survey work to identify and evaluate hazardous and non-hazardous industrial work operations and conditions and to recommend corrective procedures where the potential for injury or property damage exists. The trainee provides informal instruction to work leaders and employees covering a variety of standards, general safety, and occupational health subjects including incident prevention and safe working practices. Work schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Applicable Telework: Ad-hoc Position Description Title/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist (TCF Trainee)/PD99387S

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/15/2024. 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-05. 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. Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): In addition to the experience and/or education listed below for this position, an IOR is a basic requirement that must be met to qualify for entry into this occupational series for positions above the GS-05 grade level, and it is something that cannot be waived. In addition to the education and/or specialized experience below, applicants must meet the IOR for this position. 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: 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. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) listed above, applicants may qualify based on their experience and/or education described below: GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 05 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 general administrative practices and procedures with safety and occupational health, Industrial Hygiene (IH) and Emergency Management principles, methods and standards, regulations, policies, and procedures to interpret and apply basic standards, criteria, and operating instructions; knowledge of principal inspection and survey techniques sufficient to identify occupational hazards and to determine elements giving rise to injuries; Knowledge of basic safety and occupational health principles, common hazards, and protective measures, including safety devices, sufficient to provide informal training sessions and appropriate educational materials to employees. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education or I have superior academic achievement NOTE: Must provide transcripts. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience directly related to the work of the Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-07 position and education beyond a bachelor's degree that totals 100%. NOTE: Must provide transcripts, and experience must be documented in your resume. GS-09: 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: knowledge of all regulations applicable to safety and occupational health, Industrial Hygiene (IH) and Emergency Management principles, methods and standards, regulations, policies, and procedures in a medical center; knowledge with content and application of safety regulations to ensure compliance; Identifies hazards or non-compliance items and initiates corrective actions; knowledge of design criteria to ensure that all applicable codes pertaining to Life Safety are met in the medical center and in the VA Community Residential Care Homes; reviewing blueprints and drawings to determine compliance with applicable codes and standards; knowledge of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Joint Commission ( JC). NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Must provide transcripts. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience directly related to the work of the Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position, which may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-07 position and education beyond a Master's degree that totals 100%. NOTE: Must provide transcripts, and experience must be documented in your resume. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analytical ReasoningCommunicationsPublic Safety and Security

Education

Qualifications (con't):
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: Survey or inspection work requires regular and recurrent physical exertion such as walking, standing, bending, climbing, crouching, reaching, and lifting of moderately heavy items.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Robley Rex VA Medical Center 800 Zorn Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 US
• Name: Felicia Allison
• Phone: 561-695-9754
• Email: [email protected]