Clarification from the agency

Open to current or former Federal employees w/perm comp status; OR those eligible under a special or noncomp appointing authority (e.g.,VRA, disabled, Pathways Interns & Recent Grads who are elig for noncomp conversion, etc.); OR current or former employees who are serving, or previously served, on temp or term appt in a land mgmt agency; OR veterans with preference or have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after approx 3yrs or more of continuous active service.

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As a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist within the Oklahoma Texas Water Science Center and Central Midwest Water Science Center, some of your specific duties will include:

• Conduct and assist in safety audits/inspections of all offices, laboratories, vehicles, shops, storage spaces, and gaging stations.
• Review accident reports and provide support to center staff in navigating proper accident procedures and policies.
• Serve as primary safety training coordinator and maintain employee training records.
• Ensure that applicable safety regulations, guidelines, manuals, safety plan, and policy documents are readily available.
• Interpret and communicate safety policies to Center staff.
• Inspect field work sites and laboratories on a regular basis to ensure safety procedures are being followed and hazardous conditions are mitigated.

Physical Demands: The work requires frequent travel to visit sites requiring on-site inspection. Periodically, the incumbent is required to accompany field crews and carry sampling and test equipment. Work may require extended periods of walking and standing, climbing ladders, or working in inclement weather during surveys and inspections.

Work Environment: Work is primary performed in an office that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. During surveys, investigations, and inspections, the incumbent may be required to use a variety of personal protective clothing and equipment such as hard hats, face masks, and hearing protections.

Conditions of employment

Key Requirements:

1. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
2. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
3. Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
4. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.
5. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record.
6. Selectee subject to successful completion of a pre-employment medical exam.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

• Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.
• A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
• Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.
• If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record.
• Taking and passing a pre-employment medical examination at Federal expense is required due to the physical demands of this job.

CONTINUED IN QUALIFICATION SECTION

Qualifications

CONTINUED FROM REQUIREMENTS SECTION

Conditions of Employment for this Position:
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

The safety position supports USGS operations across the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center and the Central Midwest Water Science Center by helping ensure safe working conditions for staff involved in monitoring, research, and delivery of water resource information, including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use data. The role helps safeguard employees performing fieldwork, laboratory activities, gaging station operations, and hydrologic research by assisting with regulatory compliance, identifying and reducing potential hazards, supporting emergency preparedness, and promoting safe practices that enable the Centers to carry out their mission of providing reliable, unbiased scientific information.

- Participates in safety audits and inspections of offices, laboratories, vehicles, shops, storage areas, field stations, and other facilities, and provides support on workplace safety matters.
- Maintains records of safety audits, recommendations, and annual inspection notices, and assists with follow-up to help ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Prepares written summaries of findings and recommendations from inspections, site evaluations, and exposure assessments, and supports accident investigations and related reporting.
- Works with inspection, abatement, and accident reporting systems and manages elements of occupational health programs such as medical monitoring, immunizations, and injury reporting.
- Recommends practical hazard controls for fieldwork, laboratory settings, and higher-risk activities to reduce unsafe conditions.
- Serves as the safety training coordinator, helping develop and deliver training programs, issuing safety communications, maintaining promotional materials, and tracking employee training completion.
- Provides oral presentations on a range of safety and occupational health topics and coordinates refresher training reminders.
- Supports safety and environmental compliance reviews; maintains applicable regulations, guidelines, procedures, and plans; and assists with emergency and continuity planning.
- Interprets and applies OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and other relevant regulations and offers technical input when adjustments from standard practices are necessary.
- Collaborates with management and technical specialists to develop OSH policies and procedures, participates in safety workgroups, and communicates recommendations to Center leadership.

For GS-11: Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level:

One year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in Federal service.

Specialized experience includes the ability to identify and assess potential risks across different work settings and to provide guidance to leadership, collateral duty safety personnel, and employees on safety and occupational health (OSH) matters. Experience may include assisting with the development of OSH programs, guidance, or goals, and supporting the use or administration of OSH information systems such as SMIS, IAS, DOI LEARN/TALENT, PHA databases, or similar systems. Work should demonstrate skill in conducting inspections, determining when exposure assessments may be needed, preparing clear and technically accurate inspection reports or guidance documents, and representing management in meetings where OSH requirements are discussed.

Experience should also include instructing employees on OSH subjects, preparing formal training materials, and contributing to new or enhanced training activities. Candidates should show the ability to participate in meetings, committees, or conferences with internal or external partners, and to recommend measures that help reduce or control hazardous conditions. This level of experience reflects progressively responsible OSH work performed with increasing independence.

OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (54 semester hours, 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in safety, occupational health, or industrial hygiene. Or a Ph.D. degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hrs or the equivalent 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. To be creditable, the education must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position to be filled.

OR a combination of graduate education and specialized experience equivalent to the above.

For GS-12: Applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-12 level:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in Federal service.

Specialized experience includes providing technical advice and program support to leadership and safety personnel on a broad range of OSH issues. This includes independently developing OSH plans, goals, or strategies; offering well-supported recommendations on resolving OSH concerns; and helping ensure safety program consistency across varied operations. Experience should include administering or providing advanced support for OSH information systems such as SMIS, IAS, DOI LEARN/TALENT, PHA databases, or similar systems to monitor trends, track corrective actions, and support management decisions.

Experience leading or directing accident investigations, analyzing contributing factors, identifying prevention strategies, and preparing comprehensive written and verbal communication such as reports, policies, or technical documents. Experience should include delivering training to audiences with differing levels of OSH knowledge. This level reflects full professional competence and the ability to provide well-informed guidance in safety and occupational health program management.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

--Resume Length:
Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

--Basis of Rating:
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the result of the assessment required for this position. Your responses must be substantiated by your resume. If you do not respond to the application questions you may be rated ineligible.

Narrative Responses Assessment Required: If you meet the basic qualification and eligibility requirements of this position, you will be contacted via email after the vacancy announcement closes and given 5 calendar days to submit narrative responses to questions specific to this announcement. The email will include the instructions and deadline in which the responses must be submitted. Subject-matter experts will use these narrative responses to further evaluate your knowledge, skills, abilities as they directly relate to the duties of this position. Failure to submit this information upon request will result in your disqualification from further consideration. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities that are being evaluated are:

• Describe your experience with conducting safety inspections of laboratories and gaging stations. (GS-11/12)
• Describe your experience with conducting accident investigations. Describe your involvement. (GS-11/12)
• Describe your experience with providing safety training. What systems or processes did you use when maintaining employee training records? (GS-11/12)
• Describe the types of documents that you've written (pamphlets, brochures, speeches, operating manuals, training manuals, etc). What was the subject-matter? Who was the intended audience? (GS-11/12)
• Give an example where you have had to communicate with a variety of individuals, which may have involved explaining safety procedures, regulations, and processes. (GS-11/12)
• Describe you experience with laboratory inspections, aircraft, dive safety, hazardous waste disposal, traffic control/driving safety. (GS-12 Only)

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and awards during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

--NOTE: If it is determined that you have rated yourself higher than is supported in your description of experience and/or education as described in your resume/application, or that your resume or application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be lowered.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930009