Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Summary This position serves as the Safety & Occupational Health Specialist for the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN 20) an integrated healthcare system comprised of eight healthcare institutions and may be located in any of the following locations: Boise, ID Portland, OR Vancouver, WA White City, OR The Specialist assists with program planning, development, and execution of the Network Environmental, Safety, Occupational Health, and Fire Protection Program Manager (ESOH) programs. Duties ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** LOCATION INFORMATION: This announcement is for 1 vacancy to be filled at any one of the locations listed above. Applicants must reside within 50 miles of a VISN20 VA facility at the time of appointment or be willing to relocate at their own expense prior to entrance on duty. Relocation expenses will not be authorized. See locations for specific cities and states that are within the VISN20 Catchment Area Major duties and responsibilities include: Reporting directly to the VISN Safety Manager and assisting with program planning, development, and execution of the Network Environmental, Safety, Occupational Health, and Fire Protection Program Manager (ESOH) programs. Tracking and directing facilities to comply with all safety, industrial hygiene, inspection initiatives, and fire safety measuring/monitoring identified in the Network Director performance standards. Providing a professional interpretation of applicable regulations and guidelines and assuring that specific policies are consistent with federal, state, and local regulations and procedures that may affect VA-related activities. Evaluating or investigating employee safety related complaints that cannot be resolved at the local level. Making a final determination by studying the problem and assessing the degree of compliance with applicable regulations and standards, and when necessary, developing changes and modifications to work processes, equipment operation, and /or protective devices to minimize injuries to patients, visitors, and employees and damage to VA property. Evaluating requests for equivalencies submitted within the VISN to assure that the actual intent of the standard being varied from is met and that the request meets agency requirements and is in agreement with applicable organizations such as TJC, OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and others. Conducting the Annual Workplace Evaluations (AWE) annually or as required at each VA facility within the VISN, which includes VHA hospitals, community-based clinics, VA Domiciliary, National Cemeteries, Vet Centers, Outreach Centers, and VBA Regional Offices and other VA/VHA leased spaces. Serving as the technical advisor for ESOH-related programs but not limited to VISN and Facility Leadership, the VA Area Emergency Manager, the VISN Environment of Care Leadership Committee, the VISN Partnership Council, the VISN Quality Managers, VISN Infection Control staff, Workers Compensation staff, Occupational Health staff, Research staff, staff and other key positions. Representing VISN 20 Facilities or the Network in conferences as necessary, including local, state, and federal agencies and private concerns that may impact health care safety or the safety of any other VA-related activity. Attending/facilitating all required environmental training and establishing effective operational controls for hazardous material operations and activities. Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-12 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is 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. This includes 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. Working in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) Physical and working conditions: The work requires moderate physical activity, including walking, climbing stairs and vertical ladders, and long periods of standing when conducting onsite evaluations. Onsite visits require regular and recurrent exposure to operating machinery, equipment, high-noise areas, hazardous materials, dust, and fumes, which may require personal protective equipment to control or reduce the risk. The work requires significant travel utilizing vehicles and air transportation that may involve long hours of travel, often beyond the normal work shift. Travel is often required on weekends to meet complex work and meeting schedules. 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. 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/. Additional information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.