Safety and Occupational Health Specialist
What you'd do
You will serve as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO), Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF).
Major duties
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO), Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF), duty stationed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Manage safety or occupational health program elements. 2. Develop or recommend safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. 3. Apply 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. 4. Develop safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. 5. Develop or implement programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. 6. Analyze or evaluate new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. 7. Design or modify workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. 8. Inspect or survey workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. 9. Train workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. 10. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. Physical Demands The work requires the performance of on-site inspections. Work may require extended periods of walking and standing, climbing ladders, or working in inclement weather during surveys and inspections. Work Environment Work is primarily performed in an office that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. During surveys, investigations, and inspections, the incumbent may be required to use a variety of personal protective clothing and equipment such as hard hats, face masks, and hearing protection. Travel You may also be required to travel for meetings and/or trainings. Telework This position is eligible for telework and the employee may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
What you need to qualify
Requirements Continued... Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 08/12/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12, you MUST possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: (1) Interpreting and applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, policies, standards, and procedures. (2) Planning and conducting inspections and hazard assessments of laboratories, shops, warehouses, equipment, industrial operations, or other complex work environments. (3) Evaluating occupational hazards and industrial hygiene concerns and recommending appropriate engineering, administrative, or personal protective equipment controls. (4) Documenting identified deficiencies and tracking corrective actions through completion. (5) Investigating and analyzing accidents or incidents to determine root causes, contributing factors, and preventive actions. (6) Developing or delivering safety education, training, and awareness materials. (7) Utilizing software applications to analyze accident or hazard trends and prepare reports, charts, and management briefings. To qualify you MUST meet 4 of the 7 specialized experience statements listed above. Volunteer Experience: 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.
Before you apply
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