Job Summary

As a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist within the National Centers for Animal Health Safety and Security Unit, you will work to eliminate or control hazardous operations or conditions in the Veterinary Services program and be responsible for participating in the planning, development, and implementation of an occupational safety and health, environmental compliance, and wellness program specific to assignments given by the Safety Manager.

Job Description

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (0018): 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 Specialized 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. These examples are not all inclusive. In addition to the individual occupational requirements for the 0018 job series, applicants must meet the following: FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Promoting program training activities designed to achieve awareness of safety hazards and corresponding preventive procedures. Surveying workplaces, processes, and products for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards while identifying potential work hazards and risks. Identifying and clearly communicating safety and health hazards in various working conditions from offices to rural farm locations. Applying standard safety and occupational health laws, regulations, procedures, practices, and following equipment guides in various working environments to aid in promoting the adoption of safe working patterns. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, in a major area of study in the safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or in other related fields of study 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.. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: This position requires specific coursework or a degree in a specific field to be basically qualified. You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.