Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Summary As a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist within the Safety and Health Program, you will work to eliminate or control hazardous operations or conditions across the Plant Protection and Quarantine Program and be responsible for participating in the planning, development, and implementation of an occupational safety and health, environmental compliance, and wellness program specific to assignments given by the Safety Manager. Responsibilities The duties may include, but are not limited to: Participate in planning, developing and implementing a program of consults, technical training, and evaluative activities to achieve compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA). Perform environmental safety and health inspections in a variety of workplaces, noting hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices. Conduct regular safety and health-related inspections and checks throughout the facilities, to determine compliance with Federal safety and occupational health standards. Prepare technical reports based on findings of studies and inspections and recommends corrective safety measures and procedures. Conduct diversified health and safety management studies and interpret policy in the areas of occupational safety, health, motor vehicles, wellness, and the environment. Deliver technical training assistance to management, supervisory staff, employees, and employee representatives. Serve as a Safety Officer under the Incident Command structure for Emergency Program Deployment and ensure requirements are met under the APHIS Emergency Mobilization Guide. Plan, conduct, and coordinate the investigation of Federal employee complaints, facilities, and serious accidents or incidents which threaten or impair their safety and occupational health. Prepare preliminary findings and recommendations for the elimination of hazards and develop plans for implementation of corrective actions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Applies knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, procedures, methodologies to conduct inspections and perform job tasks across diverse work environments in support of the Safety program. Identified and analyzed safety hazards or potentially hazardous conditions and assisted in developing corrective measures to eliminate or control risks ensuring compliance and improve overall program performance. Conducted safety and health training activities in chemical safety, HAZCOM, worker safety and related areas ensuring workforce understanding and compliance with regulatory and agency requirements. Advised management with data collection for various health and safety management studies by applying a general understanding of policy in the areas of occupational safety and health, motor vehicles, chemical safety, wellness, and the environment, in support of all field employees. Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education This position does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.