Industrial Hygienist

The VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Having 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 twelve (12) semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and eighteen (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). Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)OR

Combination of Experience and Education GS-12: Having a combination of education and experience - at least twelve (12) semester hours of course work in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and eighteen (18) additional semester hours as specified above, plus appropriate experience or additional education? All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard four (4)-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

AND ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must also have specialized experience as described below to qualify for this position.

Specialized Experience GS-12: having at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is in or typically related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next grade level in the Federal service. Qualifying experience is having professional knowledge of Industrial Hygienist (IH) concepts, principles, and practices that enables the IH to work independently, serve as a technical authority to provide expert advice, and direction on a range of IH matters; capable of conducting the most complex types of IH surveys; comprehension of applicable federal, state and local regulations, laws, directives, and applicable exposure and control procedures required to interpret legal requirements and serve as an expert witness in litigation cases; familiarity with education and training principles and practices; aptitude to train occupational safety and health professionals, management, supervisors, and employees; expertise in computer skills using various word-processing, databases and spreadsheets; skills and proficiency in technical writing of reports, and use analytical software to generate complex scientific reports.

Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.

Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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.

Responsibilities:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Serves as Industrial Hygienist for Eastern Kansas Medical Center. Industrial hygienist is concerned with the recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental conditions or stresses arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health, significant discomfort, or inefficiency. Major duties included the following but not limited to:

• The employee determines the need for, or effectiveness of, control measures, and when necessary, recommends procedures which will be suitable and effective for the environment.
• The incumbent will conduct surveys of working conditions to determine the nature and magnitude of hazardous exposures and the effectiveness of existing control measures. Where hazardous exposures are discovered, the incumbent will devise and work with engineers to develop control measures such as changes in work procedures, systems, materials, or the use of personal protective equipment.
• Participates with national level committees to ensure that consistent and appropriate industrial hygiene measures are followed.
• Makes hazard evaluation of new products introduced into the medical center and research for determining health hazard assignment and recommends rejections, substitution or unique controls, as appropriate, of items proposed for procurement including those which contain prohibited or highly toxic materials posing severe health hazards.
• Develops and conducts educational programs designed to inform management supervisors and employees of potential hazardous exposures, applicable directives, latest control techniques, and general occupational health matters.
• Requests immediate action from VA management to correct conditions which might be expected to cause serious illness, injury or death to employees, patients or the public.
• Develops Executive Industrial Hygiene Briefing material for the Executive Leadership Team and other Committee Meetings. Develops the annual evaluation for the Industrial Hygiene Program and presents to upper management
• Identifies actual and potential hazards and ability to explain the need to apply specific safety measures.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD05147A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidate in accordance with agency policy

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.