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Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
Kayenta Service Unit | Division of Quality Management | Safety and Security Branch
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to manage an occupational safety, health, and emergency, management programs for Kayenta Service Unit (KSU) in Kayenta, Arizona. This includes functions related to documentation and analysis, the training and exercise program, Quality Rounds corrective action plans development, implementation and monitoring, accreditation readiness, and policy organization. KSU has several off-site programs including community-based programs and clinics.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/31/2025 to 08/13/2025
Salary
$73,939 to - $96,116 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kayenta, AZ
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
IHS-25-KA-12774404-ESEP/MP
Control number
842096800

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Duties

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  • Develops, implements, manages, evaluates and recommends revisions of hospital safety and occupational health programs.
  • Provides consultative assistance to supervisors in identifying changes needed in written safety policies and procedures, hazardous materials management and makes recommendations to Leadership.
  • Anticipates, recognizes, evaluates and controls safety hazards in the workplace and patient care environment. Modifies or significantly depart from standard techniques in devising specialized operating practices concerned with accomplishing project safety and occupational health objectives.
  • Coordinates the implementation of the facilities' emergency management program for internal and external disasters. Coordinates the Safety Program Framework processes for the Service Unit. Advises, organizes and brings together employees, products, clients, and other resources.
  • Participates in monthly or annually in-service trainings to all employees on safety and occupational health for Indian Hospital Services in the form of a classroom, fair, or department setting.
  • Develops and measures the methods to correct unsafe work practices as determined by reviews of accident/injury/incident reports, supervisor reviews and regulatory guidance. Evaluates employees' safety work practices, provides remedial training makes corrective recommendations as necessary.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.

Work is performed in a healthcare setting where exposure to contagious diseases is common.

Incumbent is frequently exposed to operating machinery, hazardous materials including chemicals, acids, and flammable liquids.

Work is often conducted out-of-doors where exposure to wind, rain, snow, hot and cold weather are common.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required when performing normal duties that subject the individual to potential exposure to these agents

IHS Selectees that will work in an IHS health care facility may be subject to Employee Health Policies related to Measles and Rubella, COVID-19, and seasonal influenza immunizations. Vaccine exemption requests may be available according to the National and/or Service Unit guidance.

On-call hours or standby duty may be required.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Education:
Undergraduate and Graduate Education:
Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or 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

Experience: General Experience (for GS-5 positions):
Experience in scientific or technical work that provided an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the safety and occupational health field. Creditable general experience must have demonstrated the achievement of knowledge equivalent to the education described above.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5):
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.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-11: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-9) level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Providing management of the Safety & Occupational Health Program by directing, monitoring, providing oversight and evaluation processes and activities involving safety management, occupational support services, and management of the environment of care throughout a health care facility.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

There are no education requirements.

Additional information

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous 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.

  • This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.
  • Government Housing is offered, based on availability

This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:
For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/
For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/
For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps

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.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.

  • Emergency Management
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Risk Analysis
  • Safety and Occupational Health
  • Teaching Others
  • Technical Application


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12774404. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 08/13/2025, to be considered.

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