Summary The purpose of this position is to serve as the Chief, Safety and Environmental Management (SEM) section with responsibility and accountability for directing, planning, developing, implementing, and assessing the Medical Center's safety programs. These programs are developed individually at each medical center with special regard to the needs and requirements of the level, scope, and nature of the medical facility. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to the following: Oversee, monitor, and evaluate multiple programs associated with the Medical Center's safety activities Direct, plan, develop, implement and assess Medical Center safety programs Identify opportunities for improvement through ongoing effort of problem identification, evaluation, resolution, monitor and evaluation Oversee Joint Commission Environment of Care Standards to ensure that Medical Center is in compliance Provide expert and consultative technical assistance to various Medical Center committees, work groups, task forces as well as senior leadership Serve as member of the Incident Command Team during activation of the hospital Incident Command System on environmental safety and health matters Direct employees in conducting inspections and processing reports of unsafe of unhealthy working conditions Perform risk assessments to mitigate issues that pertain to potential libel concerns Evaluate Safety programs Develop procedural and systems designs to prevent injury/illness or property damage Focus on conducting risk assessment criteria to mitigate hazards Oversee the planning, organization, direction, and presentation of education and training courses related to Safety Programs Receive and review accident, injury, and illness report and ensure that reporting procedures are followed in accordance with Federal requirements Serve as subject matter expert on NFPA codes and standards, Joint Commission standards on Life Safety, and the Environment of Care standards Review, analyze, and make recommendations on all levels of Medical Center construction projects including Major, Minor, Non-Recurring, Maintenance (NRM) and Station Level Projects (SLP) to verify compliance Ensure all personnel are trained to recognize, avoid, and report all potential fire, safety, industrial hygiene, and construction hazards Facilitate organizational environment of care rounds (inspections) and oversee the tracking/resolution of identified deficiencies Supervise, plan, and direct the work of operations Oversee subordinate staff to monitor and evaluate safety activities and manage the overall facility safety program Provide advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters Hear and resolve minor complaints from employees Interview candidates Perform all other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you MUST meet the following requirements: Selective Placement Factor: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. IMPORTANT: This information must also be supported by your resume. (You will not receive credit for your response if you fail to supply supporting information in your resume.) The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Do you possess experience managing a safety and/or emergency management program in a healthcare setting? ~AND~ In addition to meeting the Selective Placement Factor, all applicants must have the following: Specialized Experience: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience in or related to safety and occupational health that has equipped you with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. This experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in Federal service. 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. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Production Support Service Reliability And Dependability Selective Placement Factor Technical Practices IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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, 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys requiring considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching, or similar movements. Occasionally, there may be a need to lift and carry moderately heavy objects. The work may require some degree of agility and dexterity when, for example, it involves inspecting construction sites. There is some standing, bending, and carrying of small and light objects. The is usually performed in an office setting. There may be occasional exposure to the risks of work environments and conditions requiring special safety precautions and clothing. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
