Summary Serves as a recognized technical expert, Industrial Hygienist, responsible for establishing, planning, organizing and managing a comprehensive occupational health program for the VA Hudson Valley HCS. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to; Develops and implements facility regulations, policies, guidelines, and programs embracing a wide range of complex and unique problems affecting the sites, development of such requirements requires extensive research into technical and medical publications and coordination with relate occupational health professionals, such as medical officers, engineers, scientist or bio acoustics specialist. Conducts a full and comprehensive industrial hygiene and environmental health program evaluations and inspections of both the Montrose and Castle Point sites. In addition to routine industrial hygiene surveys, conducts the more unusual or difficult studies relating to a hospital environment. Surveys and special studies are conducted to identity and evaluate a wide range of occupational health and physical hazards, and ascertain command and local program compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Selects and adapts appropriate sampling procedures, taking some samples on the initial inspection and determining what subsequent sampling needs to be done. Collects and evaluates resultant data for assessment of hazards. On the basis of sampling results, observation of the operation, and knowledge of toxic or hazardous materials, prepare a technical report citing health hazards and setting forth recommended actions for their control or elimination. Plans, conducts and directs special studies concerned with occupational health problems which require the development or modification of air sampling equipment or protective devise, or the evaluation of control measures for a specific operation. Serves as team leader during such studies. Special study requests may be one of a kind request for estimates of health hazards; may involve the design and conduct of a series of field surveys and tests to uncover and evaluate possible/potential health hazards, and may require in-depth, lengthy research of available guidelines which may times are fragmented and conflicting. Conducts briefings with supervisors or equivalent. Participates in the developing courses of instruction for facility personnel, prepares course agenda, makes arrangement for demonstrations, and gives technical instruction on occupational health/industrial hygiene subjects. Provides liaison with and serves as the point of contact for other Federal, State, and local officials concerned with implementation and compliance of statutory and regulatory occupational health requirements. Arranges for and conducts onsite visits and meetings with technical representatives to negotiate the application or content of regulations as they relate to both facility environments. Provides technical consultation to other organizations and contractor occupational health and safety personnel. Performs all other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, ah-hoc telework available Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD026870 Physical Requirements: The performance of duties requires long periods of walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, and bending. Moderate lifting and carrying of equipment, use of personal protective devices, and work in hazardous and confined spaces is required. Use of all appendages, good vision, and hearing are necessary. Emotional and mental stability are required. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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. 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, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-11 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; OR Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). Note: Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - In addition to meeting one of the above requirements, applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes; Knowledge of industrial hygiene principles, procedures, standards, equipment, techniques, and methods; developing and implementing an industrial hygiene program; performing analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials; knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards (such as hazardous waste, drinking water, medical waste, etc.); conducting surveys/studies of work operations regarding hazardous conditions; and developing industrial hygiene policies, procedures, and reports. Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: 1) the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; 2) the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and 3) the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment. 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. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Additional Information 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. This position may be authorized for adhoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.
