Summary As Chief of Health and Safety, the incumbent has direct responsibility for the development, implementation and monitoring of the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, Industrial Hygiene and Safety Program. The incumbent is responsible for the supervision of and for planning and directing work operations and daily operational activities requiring the leadership of the Safety Officer. Responsibilities Duties Include: Responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing the overall Safety Program at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center which includes Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Protection, Fire Protection, and Green Environment Management Systems (GEMS). Serves as a Supervisory Service Chief to assure program is comprehensive and meets all regulatory requirements; ensures compliance with annual management plans; serves as technical expert in industrial hygiene surveys and special studies. Has the delegated authority to immediately intervene or stop work operations whenever conditions exist which pose a risk of injury, impairment, sickness, or endangerment of life to staff, patients, visitors, contractors, and/or threatens damage to the environment, equipment, or buildings. Develops Safety Program goals and objectives, prioritizes work activities based on organizational structure. Prepares safety policies, procedures and guidelines. Coordinates the Safety Program with Service Chiefs, CDSO's, Employee Health Physician, representatives of the medical staff and other organizational components; provides sound technical advice and direction to executive leadership on all aspects of the safety program. Plans, conducts or directs special studies concerned with workplace injuries and environment of care issues that cause occupational health problems. Investigates accidents, which may include fatalities, serious injuries, and occupational illnesses; ensures administration of incidents through computerized accident tracking and worker's compensation processing program (ECOMP). Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Will discuss once selected, Compressed tour not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Manager/PD92977-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/16/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: 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. You may qualify based on your experience described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in the normal line of progression in the organization. In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet 4/6 of the following examples of specialized experience: Experience in ensuring that comprehensive risk assessments are performed to identify, eliminate or control hazards. Experience in investigating accidents involving personnel, visitors, and/or damage to machinery, tools, materials, or equipment. Experience in collaborating closely with all services, engineering, infection control, all clinical and administrative services. Experience in evaluating work performed to ensure quality of work, regulatory compliance, and ability to assist VAHCS services within reasonable time standards. Experience in inspection of healthcare system buildings, grounds, and operations of physical plant facilities regarding safety, health, and fire deficiencies (EOC Rounds). Experience in providing guidance on safety and health issues regarding OSHA, Joint Commission, VA policies, NFPA and/or other pertinent organizations and regulations for all healthcare system activities, professional and administrative services, and management. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Critical Thinking Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication Organizational Stewardship Planning and Evaluating 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: Regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys requiring considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, and 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. Work Environment: Regular and recurrent exposure to hazards, unpleasantness, and discomforts such as moving machine parts, shielded radiation sources, irritant chemicals, acid fumes, physical stresses, high noise levels, adverse weather conditions, and high temperatures from steam lines. Protective equipment and clothing may be needed, including hard hat, metatarsal shoes, earmuffs or plugs, goggles, respirators, and gloves. 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 Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
