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Summary

This position is part of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The incumbent will be responsible for organizing, managing, and coordinating the investigation and analysis of major incidents involving the accidental release of a regulated substance or other extremely hazardous substance into the ambient air from a stationary source and writing, developing and presenting reports with safety recommendations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/20/2026 to 03/29/2026
This job will close when we have received 200 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$74,678 to - $116,362 per year

This announcement reflects the GS RUS salary. The actual salary will be based on selectee's location, grade, and step.

Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
50% 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
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CSB-26-MP-12912578CPO
Control number
861899500

Duties

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  • Serves as a Chemical Engineer for the U.S. Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board.
  • Assists in the assessment of incident sites, determining the scope of the investigation, and working with local jurisdictional officials to secure the scene and to assure that evidence is not jeopardized.
  • Review all drafts of the final report for technical accuracy, ensuring applicable safety issues are identified and addressed.
  • Manages resources and expenditures related to the investigation under applicable Board orders, directives, and policies.
  • Performs Root Cause Analysis of accidental release/loss of containment events to determine the primary cause and contributing factors.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
  • Direct Deposit of pay is required.
  • Selective Service registration is required for male applicants, unless exempt.
  • Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications).
  • You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position.

Qualifications

Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position.

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

Basic Requirement for Engineers: (NOTE: You must attach a copy of your transcripts. Failure to submit transcripts will result in an ineligible rating.)
A. Degree-- Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include different and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials(stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e)electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Please visit ABET's website (Home - ABET) for more information on engineering programs that have received accreditation.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience-- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional registration or licensure-- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than a written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at National Society of Professional Engineers National Society of Professional Engineers |
2. Written Test-- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: How To Get Licensed
3. Specified academic courses-- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum-- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualification requirement in order to be considered for this position:

At the GS-11, you must meet one of the following qualifications:
A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 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: 1. Assists in implementing capital projects using corporate and/or industry standards, 2. Analyzed engineering/scientific data to identify issues for program/project improvement and conducted troubleshooting and optimization activities, 3.Participated as a member of an investigation team, such as a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) team, and 4. Conducts routine to advance inspections of facilities, components, and operations, sometimes requiring unique inspection methods or techniques (MUST HAVE 2 OR MORE IN RESUME TO BE QUALIFIED)
OR
B. Three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to A Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree if related to Chemical Engineer; OR
C. A Combination of education and experience as listed above.

Combination of experience and education: The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

At the GS-12, you must meet the following qualifications:
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 1. Analyzed engineering/scientific data to identify issues for program/project improvement and conducted troubleshooting and optimization activities, 2.Served on an investigation team, such as a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) or process upset investigation team, 3. Performs audits of Safety Management Systems (SMS) plans, and 4. Participated as a subject matter expert to support the implementation of Mechanical Integrity Management Program corrective action items. (MUST HAVE 2 OR MORE IN RESUME TO BE QUALIFIED)

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

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. Note: PDF Portfolio documents will not be processed or accepted as they appear as a one-page document.

Only education from institutions that are accredited or pre-accredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.

Education: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit here.

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:


Telework Suitability:
Not Eligible- This position is a remote position.

Stipulations of Employment:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • Your performance and conduct;
  • The needs and interests of the agency;
  • Whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment may be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:
This position is covered by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 2211.

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-26-DE-12912577CPO using the Delegated Examining procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet the program requirements and can apply to that announcement.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and any applicable assessment required for this position. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be evaluated for this job based on:

  • The experience listed in your resume and how well you meet the experience listed in the qualification section of announcement and the competencies listed.
  • Subject Matter Expert - Structured Resume Review
    • Eligible and qualified candidates who meet the pre-established cut score on the assessment questionnaire will have their resumes reviewed by a subject-matter-expert to evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities, and competences as they directly relate to the duties of this position.
    • If your final score places you in the group of best qualified candidates, and you meet all eligibility and qualification requirements, you may be referred to the hiring official for further consideration.
You will be assessed on the following technical and soft skill competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
  • Industrial Major Accident Investigation

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