Health Technician - Occupational Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Captain James A. Lovell FHCC in North Chicago, IL invites applications for a Health Technician (Occupational Health).

The role provides support in the Occupational Health Medicine Department within the Fleet Medicine Directorate. Responsibilities include maintaining hearing conservation records, administering immunizations and TB tests, performing spirometry and vital sign screens, and assisting in education and counseling for patients.

Qualifications

• Time-in-grade requirements may apply for current federal employees.

Responsibilities

• Process patients through the Occupational Medicine Clinic while ensuring patient privacy.

Skills

Hearing conservation

Patient education

Communication skills

Medical clerical tasks

Education

Bachelor's degree with related coursework

Graduate education related to occupational health (GS-07 level)

Tools

Defense Occupational Environmental Health Readiness System

Job description

Summary

The position is located In the Occupational Health Medicine Department of the Fleet Medicine Directorate - located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago - Illinois. The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is larger than just a single facility - but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans - Recruits - Active Duty and eligible beneficiaries.

The position is located In the Occupational Health Medicine Department of the Fleet Medicine Directorate - located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago - Illinois. The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is larger than just a single facility - but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans - Recruits - Active Duty and eligible beneficiaries.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/29/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: performing duties for a medical practice - assisting in the treatment of an outpatient care setting - providing patient education - and documenting patient data. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. Transcript Required at the time of application. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. For GS-5 level positions - only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study - or 60 semester hours - beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. GS-06 grade level: Specialized experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: performing duties for a medical practice - assisting in the treatment of an outpatient care setting - providing patient education - and documenting patient data. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have at least 9 semester hours of graduate education - but only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. Transcript Required at the time of application. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the GS-05 requirement. GS-07 grade level: Specialized experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: developing and maintaining a Hearing Conservation Database; using the Defense Occupational Environmental Health Readiness System; evaluating the outer and middle ear functions; issuing appropriate hearing devices; issuing appropriate hearing protection devices and providing instructions on proper use; administers immunization and tuberculosis skin tests; screening immunization records for necessary titers and/or vaccinations. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have at least one year (18 semester hours) of graduate education - but only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. Transcript Required at the time of application. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the GS-06 requirement. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of federal Occupational Safety and Health programs - including asbestos medical surveillance - hearing and sight conservation - respiratory protection - ionizing radiation - blood borne pathogens and communicable disease programs and infection control guidelines. Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently to interview and provide counseling to patients in a tactful - courteous - professional manner. Minimal qualifications are met based on specialized experience; and could assume this position with thorough training. 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/.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Processes patients through the Occupational Medicine Clinic - while providing patient privacy Develops and maintains a Hearing Conservation database Evaluates the outer and middle ear function using otoscopic examination and tympanometry testing and records findings Develops and delivers hearing conservation training programs Preforms spirometry screening and blood pressure testing and alerts physicians and nurses if emergency care is needed Provides patients with information on various health-related topics Calibrates and documents testing equipment and oversees stock levels of all equipment - forms and consumable items Performs various clerical tasks - such as typing - filing - scheduling appointments - and maintaining logs and health records Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met


• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level


• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday through Friday - 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Occupational Health/PD06136A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized