Assistant Regional Administrator for Cooperative and State Programs.

Metadata: U.S. Citizen, at least 16 years old, security investigation required, supervisory and financial-disclosure probationary periods may apply, valid driver’s license.

About the role

The Safety and Occupational Health Manager (Assistant Regional Administrator for Cooperative and State Programs) plans, directs, develops, manages policies and procedures, and monitors a number of safety and health programs mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These include State Plan operations, Consultation programs, Voluntary Protection Programs, Training, Public Outreach, Partnerships, Technical Information dissemination, and financial grant activities.

Responsibilities

• Administers a Region-wide program of consultative services and technical assistance to industry through grant arrangements with the states.
• Supervises professional and administrative staff conducting support programs for clarification, interpretation, dissemination of technical information to the public, Area Offices, and monitoring and evaluating State Program activities.
• Directs the State Program enforcement operations in the Region; monitors and evaluates state program activities to judge effectiveness and ensure they are “at least as effective as” the federal program.
• Advises OSHA grantees on grants management administration; negotiates new grants at the beginning of each fiscal year and monitors grantees on administrative management requirements.
• Directs the Regional Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), providing guidance, direction, and assistance to corporate and site managers in developing safety and health management systems.
• Directs the Regional Outreach, Technical Information, and technical equipment programs.
• Participates with leadership in region-wide program planning, evaluation, redirection, and modification of policy and program criteria.
• Responds to significant occurrences such as occupational fatalities, catastrophes, imminent danger situations, and issues involving organized groups.
• Provides technical information, data, and publications concerning occupational safety and health issues to OSHA personnel, other government agencies, and the general public.
• Fosters creative partnerships with workers, employers, other federal agencies, insurance companies, safety and health professional groups, trade associations, and others interested in improving workplace conditions.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Subject to financial disclosure requirements.
• Requires a supervisory probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

This series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

• Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in 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.
• 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.
  • 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 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 safety and occupational health policies or standards.
  • Training workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel.
  • Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.
• Certificates: Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification.

Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-13, in the Federal Service.

Skills

Specialized Experience is defined as:

• Managing safety or occupational health enforcement/compliance program elements such as State OSHA Enforcement and Consultation programs, Training and Educational Programs and Grants, Voluntary Protection Programs, Compliance Assistance Programs, or other cooperative and state programs.
• Directing the accomplishment of work in accordance with OSHA procedures within the framework of OSHA’s Strategic Plan.
• Providing technical assistance to employers, employees, or the general public concerning technical interpretations of the OSH Act, standards, regulations, policies, or procedures.

Education

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent.