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Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Northern California Area Office

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Redding, California

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/25/2026 to 04/08/2026
Salary
$61,722 to - $97,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Redding, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
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
Yes
Announcement number
BOR-CGB-26-MP-12918817-AM
Control number
862436100

Duties

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The following duties are at the full performance level of GS-11:
- Responsible for administering safety and occupational health directives and guidelines and provide training as developed and implemented by the Safety Manager, Deputy Area Manager and Area Manager.
- Oversees safety and occupational health for facilities which include nine dams, six hydroelectric powerplants, an area within a Superfund Hazardous Waste Cleanup Site, and associated tunnels, reservoirs, public visitation areas, etc.
- Administers safety and occupational health programs encompassing hydroelectric power plants, water control and conveyance features, maintenance, and construction activities, including the personal protective equipment (PPE), medical surveillance, hot work, fall protection, walking and working surfaces programs.
- Develops and disseminates accident prevention methods.
- Investigates accidents to ascertain facts and determine cause.
- Generates reports and recommendations to prevent recurrence according to situation and applicable code interpretations from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and other safety regulations and guidelines.
- Performs a variety of technical functions that involve the use of test equipment.
- Schedules and conducts routine safety inspections of dams, warehouses, offices, recreation sites, marinas, concessionaires, industrial areas and operations and maintenance activities to ensure work activities are conducted in accordance with safety and health regulations.
- Initiates and conducts safety education activities for Northern California Area Office (NCAO) and other offices upon request, including OSHA required programs, Reclamation Safety and Health Standards (RSHS) and NCAO site-specific standards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans' consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
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. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
You may be required to travel approximately 50% of the time to field offices and facilities.
You may be required to frequently lift, carry, and handle items weighing up to 50 pounds.
You may perform work at considerable heights up to 50 feet (i.e., ladders, climbing).
You may perform inspection in confined areas and/or construction sites.

Who May Apply:

  • 30% or More Disabled Veterans
  • Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
  • Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive)
  • Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer)
  • Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer)
  • Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A)
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
  • Military Spouses
  • Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities
  • Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible
  • Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
  • Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority
  • Special Hiring Authorities
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)
  • Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Qualifications

To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - 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. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts.
OR
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5):
Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
- Managing safety or occupational health program elements.
- Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management.
- Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
- Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards.
- Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses.
- Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
- Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards.
- Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.
- Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects.
- Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.
OR
Certificates

Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. NOTE: Please provide copy of the certification if claiming eligibility based on the above.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

To qualify at the GS-09, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-07 level in federal service but not limited to: assisting in administering and coordinating a safety and occupational health inspection program to include safety sub-programs (e.g., hydroelectric power plants; water control and conveyance features; maintenance and construction activities), safety training, AND accident/mishaps investigations.
OR
You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed a master's degree or equivalent or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. if related. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-09 level in federal service but not limited to: assisting with developing and recommending safety and occupational health programs or policies to high level officials; interpreting, applying and/or knowledge of the development of safety and occupational health laws, regulations, policies, procedures or standings; evaluating existing safety programs or inspecting workplaces to determine possible hazards; utilizing safety and occupational health knowledge to reduce or control hazards; training individuals on safe practices and investigating work place accidents.
OR
You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed 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. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications. NOTE: You must submit copies of your college transcripts.

You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

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.

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). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 04/08/2026.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Current, permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period.

If otherwise 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.

The decision to offer an incentive to the selectee(s) of this vacancy will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you MAY request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services MAY BE credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

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

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

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.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Compliance Inspection
  • Decision Making
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Teaching Others


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 additional assessment(s), including a SME Panel Resume Review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12918817

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

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