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SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
WATER RESOURCES DIVISION, NAVIGATION SUPPORT BRANCH

Summary

About the Position: Manage and administer the Safety and Occupational Health (S&OH) program for the Operations or Navigation Support Branch, Water Resources Division. Formulates Branch policies and provides program direction by issuing regulations, standards, and technical guidance.

This position is being filled at either the GS-11 or GS-12 level. Selection is at management discretion based on experience.

GS-11 Salary Range: $75,788 - $98,530
GS-12 Salary Range: $90,838 - $118,092

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/04/2026 to 05/18/2026
Salary
$75,788 - $118,092 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Norfolk, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
12
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
No
Announcement number
CERD-26-12948904
Control number
867713400

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Duties

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  • Establishes the Safety and Occupational Health program according to Federal regulations
  • Develops methods for providing Safety and Occupational Health support, evaluations, surveys, and studies of an unusual or complex nature- requiring liaison with internal and external agencies and organizations
  • Develops and coordinates the Corps of Engineers Safety and Occupational Health Management System (CESOHMS) for the Branch.
  • Serves as the branches Lead Fall Protection Technical Specialist, Lead Confined Space Technical Specialist, and Lead Control of Hazardous Energy/Lockout Tagout Technical Specialist
  • As Lead Technical Specialist, reviews, coordinates, trains, investigates, and develops lessons learned across the broad spectrum of Safety and Occupational Health operations within the Branch
  • Provides expert consultation and advice to the Branch Chief, Section Chiefs, management, staff, and operating officials, on SandOH management issues pertaining to a wide variety of complex work situations.
  • Oversees safety aspects of Civil Works Navigation and Flood Risk Management Project within the Branch
  • Coordinates with District Safety Chief to implement the Employees' Health Program
  • Coordinates the Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Programs. Coordinate for programs such as blood borne pathogens, hazard communication, ergonomics, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, and vision screening
  • Reviews and oversees safety and health programs associated with dredging operations.
  • Serves as the safety and occupational health technical authority for emergency preparedness and natural disaster recovery operations of floating plant, locks, dams and other Branch assets

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Travel may be required up to 10% of the time.
  • One year probationary period may be required if not already completed

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.




  • Current Civilian Employees of the Command
  • Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998



In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

GS-11 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) conducting surveys and inspections for compliance with applicable laws and regulations; 2) investigating incidents and near-misses to recommend corrective measures; 3) preparing safety instructions and guides; AND/OR 4) reviewing, updating, and enforcing program and district safety policies. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09).

OR

Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. with a major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral 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.

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 second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) reviewing contractor safety program and making recommendations; 2) conducting on-site safety surveys; 3) reviewing and analyzing statistical data in relation to accidents and hazards; AND/OR 4) participating in the development of safety training. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For the GS-12 level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.


You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Time in Grade Requirement for GS-11: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent to the GS-09. Please upload a copy of your most recent SF-50 to show that you meet the time in grade requirement.

Time in Grade Requirement for GS-12: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent to the GS-11. Please upload a copy of your most recent SF-50 to show that you meet the time in grade requirement.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show 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

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • This position requires a 1 year probationary period, unless already completed, during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a Safety & Occupational Health Career Field position.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.

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 announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Looking for a great place to work? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is one of the best! In 2020, USACE ranked #2 of government large-agency subcomponent! USACE is one of the world's premier public engineering, design, and construction management agencies. We serve the American people, striving to provide the most effective engineering and environmental science solutions to the nation's complex problems affecting national security, the economy and the environment in which we live.

USACE offers a team-inspiring and collaborative work environment; providing challenging and rewarding careers across a variety of disciplines. We rely on leaders with vision, creativity, and programmatic and technical expertise to lead us into the future. Align your talents with your passion and find out why the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is a great place to work!

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Email
USARMY.APG.CHRA-NE.MBX.APPLICANTHELP@ARMY.MIL
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
RD-W2SF03 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-NORFOLK
DO NOT MAIL
Norfolk, VA 23510
US

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