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Industrial Hygienist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jun 19, 2021
Duties

Summary

This position is located with the United States Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP).

- This position is Inside the Bargaining Unit.

- Additional vacancies may be filled using this announcement, if authorized.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Major duties for this position include but are not limited to the following:
  • Develop, plan and evaluate the effectiveness of Federal agency's occupational health activities. The incumbent functions as an Agency expert on occupational health enforcement at Federal agencies. Reviews proposed notices of violations, and abatement recommendations made by field personnel to verify that the policy, procedure, and guidelines provided in the Field Operations Manual (FOM) have been adhered to and correctly applied.
  • Provides subject matter expertise in complex or unique cases. Updates FOM involving Federal agency policies. Updates, OSHA standards (for example 29 CFR 1960) involving federal agencies.
  • Develops instructions and directives for compliance officers use when inspecting federal agency's occupational health and industrial hygiene programs. Also develops the federal agency inspection targeting lists for conducting inspections.
  • Develops studies on health issues and conditions that are either unique to federal environments such as hospitals, veteran healthcare facilities, federal law enforcement, etc. or are managed differently in those environments.
  • Closely examines and explain underlying causes and effects. Develops reports on the types of violations found at various federal agency establishments.
  • Develops memorandum of understandings with Federal agencies. As a part of this effort, works with the Office of the Solicitor on the legal implications of enforcement policy affecting federal workforce.
  • Prepares written reports on all federal industrial health occupational safety and health cases and incidents
  • Writes interpretations of OSHA's occupational health standards when requested by federal agencies.
  • Prepares reports and answers inquiries from Senators and Congressmen, industry associations, employee organizations, organized safety and health groups and other interested parties on OSHA's balanced program, including occupational health programs.
  • Prepares written and oral replies, setting forth OSHA positions on interpretations of standards and other complex inquires.
  • Coordinates with other Directorates such as the development of memorandums of understanding, and with the Office of the Solicitor on the legal implications of new or revised health enforcement policy and make procedural recommendations.
  • Represents OFAP during meetings held with federal agencies and federal agency representatives. Develops and maintains a professional network of OSHA and other federal agency subject matter experts. Fosters creative partnerships and builds relationships with federal agencies, safety and health professional groups, trade associations, and other stakeholders.
  • Coordinates and conducts Federal Agency Safety and Health Managers roundtable meetings and discussions and other meetings. Makes presentations on various safety and health topics. Also promotes understanding of enforcement and other OSHA program policies and activities related to occupational safety and health.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional Travel May Be Required.

Supervisory status
No

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

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.
  • U.S. Citizenship and must be at least 16 years of age.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Public Trust security clearance.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.


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

To qualify for the GS-13 Grade Level you must meet the Basic Requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

Basic Requirements

The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
  • A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or
  • A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or
  • Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH).

Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.

Evaluation of Education

All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.

Evaluation of Experience

Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.

Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, 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: Experience in or related to industrial hygiene 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:
  • Training workers, supervisors, managers, and safety and occupational health professionals on industrial hygiene topics and OSHA inspection protocol.
  • Managing and leading staff on team project(s) related to safety and health training or conducting inspections.
  • Applying Federal OSHA protocols and policy while conducting OSHA inspections.
  • Conducting inspections and applying OSHA standards and guidelines to healthcare-related hazards, ergonomic-related hazards and recordkeeping issues.


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 , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

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 95 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 and 27 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP/CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

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

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of military, weaponry, and intelligence operations; public safety and security operations; occupational health and safety; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, and property.

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.

Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Interpersonal Skills - Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

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 Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the HRO 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. Follow the instructions: click How To Submit Supplemental Documentation Document.

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.

- 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.

- Land Management Eligibles: a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) proving your eligibility for appointment under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act. This service must have been performed in the competitive service, under a time limited appointment in a Land Management Agency, as defined by P.L. 114-328. For more information, click here .

- 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 ICTAP / 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

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.

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