Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Office of Enforcement (ENF). The incumbent will serve as the principle staff assistant to the District Manager.

- This position is outside the bargaining unit.

- Must maintain Authorized Representative (AR) status.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Mine Safety and Health Specialist serves as the principal Staff Assistant to the District Manager. The incumbent of this position will be responsible in participating with the District Manager in major policy and operational decisions, program planning and development, providing policy, technical guidance, and staff assistance to the district and field offices.

The specialist resolves program issues through analysis and evaluation of the programs within the district. The position is responsible for providing advice, and expertise regarding these issues and programs. Plans, proposes, and directs activities to establish criteria necessary for policy development and provide solutions within the scope of the district. Resolves technical issues brought to the attention of the District Manager by subordinate offices and researches and discusses more significant issues with District Manager. Serves as trouble shooter on safety and health complaints from mining unions and mining employees and serves as the District's accident coordinator for nonfatal and fatal mining accidents. Conducts internal audits to analyze compliance with polices and procedures, and identifies problems and solutions. Drafts correspondence, speeches, etc., on a variety of technical subjects for the District Manager. Represents the District Manager at technical meetings with representatives of mining companies, unions, manufacturers, the public, and serves on technical committees making presentations in lieu of the District Manager. Conducts research for the District Manager in the review of various technical publications, and reviews papers prepared by technical support for applicability purposes. Serves as the Coordinator for the Accountability Program.

Travel Required

25% or less - 25% or less.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
13 - This position is at the Full-Performance Level (GS-13).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
• Requires a valid drivers license.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
• Requires medical exam and must maintain physical 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.

You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states:

Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Qualifications

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position (experience performing mine safety and health inspection, analysis and evaluation of health/safety aspects of mining agency programs.) Examples of creditable experience include: direct on-site inspection; special accident investigation; development of mine safety and health standards; data analysis and evaluation of operational mine safety and health programs; special assessments; and development of industry-wide training or safety and health awareness programs.

Education

There is no substitution of education at the GS-13 grade level.

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.

All MSHA employees and their spouses, and minor children are prohibited by regulation from having any interest, direct or indirect, in any mine or mining company which may be directly affected by the work of MSHA through its investigations, technical research, or other activities. These interests are prohibited under the Department of Labor's Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct Regulations at 5 CFR 5201.105. Certain MSHA employees are required to file a financial disclosure report. For questions, please contact the vacancy contact on this announcement.

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

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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

Oral and Written Communication: A high degree of skill in effective written, oral and other forms of communication.

Management Skills: Knowledge of supervisory techniques and ability to supervise.

Problem Solving/Decision Making: Skill in applying new techniques to problems not readily solvable, and developing new policies and procedures. Ability to respond to the most serious crisis and the most unusual, sensitive, and stubborn technical problems that occur throughout the District. Ability to utilize innovative and unique approaches to solve the highest level of technical problems that develop within the District, where established procedures and precedents would not be effective.

Mine Safety and Health: In-depth knowledge of the Federal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, and agency policies as they relate to the safety and health aspects of mining. Intimate knowledge of the goals, missions, and technical programs of the District and their relationships with other MSHA and DOL programs and activities. Comprehensive practical knowledge of mining processes and methods, and electrical and mechanical systems, machinery and equipment used in the mining industry. Detailed knowledge of mine safety and health hazards, techniques for their detection and measurement, and their short term effects. Thorough knowledge of Federal mine safety and health regulations, agency policies, and administrative procedures of the assessments/conferencing process.

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.

Click here for Evaluation details.

INFORMATION FOR CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Credentialing

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.

- Resumes are required- provide a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one from your profile. 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 also suggest that you preview the vacancy questions, and confirm that your resume supports your question responses.

- 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.

The following documents are required if applicable:

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

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

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

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.