Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Area Director)

This position serves as the Area Director for the OSHA Philadelphia Region, Norfolk Area Office. Safety and Occupational Health Programs cover a range of industries including a variety of high-hazard and high-risk operations with exposure to chemicals and physical agents.

• The selectee will be expected to report to the office listed above; this is not a remote position.
• This position is outside the bargaining unit.

Qualifications:

This series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

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: (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.

You must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) listed above, and the Specialized Experience below to qualify for Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Area Director), as described below.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience.

Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized Experience is defined as:

• Overseeing the operations and operating efficiency of a team by providing technical and/or administrative guidance;
• Managing safety or occupational health enforcement/compliance program elements;
• Making recommendations on current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards or developing new standards and operational procedures.

Responsibilities:

The Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Area Director) assumes responsibility for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for workers within an assigned geographical area. Safety and occupational health programs cover a range of industrial activities that include general and heavy construction, wood products, chemical production, textile mills and associated industries, paper milling and products, rubber and plastic products, foundry and primary metal operations, metal fabrication, alcohol production and maritime industries (ship building and repairing, longshoring). Industries include a variety of high-hazard and high risk operations (i.e., heavy construction, maritime operations, foundries, textile operations) and exposure to chemicals and physical agents for which standards, regulations, and precedents are not directly applicable, lacking, controversial or contested (i.e., asbestos, cotton dust, lead, silica, noise, fiberglass).

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee safety and occupational health programs for industries that include a variety of high-hazard and high-risk operations and exposure to chemicals and physical agents for which standards, regulations, and precedents are not directly applicable, lacking, controversial, or contested.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and advice to a variety of safety and occupational health representatives in the interpretation of pertinent legislation, regulations, and standards to conform with Federal requirements and to ensure achievement of sound program objectives and improved service to workers within the area office jurisdiction.
• Assign work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration, and the difficulty of the work and the capability of the employees.
• Evaluate work performance of subordinates.
• Give advice, counsel, or instruct employees on both work and administrative matters.
• Hear and resolve complaints of employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to higher level supervisor.
• Identify developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training.
• Find ways to improve production and increase the quality of work directed.
• Hear and resolve group grievances or serious employee complaints.
• Review and approve serious disciplinary actions involving nonsupervisory subordinates.

Salary : $127,646