EXPLOSIVES SAFETY SPECIALIST

Summary THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for an Explosives Safety Specialist, Position Description Number T6364000 or T580000 and is part of the 158th Fighter Wing Command of the Vermont Air National Guard *This position is also advertised as a Title 32 vacancy under VT-13041755-AF-26-28 Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES: 1: Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates activities necessary to the overall management of a diverse weapons/explosives safety program. Reviews complex weapons and explosives safety plans/programs and develops and issues instructions and procedures establishing technical and administrative weapons and explosives safety requirements which frequently become official policy and may impact a wide range of agency explosives activities. Ensures and performs periodic inspections, evaluations, and surveys of facilities, equipment, and operations; and identifies deficiencies in the program and variances to the standard using a comprehensive knowledge of regulations, standards, procedures, methods, and techniques to determine compliance with weapons and explosives safety regulations. Guidelines tend to lack specificity for many applications and are often insufficient to resolve highly complex or unusual work problems. Evaluates a variety of complex, unconventional weapons and explosives safety problems or circumstances; determines risk assessment of the hazardous processes/conditions identified; and determines applicable methods and procedures for controlling or eliminating hazards. Plans alternative course of specialized action to resolve hazardous conditions and unsafe working practices, modifying and extending accepted principles and practices where available precedents are not directly applicable. Documents and reviews inspection findings, initiates appropriate program improvements based on findings, and prepares formal reports for dissemination to appropriate parties. Advises key commanders and managerial and executive personnel of courses of actions affecting weapons and explosives transportation, storage, handling operations, work processes, human-machine relationships, and environmental conditions which impact on the safety and efficiency of personnel. Recommends appropriate measures to prevent unnecessary exposure and eliminate or control hazardous operating procedures. Ensures follow-up inspections are conducted and violations and hazards corrected. 2: Plans, directs, and conducts investigations and analyzes mishaps and hazardous conditions to determine origin, causes, and contributing elements and prepares written evaluation reports concerning findings. Weapons and explosives operations involve a substantial number and diversity of hazards which include those with potential for significant severity and loss. Establishes in and participates on Safety Investigation Boards and investigates all explosives Safety mishaps and hazards to include the preparation and submittal of appropriate reports. Compiles and analyzes mishap data, identifies trends, and develops comprehensive recommendations to reduce or eliminate mishaps. Reports typically contain graphs, charts, and recommendations for changes in operating procedures, regulations, and use of protective devices that affect agency activities. 3: Prepares supplements to instructions and manuals and develops specialized local instructions defining mishap prevention, weapons and explosives handling, use and storage procedures based on interpretation and/or adaptation of higher command instructions and policies formulated by other federal government agencies. Evaluates new trends for policy development or for further inquiry and study leading to new methods for eliminating or controlling serious hazards to life and property. Coordinates with other installation offices regarding comprehensive environmental, weapons and explosives safety matters affecting installation personnel and devises specialized operating practices involving diverse but recognized hazards. Prepares and revises local written procedures or abatement actions for conditions not directly addressed by existing standards or guidelines and evaluates agency-wide effect. Evaluates safety standards adopted by Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board, national safety associations, publications on explosives operations, work processes; and current problems and modifies/adapts for local application. Makes recommendations and decisions on complex policy issues that frequently become official policy and may impact a wide range of agency weapons and explosives safety activities. 4: Reviews and develops explosives site plans (utilizing manual and automated techniques) and specifications for new construction, major building alterations, and/or changes in equipment and monitors project through completion to ensure compliance with explosives safety standards and safety codes. Recommends design changes not included in the original plan and provides technical recommendations to eliminate or control explosives safety hazards in the construction, repair and maintenance of installation facilities and equipment. REFER TO PD FOR FULL LIST OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications OPEN AREAS OF CONSIDERATION: AREA 1, 2, 3, 4 Area I: Current On-board Title 5 or Title 32 Dual Status Technicians (Tenure: 1-Career, 2-Conditional, 3-Indefinite or 4-Term ) - Only those current Vermont National Guard employees who are in permanent, indefinite, or term technician status as result of being competitively hired by the Vermont National Guard. Area II: All current Federal Employees from any agency. Area III: All current and former members of the VTNG. Area IV: United States citizens. * Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference. General Experience Requirements: Experience which demonstrates the ability to Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; Plan and organize work; and Communicate effectively orally and in writing. Such experience may have been gained in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work. Experience in substantive and relevant secretarial, clerical, or other