Duties

Summary

This position is located in the United States Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG).

• This position is at the Full Performance Level.
  
• This position is inside the Bargaining Unit.
  
• Additional selections may be made if authorized.
  
• Writing sample that would demonstrate your analytical writing skills is required during application submission. - Please reference the required documents section.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to, the following:

• Writes and edits content for proposed and final rules, requests for information, and other Federal Register publications, including proposed and final regulatory text and supporting analyses. Content may include analyses of the evidence relating to health effects and risk assessment, as well as summary and explanation supporting the regulatory text.
• Ability to answer complex inquiries concerning the intent, content, or application of an existing, new, or proposed standard. Ability to tailor answers and provide excellent, consistent, and reliable customer service.
• Investigates a broad range of areas such as epidemiology, toxicology, biology, biostatistics and industrial hygiene. Initiates, conducts or directs scientific studies and investigations. Analyzes scientific information about workplace illness, disease, and/or health conditions in assigned health science discipline and related specialties. Statistically analyzes data and interprets findings.
• Analyzes sources of exposure and methods to reduce or minimize exposures. Gathers, monitors, and reviews scientific information on new developments related health effects associated with exposures to workplace hazards or unsafe work practices. Prepares written analyses of pertinent issues related to the hazard under review. Suggests new approaches to specific problems based upon study findings.
• Develops epidemiologic methods for identifying and tracking factors affecting injury and occupational activities. Develops and evaluates new instrumentation, measuring systems, techniques and methods as required by the unique problems encountered in determining and measuring performance and job/mission related-injury.
• Researches information and data to develop content for publications on a variety of occupational safety and health topics. Develops and writes a variety of OSHA publications including Fact Sheets, InfoSheets, Hazard Alerts, and QuickCards.
• Researches, proposes, and/or participates in the formulation of innovative initiatives and programs to assist with compliance with OSHA standards and regulations, to promote understanding and acceptance of OSHA's mission and overall goals and objectives, and foster a collaboration between OSHA and the workforce at large to create safe and healthy work environments in all industries throughout the United States.
• Identifies sources of information needed to support a project. Reviews published literature and other scientific information. Extracts, collects, aggregates, and organizes information on workplace hazards and possible means of abatement to support agency rulemaking and guidance activities. Screens reports, publications and other data emanating from published literature and scientific information, synthesizing data, relating them to current OSHA programs.
• Keeps informed on the latest developments and other data sources in areas of expertise. Proposes new concepts and alternative solutions based upon technical findings. Develops study plans for projects and major portions of the Rulemaking Process and post rulemaking technical assistance activities. Develops study methodologies, project plans, and approaches. Staffs projects, assigns work, develops work schedules, establishes milestones, deadlines, and metrics and criteria for success based on regulatory requirements and cyclical demands of the rulemaking process. Leads team, monitors progress and reports any problems or barriers impacting office or directorate performance goals to the supervisor.
• Represents OSHA and DSG to outside stakeholders and interested groups, organizations, and individuals. Prepares and delivers seminars and speeches/presentations. Develops written guidance documents to assist employers and employees in understanding the provisions of new or current standards or hazards. Writes, reviews, and comments on additional guidance documents developed within or outside of OSHA that addresses workplace hazards to inform employers and workers. Interacts with stakeholders on issues of concern and their requests for Agency action.
• Proactively leads lower-graded specialists in the development and/or refinement of cutting-edge activities, products and services, and ways to improve the Rulemaking and Compliance Assistance product lines. Refines business processes, and identifies opportunities to support customers and clients when new standards are introduced and rolled-out to the regulated community. Proactively reaches out to the academic communities, first line employee health organizations, and industry representatives to determine compliance needs and levels of understanding and acceptance of standards and guidance products. Reports information to DSG management and makes strategic recommendations.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel may be required.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - This position is at the full performance level, (FPL).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

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

Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

To qualify for the GS-14 position:

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting or leading research, writing regulatory text related to health science, leading discussions or work groups, developing and managing databases and spreadsheets commonly used in the standards development, research, and analysis processes.

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 course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Click here for Evaluation details. For Displaced Employees ONLY: if you meet the eligibility requirements for special priority selection under ICTAP / CTAP , you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 90 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as a ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Research: Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results.

Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Planning and Evaluating: Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents.

- The following documents are required from all applicants (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE? If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, please provide a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" which shows your appointment eligibility for the position for which you are applying. Your SF-50 must identify the highest grade you held on a permanent basis, Pay Plan/Pay Schedule, Series, and Grade/Pay Band, and career status. Multiple SF-50 may be submitted to demonstrate your highest previous rate and eligibility.

*WARNING: An award SF-50 (ex. cash or time off award) may not indicate grade, step and competitive status. For current DOL employees, an award SF-50 DOES NOT indicate grade and step.

- Resume are required to provide a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of your choosing. To receive full consideration for relevant and specialized experience, please list month, year, and the number of work hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to the vacancy questionnaire.

- Most recent performance appraisal/evaluation signed and dated within 18 months is requested by the agency, but will not disqualify candidates if not submitted. If not submitted during the application process, one may/will be requested at the time of the interview if the opportunity is extended. Applies to current and former Federal employees.

- A writing sample that would demonstrate your analytical writing skills is required during application submission, Please submit a writing sample that would demonstrate your analytical writing skills. It should be no longer than 3-4 pages written by you personally. For example, position paper, decision memo, white paper, options paper, etc.

- Unofficial Transcript(s) (in English) - submit if using education as a basis for qualifying for this position. If so, you must submit all applicable academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements (ex. BA/BS, MA, JD, PHD, etc). If specific course work is required to qualify, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit.

You may upload your transcript(s) as one document (3 MB size limit). If over 3 MB, please submit via fax feature.

OFFICIAL Transcripts MUST BE RECEIVED prior to selection and report date. Reference the "Education Section" for College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education.

The following documents are required if applicable:

- Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP Eligibility .

- DD-214 - verifying military service, eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and showing character of discharge (ex. Member Copy 4 and 2 are acceptable vs. Copy 1 which is not acceptable to adjudicate veteran's preference)

Special/Non-Competitive Appointing Authority Documents

- Applicants who are eligible for consideration, and wish to be considered, under one of the following non-competitive hiring authorities must submit appropriate documentation (click on the links below to see the documentation requirements): Military Spouses (MISP)

- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.