Safety Specialist (Gems Coordinator) at Washington

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 922790

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – 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 care to Veterans?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who served our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your Countrys service.

If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA. The VA is committed to hiring Veterans. The VA is much more than just another employer. It is an honorable, open and welcoming community of those who care. Gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission.

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (“I CARE”).

Americas Veterans need you! To find out more, go to http://www.va.gov/jobs/.

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 these appointment authorities.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• 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.
• Federal Employees must achieve time and grade to qualify
• Submit a recent SF-50 of upi are a cirremt/former federal employee

DUTIES:Back to top

Duties:  In this position you will serve as the Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (GEMS Coordinator) located in the Safety Office.  The incumbent serves as the on site environmental advisor and coordinator to management by performing functions that include:  Planning, organizing, leading controlling and evaluation of the (Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) programs, policies and training for all staff as required to meet all Veterans Administration (VA) and Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) guidelines.

 

• Conducts the annual Hazard Vulnerability Analysis
• Coordinates annual GAP analysis and environmental audits.
• Plans, organizes, implements, oversees and  assistance for project(s) or resolve environmental problems.
• Research complex occupational health laws and regulations recommends changes or modification to polices.
• Provides technical expertise for the design, modifications, operation and maintenance of VA Medical Center facilities and infrastructure to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. 
• GEMS Coordinator is a backup for the Safety Officer

Work schedule: 8:00am-4:00pm

Position Description:  PD04731-0

Relocation Expenses:  ***RELOCATION EXPENSES AND/OR INCENTIVES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED***

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

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.  The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.  For this vacancy announcement, applicants must have completed at least 52 weeks at the (GS-11) grade level to be eligible for the (GS-12) grade level.  An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

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.

[Insert qualifications]

 

Specialized Experience:   Example of Specialized Experience: Experience in providing technical direction, advice you will be rated on the following knowledge, skills, and abilities and other characteristics:

(KSAOs) based on your applications for this position.

1. Knowledge of environmental principal;principles, safety and occupational health practices, methods techniques, engineering concepts, procedures, standards, regulations and policies applicable to this Health Care System environmental policies, procedures and systems.

2. Skill in communication orally and in writing with employees at all levels of the facility people from other federal and state agencies, and the public in order to develop and implement environmental policies, procedures and systems.

3. Ability to conduct environmental pollution control studies and surveys and investigation compliance with environmental regulations.

4. Ability to measure the effectiveness of existing, environmental programs and recommend additions to environmental program as needed to meet changing environmental requirements.

5. Knowledge of training technique sufficient to conduct training for all levels of VAMC staff on the concepts and procedures involved in GEMS.

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

You will be rated on the following competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position. Narrative responses are not required at this time.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires frequent walking throughout the hospital environment.  You will be exposed to wet, slippery floors, moving equipment, high temperatures, drafts and continuous noise.

 

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPMs web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp. 

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

You must posses the Basic Requirements identified below to be considered eligible for this position.  Your application or resume must clearly show that your possess the specialized experience requirements.  Transcripts must be provided for qualification based on education.  Specialized experience is defied as experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position.

 

GS-12 requirements:  The following experience and/or education must be met to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.

 

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level

 

OR

 

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.

 

AND

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.

 

To receive consideration for the position, you must meet all qualification requirements as of the closing date of the announcement.

 

 

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.  Please refer to this checklist to ensure proper accreditation and for foreign education requirements: (http://www.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/applicantchecklist.doc)

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.).  Additionally, Veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.  If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non-service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as well as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" and required documentation with your application materials.

For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

After the vacancy announcement closes, those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position are referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.

Country: USA, State: Dist of Columbia, City: Washington, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.