The Analytical and Laboratory Services Division (ALSD) provides scientific and technical support regarding the evaluation of hazardous airborne contaminants present in the mining environments such as respirable dust samples, respirable crystalline silica dust, and other industrial hygiene samples. The primary duties of the position are to serve as the Chief of the ALSD to directs high-production laboratories and participate in the laboratory investigations and activities.

Duties

Serves as the Chief of the Analytical and Laboratory Services Division, consisting of two branches and seven accredited laboratories (Weighing, Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Diesel Particulate Matter, Trace Metals, Organics, and Calibration). Exercises responsibility for on-the-job safety and health of employees. Oversees the receiving, calibrating, and repairing of acoustical noise dosimeters and calibrators used by MSHA's Enforcement Program. Oversees the performance of quality control testing of resprirable dust cassettes in support of MSHA's Enforcement Program. Supervises and directs a large group of employees as well as provide technical assistance to other safety and Health organizations and the mining industry. Plans, assigns, directs, and reviews the work of subordinate supervisors. Provides advice, counsel, and/or instructions to individual employees on technical and administrative matters. Identifies training needs and ensures that appropriate training is provided. Directs development and monitoring of office training, procurement, and affirmative action programs. Evaluates and approves subordinates' performance appointments, promotions, awards and disciplinary actions. Conducts investigations to collect information regarding environmental concentrations of respirable dust, crystalline silica, diesel particulate, asbestos, trace metals, and related substances. Analyzes results of research conducted for other agencies in fields related to dust contaminants and hazardous airborne contaminants, health, and keeps the agency and industry informed on laboratory and scientific developments. Conducts talks and presentations before national or international audiences. Serves as a member of MSHA technical committees which review existing and develop new policies and standards related to the division's work. Reviews drafts of technical papers from MSHA and other government agencies, evaluates current and proposed research projects and suggests areas of research necessary to improve mine safety to gain compliance with provisions of the MSHA activities. Develops new or revised policies, procedures, and processes pertaining to laboratory analysis to improve the methods and controls associated with these activities. Provides consulting and advisory services of a complex nature to MSHA, the mining industry, universities, and other government agencies. Serves as a technical expert in the field of laboratory analysis or hazardous airborne contaminants. Produces technical and professional papers on dust control, exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants, and related topics. Serves as Technical Support's representative at meetings, conferences, training, seminars, etc., related to the divisions' laboratory methods and analysis for MSHA"s respirable dust program.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
• Requires a supervisory probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet both the basic requirements and specialized experience for the specific series to qualify. To qualify for this position, your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the education and experience requirements as defined below. If qualifying based on experience, be sure these types of examples are evident in your resume. All applicable transcripts must be submitted. Basic Requirement for the GS-1301 General Physical Science series: Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Basic Requirement for the for the GS-1320 Chemistry series: Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to meeting the Basic Education requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the specialized experience requirements listed below: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experienceis the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized experience must include three (3) of the following: 1. Develops and recommends policies and procedures which govern environmental concentrations of respirable dust, crystalline silica, diesel particulate, asbestos, trace metals, and related substances; 2. Applies analytical evaluation methods and techniques in developing new procedures and approaches to identify and resolve significant issues and problems of a unique nature; 3. Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills utilizing Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Adobe to draft, finalize and present reports and presentations dealing with dust control, exposure to hazardous airborne contaminants, and related topics. 4. Experience applying the requirements of the Mine Act; Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and MSHA's policies, procedures; guidelines; and, standards relative to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. 5. Independently conducts laboratory investigations of hazardous airborne contaminants or other severe violations of safety standards that present some of the most serious, unusual and hard to define problems to solve.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Contacts

• Address Mine Safety and Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20210 US
• Name: Rhonda Dory
• Phone: 972-850-4427
• Email: [email protected]