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Chemical Incident Investigator

Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Chemical Incident Investigator position is located in the Office of Investigations. The incumbent serves as an expert in industrial chemical safety and nationwide incident investigation and analysis of major incidents involving the accidental release of hazardous materials and, developing and presenting reports with safety recommendations for adopting by the Board.

Duties at the GS-11 grade level will be performed under closer supervision.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/22/2021 to 07/06/2021
Salary
$72,750 to - $113,362 per year

Salary will be dependent on the selectee's final duty location

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States
4 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CSB-21-DE-11150921CPO
Control number
605272800

Duties

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  • Participates in surveying the site, determining the scope of the investigation; and works with local jurisdictional officials to secure the scene and assure that evidence is not jeopardized.
  • Collects and records factual incident data, interviews witnesses, collects physical evidence, arranges for testing and/or examination of physical evidence, machinery and/or equipment.
  • Evaluates and analyzes the significance of evidence collected, the methods used to collect the evidence, and the sources providing the evidence for validity, reliability, and substance.
  • Conducts safety advocacy activities by representing the Board at meetings of national and international public and private organizations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
  • Direct Deposit of pay is required.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.

Qualifications

At the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to conducting site preservation and evidence and data collection at chemical release incident sites occurring at a private sector chemical plant, oil refinery, or similar facility; planning and conducting interviews with individuals and groups to obtain the facts, circumstances and other related information in connection with the investigation of chemical release incidents in the chemical and/or petroleum refinery industry; applying the root cause analysis techniques to develop the root cause and related causal factors of chemical and/or petroleum refinery accidents;
OR
A 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 (e.g., PhD. in Chemical Engineering). (Note: Applicants who select this response must provide transcripts as verification of their education);
OR

A Combination of education and experience as list above.

At the GS-12level, you must meet the following qualification:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is that which has equipped the applicant with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience for this position includes but is not limited to developing, implementing or administering safety programs related to process safety management (PSM) and/or the principles of safety management systems (SMS); assessing chemical incident sites to determine the scope of the investigation, and independently working with local state and other federal representatives to gather information. (Note: Applicants for the GS-12 must ALSO possess the specialized experience required for the GS-11, as described above)

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment:
Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

If selected, you will be required to obtain, prior to entrance on duty, a physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position.

Work Schedule:
This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous:
CSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement #CSB-21-MP-11150922 using Merit Promotion procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet merit promotion requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.

Applications for these positions will be accepted on a continuous basis up to the closing date of the announcement. Referrals will be made no more than one time each week.

Applicants who applied under vacancy announcement #CSB-21-DE-11131989CPO must reapply under this announcement.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

How you will be evaluated

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

For Category Rating: Once the application process is complete, qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The categories for this announcement are defined as: Best-Qualified, Well-Qualified, and Qualified. Your resume and supporting documentation will then be used to determine if you are qualified for this job. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Industrial Major Accident Investigation Skill
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication


The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

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