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Assistant Area Director

Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Chicago Region

Summary

This position is with the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Chicago Region. It is in the Naperville Area Office.

  • Selectee will be expected to report to the Naperville Area office; this is not a remote position.
  • This position is outside the bargaining unit.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/16/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 16, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$118,984 - $154,682 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
MS-26-BOS-OSHA-13003023-SJQ
Control number
875958300

Duties

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  • Serves as Supervisor to a multi-disciplinary group of Industrial Hygienists, Safety and Occupational Health Specialists, and Safety Engineers. Identifies, distributes and balances workload and tasks.
  • Provides and signs written performance appraisals based on daily observation of work. Approves the use of annual, sick, and/or credit leave of short duration.
  • Communicates assignments and applicable time frames to team members.
  • Conducts on-the-job assessments of workload progress, productivity, and quality to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
  • Makes recommendations on promotions, reassignments, awards, training, and other career development opportunities.
  • Assists in the formulation of new or revised draft performance standards.
  • Reviews case files to ensure proper application of standards and proposed penalties as well as reasonable abatement dates and documentation that is legally sufficient and consistent with OSHA policies and directives.
  • Monitors progress of the group toward accomplishment of the program plan, recommending deviations to the plan as required.
  • Serves as a witness before judicial hearing and trials, including criminal investigations, providing technical expertise in occupational safety.
  • Represents OSHA at meetings of employer or labor organizations, trade associations and other groups interested in safety and health.
  • Ensures that OSHA's Strategic Plan, mission, and vision are communicated and integrated into the goals, objectives, work plan, and customer service.
  • Reviews, comments and makes recommendations on current OSHA standards, development of new standards and operational procedures which affect the compliance program.
  • Leads inspections/investigations involving difficult and complex cases involving high risk operations, imminent danger, non-existent or inadequate standards where use of the general duty clause would be required, catastrophes and discrimination complaints.
  • Recommends approval of completed case files by evaluating and determining appropriate actions.
  • Provides technical assistance to employers, employees and the general public concerning technical interpretations of the OSH Act of 1970.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be at least 16 years old.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements.
  • Requires a supervisory probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
  • Requires a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

The Industrial Hygienist Series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

  • A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or
  • A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or
  • Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH).

Evaluation of Education: All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university.You must meet the "Individual Occupational Requirements" listed above and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for Assistant Area Director, as described below.

In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must have at least 52 weeks specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-12. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resumes should reflect the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

  • Conducting complex occupational safety and health inspections.
  • Conducting analyses of workplace safety and health programs to determine unsafe or unhealthy working conditions or processes.
  • Providing technical advice, guidance, or training training to employers, employees, labor representatives, or other interested parties regarding safe/healthful working conditions.
  • Leading teams of occupational safety and health professionals in the investigation and/or documentation of unsafe and/or unhealthful working conditions.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Additional information

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.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, 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

You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states: Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interest and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements.

Supervisory Financial Disclosure (If applicable): 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.

For more information, click Telework Position Information. 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.

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 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.

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 evaluation will be based on how well you meet the qualifications outlined in this vacancy announcement, as demonstrated through your resume and supporting documentation.

You may preview application questions for this vacancy here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13003023

SME Resume Panel Review

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review your resume to assess your technical qualifications based on the competencies listed below. Applicants who meet the required qualifications will advance to the next stage of the hiring process.

For each below competency, SME(s) will provide a rating of 0-Not Applicable, 1-Awareness, 2-Basic, 3-Intermediate, 4-Advanced, or 5-Expert based on the content of your resume.

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

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Leadership
  • Problem Solving
  • Technical Competence


Click here for Evaluation details.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your paid, unpaid, and volunteer 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.).

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) will be considered well-qualified if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review the eligibility questions to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation.

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship, and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and you will help shape the workforce of tomorrow. DOL offers rewarding opportunities to contribute to a noble mission; to serve and protect American workers, prepare them for new and better jobs, and to ensure the safety and fairness of American workplaces.

The Department of Labor values its customers. Every DOL employee is responsible for delivering good customer service through accurate, courteous, efficient, and effective transactions.

The Department of Labor does not make unfavorable hiring decisions on the basis of an applicant's previous or current unemployment, or the fact that an applicant has experienced financial difficulty through no fault of his/her own and has undertaken good faith efforts to meet his/her financial obligations. Consideration is given to financial status in relation to appointments only where required by law, regulation, or Executive Order.

Applicants with disabilities can contact the vacancy point of contact listed on the job vacancy announcement to request reasonable accommodations needed for the application process.

Agency contact information

Susie Quinn
Phone
617-788-2814
Email
quinn.susie.j@dol.gov
Address
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
200 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20210
US

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