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Safety & Occupational Health Manager

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS), Richmond, VA. The position is organizationally aligned under Facilities Management Service and directly reports to the Supervisory Healthcare Engineer (Chief) .

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$93,499 - $121,551 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
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
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBTA-13046590-26-AJ
Control number
882364600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent VA Employees & All Status (Current career/career-conditional Federal employees, Special Appointing Authority eligibles, VEOA eligible, Veterans and Reinstatement eligibles)

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Duties

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Major Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Serves as the Safety, Occupational Health and Fire Protection Manager and is responsible for the development of a comprehensive Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental and Fire Protection Program for a large medical center. Responsible for planning, coordinating, analyzing, supervising, organizing, evaluating/monitoring, and administering a comprehensive program in accordance with applicable regulations and guidelines concerning the safety of patients, employees and visitors.
  • Works directly with management and labor representatives in a regulatory and enforcement capacity to assure compliance with all applicable criteria adopted or developed by the VA to recognize, evaluate, analyze, control and eliminate hazards encountered in the construction, operation and maintenance of the health care facility.
  • Plans, organizes, coordinates, analyzes, and administers a series of comprehensive inspections of the Medical Center's facilities in patient care areas, laboratory areas, engineering shops, offices, as well as community nursing homes, Adult Day Care Centers, Grant and Per Diem facilities and residential board and care homes. Provides management with reports on compliance and violations of safety, industrial hygiene, environmental and fire protection mandates. Manages the Automated Safety Incident Surveillance Tracking System (ASISTS) for the medical center and inputs and manages all information required to maintain the OSHA 300 log and associated records.
  • Identifies, evaluates, analyzes and recommends means for controlling a wide variety of safety issues, including chemical, physical, radiological, environmental, biological or ergonomic hazards associated with occupational or patient care activities.
  • Assigns, directs, and reviews the work of assigned employees; plans and carries out the training and development of assigned employees; evaluates employees' work performance; recommends selections, promotions, status changes, awards, disciplinary actions, and separations; plans, schedules, and coordinates work operations; solves problems related to the work supervised; determines material, equipment, and facilities needed; explains and elicits the support of employees for management policies and goals; works to achieve the objectives of government-wide personnel programs and policies.
  • Responsible for active support of the Medical Center's EEO program by seeking to eliminate barriers to EEO.
  • Develops, prepares and updates, as necessary, comprehensive Safety Policies, the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and all other program policies and procedures; maintains a comprehensive library pertaining to the safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, environmental and fire protection field.
  • Investigates and analyzes accidents and safety reports from services and evaluates the causal factors and environmental conditions that lead to accidents; devises measures to control hazards detected; prepares annual, statistical or investigative reports.
  • Involved in the planning, development and construction phases of all construction and monitors construction contracts for compliance with applicable standards and conformance with Life Safety Codes; assists design engineers in the unique safety features required in renovations, including air distribution, ventilation, building construction, fire and smoke detection and suppression systems.
  • Conducts and monitors the safety, occupational health, environmental, industrial hygiene and fire protection training for all medical center staff ; evaluates and reports on safety-related training performed station wide.
  • Responsible for compliance with federal, slate and local regulations concerning the management of hazardous materials and waste, and universal waste from the point of entry into the facility to its final disposal.
  • Involved in the planning, development, coordination, and evaluation of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for the medical center.
  • Oversees the inspections of community nursing homes, Adult Care Centers, Grant and Per Diem facilities and residential board and care homes, and similar programs, to ensure the safety of veterans placed and ensure compliance with Life Safety Codes.
  • Acts as the hub of the safety management information and collection system to provide the Environment of Care Committee with a working agenda and information necessary to make informed decisions concerning the Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental and Fire Protection Program.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00 p.m./ Nights and weekends work may be required
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Manager/PD015570
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 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 will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/08/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Individual Occupational Requirements
Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, hygiene), or degree in other fields that included or was supplemental by at least semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology.

OR,
Experience
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.
  • 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.
Grade Determination, GS-12: In addition to the IOR, your must meet the following:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: applying federal and state Safety and Occupational Health, Fire Protection, Industrial Hygiene and Environmental laws, statutes, policies, regulations, standards, operational directives and methodologies to plan and carry out a facility-wide program, providing guidance, direction and technical assistance to all managers and supervisors.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Incumbent accomplishes on-site visit throughout the facility and requires moderate physical exertion, including transporting equipment, climbing, standing, walking and bending, as well as using personal protective devices and occasional work in confined spaces. The work is performed in an office setting with frequent exposure to a wide variety of hazards found in health care areas, laboratories, shops, construction sites and areas with possible exposure to operating machines, equipment, hazardous materials, high noise levels, dust and chemicals. Travel accomplished usually is to attend meetings, seminars, and other activities related to the position.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Accountability
  • Customer Service
  • Decisiveness
  • Flexibility
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience


Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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; religions; 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

VHA Mission Statement: Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.VHA Vision Statement: VHA will continue to be the benchmark of excellence and value in health care and benefits by providing exemplary services that are both patient centered and evidence based.Core Values - "I CARE"

  • Integrity
  • Commitment
  • Advocacy
  • Respect
  • Excellence

Agency contact information

Adrienne Joyner
Phone
980-401-2558
Email
adrienne.joyner@va.gov
Address
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23249
US

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https://vacareers.va.gov/

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