Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, seeks a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist at GS-11 level to support safety and health staff in regulatory compliance, research, training, program development, and accident prevention in a healthcare environment.

Qualified candidates have specialized experience in safety and health programs, policy development, and applying safety laws and standards to healthcare settings. Education options include a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• At least one full year of specialized experience at GS-9 level in the Federal Service.
• Knowledge of safety and occupational health laws, regulations, and practices.
• Experience in developing standards, programs, and surveys to control hazards.
• Experience applying occupational safety and health concepts in healthcare settings.

Skills

Safety program management

Policy development

Regulatory compliance

Occupational health training

Healthcare environment experience

Education

Ph.D. or doctoral degree

3 years graduate-level study in safety/occupational health

Job description

This position is located at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The Safety and Occupational Health Specialist supports safety and health staff in regulatory compliance, research, training, program development, accident prevention and safety surveys in a healthcare environment.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Specialized Experience:

At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this position. Qualifying specialized experience includes:

• 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.
• Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Education:

Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. The major study must be in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or a degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Combination:

Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and graduate-level education (beyond the second year or master's level), as described above. The education portion must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The position is sedentary for long periods but is frequently required to make site visits to conduct surveys; these require prolonged standing, walking, climbing, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, and other physical movement. Because the position is often exposed to fire code inspections, construction sites, and hazardous materials, high levels of physical coordination, balance, and good health are required.