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Mine Safety and Health Specialist

Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Enforcement, Division of Health
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Division of Health, Mine Safety and Health Enforcement (MS&HE), Arlington, Virginia. The Division is responsible for the direction and management of the MS&HE's nationwide health program. The purpose of this position is to provide regulatory and enforcement staff assistance in mine health-related matters for the Division of Health.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
12/20/2024 to 01/06/2025
Salary
$117,962 to - $181,216 per year

Range: GS-13 $117,962 - $153,354; GS-14 $139,395 - $181,216

Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Current DOL policy requires on-site work at least 5 days per pay period.
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
14 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and the supervisor's recommendation to the next grade.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
DE-25-DAL-MSHA-12649489-KAS
Control number
825002500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. citizens and CTAP/ICTAP eligible(s) in the local commuting area. Also advertised as announcement #MS-25-DAL-MSHA-12649490 for current permanent Federal employees with competitive status, VEOA eligible(s), Land & Base Management eligible(s), Military Spouses, OPM Interchange Agreement eligible(s), and CTAP/ICTAP eligible(s) within the local commuting area. To be considered for each vacancy, apply to BOTH announcements.

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Duties

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The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. As developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity.

  • Develops activities to promote new regulations and programs for improving ventilation systems and Respirable/Total Dust control techniques aimed at eliminating pneumoconiosis. Plans the development and manages the implementation of training classes and seminars for field personnel on regulations, policies, enforcement procedures, accident analyses, and prevention regarding the Part 90 Program, CWP, dust programs, and other MS&HE contaminates of miner exposure. The position leads the development and delivery of compliance assistance for all stakeholders concerning new and existing standards.
  • Identifies, defines, and proposes comprehensive policy studies that define major issues and lead to new or revised legislative policy proposals which set the dust standards to prevent occupational respiratory disability in miners.
  • Makes recommendations and solves problems on Part 90 and Respirable/Total Dust having major implications for developing, targeting, and managing governmental and private programs for MS&HE at the Federal, State, and local levels.
  • Develops new policies and procedures regarding implementation and interpretation of mandatory Part 90 Program, CWP, and Respirable/Total dust standards, diesel exposure standards, noise standards, and other miner exposure standards, as well as applicable enforcement guidelines; develops new approaches which deviate significantly from past practices.
  • Develops agency plans, regulations, and instructions concerning supplementation, enforcement, and administration of the requirements of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and the MINER Act.
  • Reviews the development and implementation of health standards established by guidelines from the Department and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the promulgation of methods of their enforcement.
  • Prepares regulatory reports, congressional correspondence, public, and industry correspondence, conducts oral briefings, and redress advice and opinions to representatives of labor, industry, manufacturers, and other interested parties.
  • Provides information to the Solicitor's Office and provides testimony as an Agency expert witness at hearings regarding health and enforcement as it relates to dust control. Represents the agency as an active participant at official meetings, and national conferences with top representatives of the industry.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be at least 16 years old.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
  • Subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Qualifications

The Mine Safety and Health Inspection Series, GS-1822, has basic requirements for positions covered by this standard. Applicants must meet both the basic requirements (IOR) and specialized experience for the specific grade level to qualify. To qualify for this position, your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements as defined below.

Basic Requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level: Performing mine safety and health inspection, analysis and evaluation of health/safety aspects of mining industry operations and processes; or evaluation, analysis or development of agency programs.

Examples of creditable experience include: Direct on-site inspection; special accident investigation; development of mine safety and health standards; data analysis and evaluation of operational mine safety and health programs; special assessments; and development of industry-wide training or safety and health awareness programs.

For the GS-13 grade level: Applicants must have (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-12, in the Federal Service. Specialized experience must include the following:

  • Planning the development and/or managing the implementation of training classes and seminars on regulations, policies, enforcement procedures, and accident analyses and prevention regarding respirable dust dust control, Coal's Part 90 Program, and Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).


For the GS-14 grade level: Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal service. Specialized experience must include the following:

  • Providing advice and guidance on a full range of compliance efforts regarding regulations, policies, enforcement procedures, accident investigation, Coal's Part 90 Program, mine worker's pneumoconiosis, ventilation systems and respirable dust control techniques, and other miner health related exposure sampling/monitoring and control.


Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13/14 grade levels.

Additional information

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements.

This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit.

This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually.

All MSHA employees and their spouses, and minor children are prohibited by regulation from having any interest, direct or indirect, in any mine or mining company that may be directly affected by the work of MSHA through its investigations, technical research, or other activities. These interests are prohibited under the Department of Labor's Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct Regulations at 5 CFR 5201.105. Certain MSHA employees are required to file a financial disclosure report. For questions, please contact Kizzie Stokes at stokes.kizzie.a@dol.gov or 972-850-4462.

The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy.

The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information.

The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act.

Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions.

All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to the appointment.

All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.

How you will be evaluated

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

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.

Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualification requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Mine Safety and Health
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


Click here for Evaluation details.

You may preview questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12649489

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, volunteer, and other lived experience, as it demonstrates the competencies or skills required for the position to be filled. Your evaluation may include an interview, reference checks, or other assessment conducted by HR specialists, subject matter experts, or panel members and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) who are placed into Category B or higher will be considered well-qualified. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.

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