responsible work may be qualifying as long as it provided evidence of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) necessary to perform the duties of the position to be filled. Experience of a general clerical nature (typing, filing, routine procedural processing, maintaining records, or other nonspecialized tasks) is not creditable. Trades or crafts experience appropriate to the position to be filled may be creditable for some positions. Specialized Experience Requirements: Experiences in munitions, explosives, and energetic materials, and related disciplines, the effects of munitions, the means of preventing or reducing explosive mishaps, and the relationship between quantity-distance siting criteria and personnel safety; and explosives hazard classification, munitions storage, explosive ordnance inventory and disposition. Performed periodic onsite surveys, to determine compliance with applicable occupational safety standards. Developed and implemented munitions materiel management concepts and procedures. Complies with explosive, missile, and ground safety, security, and environmental directives and practices. Prepared or revised safety instructions and guides. Advised personnel of appropriate measures to control or eliminate hazardous operating processes which may cause mishaps. Investigated mishaps, obtained statements from witnesses, and photographed mishap scenes. Recorded circumstances of mishaps and extent of injuries, prepared final report(s) of findings with recommendations to correct the unsafe acts or conditions which caused injuries or property damage. GS-11 - 1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level (see above) experience, education, or training performing periodic/unscheduled inspections of base facilities, warehouses, stockpile management activities, and equipment maintenance operations and evaluated compliance with applicable regulations and hazard system. Recommended measures and methods to correct handling safety deficiencies. Participated in planning for testing of munitions, and assured integration of explosive safety criteria in testing procedures. Reviewed test implementation directives for inclusion of appropriate safety criteria. Prepared supplements to regulations and manuals for aircraft weapons safety and developed local regulations defining applicable mishap prevention procedures. GS-12 - 1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level experience, education, or training leading to the ability to perform reviews of industrial construction standards, methods, practices, techniques, materials, equipment, and utility systems sufficient to determine compliance with building safety standards and devise hazard control measures applicable to airport ground facilities and supporting industrial shops. Knowledge of psychological and physiological factors sufficient to develop a ground aviation safety education activity for supervisors and employees, to motivate maintenance personnel to apply safe working practices and to persuade supervisors to accept changes or modifications where required to achieve a safe working environment. Performed safety and occupational health principles, practices, procedures and standards applicable to a full range of complex safety and occupational health management responsibilities at a military aviation installation and requiring the planning, organizing, directing, operating and evaluation of a safety and occupational health program related to ground aviation, industrial and marine operations. Performed aviation maintenance work processes and support equipment, airport ground operations, facilities and runway maintenance techniques, and industrial work processes. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. CONTINUATION OF CONDITIONS EMPLOYMENT & NOTES: -This position is subject to the Lautenberg amendment to the gun control act of 1968 which makes it a felony for anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunition. Civilian personnel of the Department of the Defense are not exempt from this provision. This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position. -For positions requiring a security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) the applicant must possess or be able to obtain a clearance within one year of appointment. - This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG. -The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment. You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission. Please be advised: 1. Specialized experience will be used to determine qualifications for the announced position. 2. An applicant's RESUME must provide, in detail, how they meet the specialized experience listed. 3. It must be documented with "from (mm/yy)" and "to (mm/yy)" dates and description of the specialized experience. 4. If education or a degree is required as part of the "Specialized Experience", you must include transcripts. Do not copy the specialized experience qualifications word for word and place into your resume; you must describe your personal experience as it pertains to each statement. Education COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of graduate level education and experience may be used to qualify for this position at the GS-11 level as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Additional Information The purpose of this position is to perform work in a broad range of weapons safety program elements, such as inspections/surveys, evaluations, mishap investigations, and safety training. Veterans Preference Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click - 10-Point Veterans' Preference: You must submit all supporting documentation as specified on the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference". You can locate the SF 15 at - 5-Point Veterans' Preference: You MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 which includes Character of Service (usually Member-4 copy). If you are currently active duty, you may submit written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should also include when your terminal leave will begin, your rank and dates of active duty service. If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (