Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Industrial Hygienist - Recruitment Incentive

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Industrial Hygienist serves within the Occupational Safety and Health Office at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). The employee's major efforts include planning and implementing comprehensive industrial hygiene programs for the Health Care System.

***Recruitment Incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidate only ***

Overview

Help
Job canceled
Open & closing dates
11/21/2022 to 11/30/2022
Salary
$66,214 to - $86,074 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
1 vacancy
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
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSY-11734422-23-TRC
Control number
690432800

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (COVID-19 - VA 004) in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).

Videos

Duties

Help

Major duties include but are not limited to:

  • Provides Industrial Hygiene support for the Health Care System.
  • Technical authority who ensures compliance with all safety and OSHA requirements by employees and contractors while on VA grounds/facilities, they would have the authority to take immediate action when any situation develops which is deemed a hazard to workers, employees, patients or property of the VA.
  • Coordinate/audit the effort of staff involved with the Industrial Hygiene program to ensure that it is developed and implemented in accordance with OSHA, ANSI standards, NFPA, CARF, OIG, Joint Commission, VA policies and directives.
  • Reviews Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Safety Standards as received form VA, OSHA, TJC and other regulatory agencies, and advises SFVAHCS management of methods to comply with the standards.
  • Responsible for developing and updating all policies related to the Industrial Hygiene program at SFVAHCS.
  • Responsible for the development and maintenance of the SFVAHCS Respiratory Protection Program.
  • Conduct internal gap analysis of Industrial Hygiene programs. Issue reports of gap analysis and track status of corrective and preventive actions.
  • Technical representative for Industrial Hygiene in the design, modifications, operation and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with NFPA codes, OSHA regulations, ANSI, NFPA, and ASTM standards.
  • Conducts surveys of working conditions to determine the nature and magnitude of hazardous exposures and the effectiveness of existing control measures.
  • Applies appropriate sampling techniques and procedures and may oversee the work of contractors engaged to perform specific monitoring.
  • Devises or works with engineers to develop control measures, such as changes in work procedures, systems, materials or the use of personal protective equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (Work hours may be further discussed during interview.)
Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist - Recruitment Incentive/ 803990
Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates only
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - AFGE

Physical Requirements: Physical demands include office functions which typically involve computer work, filing, and paperwork. The remainder of the incumbent's time is involved in performing inspections and risk assessments throughout the entire Sioux Falls VA HCS, off-site locations and off-site programs. This includes\ required access to all areas (including mechanical rooms, crawl spaces, attics, etc.). Due to the wide range of locations required to be inspected by incumbent, this position involves the frequent walking back and forth between buildings and driving to off-site locations. This person spends additional time outdoors in conjunction with construction projects. These routine inspections require physical exertion such as extensive walking and prolong bending, stooping, crouching, climbing and standing to observe activities, construction sites, storage areas, and leased spaces to name a few. Off campus inspections involve the requirement to travel by motor vehicle throughout the Midwest. Must be able to lift equipment that can weigh up to 35 pounds. There may be some walking or bending during infrequent walk-through inspections of worksites.

Working Conditions: Work may involve many types of work environments which expose the incumbent to hazardous materials and processes. This also includes the exposure to extreme heat and cold and fall hazards associated to new construction. Require the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hearing protection, hard hat, safety glasses, safety toe shoes, cold weather clothing. Other appropriate PPE may be required due to the hazards associated with the wide range of construction projects on going at the various facilities. The incumbent is required to inspect work areas which present potential hazards such as infectious diseases, blood borne pathogens, and patients that can become violent due to post traumatic stress disorders, which may require the need for PPE or follow special precautions. The incumbent is also required to spend time on the road traveling throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin to inspect facilities (such as, but not limited to, CBOCs, Contract Nursing Home Inspections, Medical Foster Homes, Grant & Per-diems, Residential Board and Care inspections, and Outreach Centers). The incumbent performs these inspections throughout the year and must observe the normal safety precautions as set by this medical center at all times.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

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

Basic Requirements for 0690 Series:

The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained. 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).

Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.

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. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.

Evaluation of Experience

Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.

Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, you must also qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: recommending changes to critical safety and/or industrial hygiene programs; interpreting and applying safety/health/industrial hygiene policies or laws; performing safety and industrial hygiene risk assessments; performing inspections/audits; conducting sampling tests to evaluate occupational hazards; and conducting training on safety and/or industrial hygiene programs;

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time study requirement). TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED- Transcripts must be legible and contain sufficient information (e.g., student name, name of institution, total number of credits completed, date degree conferred, etc.) to show you meet the requirements as specified in the announcement.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education (Transcripts required).
  • To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 2 years of graduate education that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11. For example, an applicant who has 45 semester hours of graduate level education (9 semester hours beyond the first two years - i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note:
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

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 VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.