These positions serve as Safety & Occupational Health Specialists in the Safety Offices within the VA Boston Healthcare System. One vacancy is located at the Jamaica Plains VA Medical Center in Boston, MA and one is located at the Brockton VA Medical Center in Brockton, MA.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the GS-9 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively 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. Major Duties: Performs a variety of program elements such as inspection, evaluation, training and providing administrative and technical services to management representatives and employees. Develops procedures, processes, standards, specifications, and systems to achieve optimal elimination or control of hazards and exposures that are detrimental to people and/or property, research, planning, design and consultation. Performs survey work to identify and evaluate hazardous and non-hazardous work operations and conditions and to recommend corrective procedures where potential for injury or property damage exists. Plans, organizes and administers a scheduled series of comprehensive inspections of numerous wards, clinics, nursing homes, etc. Conducts a safety education program. Promotes safety campaign materials. Provides documented statistical data to the Safety Manager as requested. Supervises and checks the inspection and testing of fire detection, protection and alarm equipment such as: smoke detectors, fire hoses, sprinkler systems, portable and fixed fire extinguishing equipment, hydrants and central fire detection/alarm control units. Evaluates routine and unusual, complicated facility, medical and research operations; assesses compliance with safety and occupational health criteria in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Life Safety Codes, Joint Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Electrical Code (NEC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and other pertinent safety standards or guidelines. Determines and/or puts in place interim life safety measures as appropriate. Serves as designated emergency essential personnel, performs and follows emergency responses in accordance with emergency response plan. Performs other duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for ad hoc telework - telework that occurs on an occasional, non-routine basis or that occurs to complete short-term special assignments or to accommodate special circumstances. The telework arrangement may occur continuously for a limited and specific period of time. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys requiring considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching or similar movements. Occasionally, there may be a need to lift and carry moderately heavy objects. The work may require some degree of agility and dexterity when, for example, it involves inspecting laboratories, maintenance shops, or construction sites. Must be able to operate motor vehicle to get to/from office and worksites. Must have valid and current state license or certification to drive a motor vehicle. Must be able to type and operate a computer and other office equipment or testing equipment.

Requirements

Qualifications

The following is required to qualify for this position: GS-9 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: managing safety or occupational health program elements; developing emergency readiness and response training programs; develops and projects budget requirements; applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety, health requirements, and emergency management; 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; working in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. OR GS-9 EDUCATION: A master's or equivalent graduate degree OR at least two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree. The major study of such education must be in a safety or occupational health field (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) or in another related field 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 GS-9 COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (GS-7) may be combined with experience to qualify for the GS-9 level. For example, 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to the GS-7 level (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-9) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for the GS-7 level) would be qualifying for the GS-9 level (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience that is equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: managing safety or occupational health program elements; developing emergency readiness and response training programs; develops and projects budget requirements; applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety, health requirements, and emergency management; 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; working in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. OR GS-11 EDUCATION: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. The major study of such education must be in a safety or occupational health field (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) or in another related field 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 GS-11 COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described above. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (GS-9) may be combined with experience to qualify for the GS-11 level. * If using education to qualify, transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Accident InvestigationCritical ThinkingCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Public Safety and SecuritySafety Engineering IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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, 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. 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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]