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Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Spokane District Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource.


This position is located in Spokane, Washington. Information about Spokane and the surrounding area can be found at Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce

We expect to fill one vacancy at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/20/2025 to 05/30/2025
Salary
$50,220 to - $96,616 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Spokane, WA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OR-DEMP-25-1408530-LDB
Control number
837226800

Duties

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  • Provides informal instruction to supervisors and employees regarding standard, general safety and occupational health subjects to promote accident prevention and safe working practices.
  • Develops and implements policies and work practices to assure safe, healthful, and efficient operations within the District for all employees, volunteers, and the public.
  • Provides technical safety training to supervisors and employees using a wide variety of materials, publications, exhibits, protective devices, and visual aids.
  • Implements policies and programs that address district office safety and health program responsibilities and accountability, training, accident prevention methods, and techniques.
  • Evaluates and investigates operations involving hazardous materials, fire, forestry, transportation, and use of specialized equipment.
  • Promotes use of protective equipment, recreation, facilities, industrial operations, and road maintenance for hazard control.
  • Implement automated mishap data system (i.e., Safety Management Information System) to report accidents, injuries, or property damages.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the How to Apply and Required Documents Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • Supervisory Probationary Period: If you are selected for this position, you will be required to serve a one year supervisory/managerial probationary period if one has not previously been completed.
  • This position may require regular and recurring overtime and shift work by way of 24-hour call back.
  • Must maintain a valid driver's license in order to operate a government motor vehicle as an incidental driver.
  • May require a one year probationary period.

Qualifications

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION for GS-07: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector) performing (3) or more of the following: 1) assisting in safety and health inspections of facilities or operations to determine compliance with applicable safety and occupational health standards; 2) preparing reports of findings or analysis of mishap trends; 3) assisting an investigation team in securing accident details, causal factors, witnesses, or reports; 4) providing informal safety and health training to managers, supervisors and/or employees; 5) researching on effective safety and occupational health practices and procedures to prepare training materials for display or dissemination to the public.

OR

A. Education: Successful completion of (1) full year of graduate level education. The Undergraduate and Graduate Education must include major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or 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.

OR

B. Superior Qualifications: Successfully meeting Superior Academic Achievement by earning a bachelor's degree with at least one of the following (1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale; (2) a 3.5 GPA or higher for required courses completed in a major field of study during junior and senior year of a 4-year college or university; (3) class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or a major subdivision of the college, such as the College of Liberal Arts, based on completed courses; or (4) membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College Honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies. In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position being filled.

Superior Academic Achievement (See OPM's General Policies, Application of Qualification Standards Section 4.f.) S.A.A. must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

OR

C. Combination of Education and Experience: You may meet qualifications requirement for this position with an equivalent combination of specialized experience and appropriate undergraduate education. Undergraduate level education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATION for GS-09: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector) performing 3 or more of the following: 1) performing periodic safety and health inspections of facilities or operations to identify potential hazards for abatement; 2) preparing final reports of findings with recommendations for accident prevention or hazard control; (3) recording pertinent details of accident investigations for proper reporting to automated data system; 4) advising supervisors or employees on appropriate safety and occupational health measures to control or eliminate hazardous operating processes; 5) promoting safety campaigns through oral presentations, exhibits, or publications.

OR

A. Education: Successful completion of a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university or LL.B or JD. My graduate level education included major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or 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.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as described above that, when converted to percentages, equal at least 100% of the total requirement. Then determine the amount of your graduate education in excess of one full year (18 semester hours) as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for GS-11: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sector 1) performing 3 or more of the following: 1) planning or scheduling safety and health inspections of facilities or operations to evaluate compliance with established industry standards; 2) advising management and/or employees on the implementation of safety and occupational health action plans; 3) leading accident investigations to determine root cause and devise measures to prevent recurrences; 4) developing safety training curriculum to promote safety and occupational health in all operations of activities; 5) executing safety and occupational health programs to facilitate safe work environment or facilities for visitors.

OR

A. Education: Successful completion of 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or LL.M. My higher-level graduate education included major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or 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.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your graduate education in excess of the first two years (36 semester hours) as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Applicants may qualify for these positions based on experience, education, or an equivalent combination as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

If you qualify based on education, you will need to clearly state you undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. If your degree is from a Foreign Institution See Foreign Education.

Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service



Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.

This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.
Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Accident Investigation
  • Customer Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Safety Engineering
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of the following additional assessment: Subject Matter Expert Resume Panel Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

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