Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Dive Safety Officer)

Geological Survey • Reston, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

You will serve as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Dive Safety Officer) for the Occupational Safety & Health Management Branch. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Pre-employment and random drug testing are required.
• You must pass a physical examination.
• You may need to complete a statement regarding your physical ability.
• You are required to obtain and maintain a Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
• You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, and/or overtime.
• You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 5 nights per month.
• You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/16/2026-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.
• This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. If you do not provide evidence that you possess the following selective factor(s), you will be rated not qualified.
• This position requires the following certifications: 1) Scuba Instructor, 2) Divemaster, 3) Rescue Diver, 4) Advanced Open Water Diver, 5) Basic Scuba Diver, 6) Basic Life Support/Diving First Aid, 7) Emergency Oxygen Administration.
• A degree with major study of 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. You must submit transcripts.
• 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 dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. 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 the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of 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 established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.
• Specialized Experience Requirement: you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: scientific diving program management, including development, implementation, and evaluation of dive safety policies, procedures, and training; oversight of scientific diving operations and personnel; application of advanced knowledge in dive physiology, hyperbaric medicine, and diving technology; and ensuring compliance with federal regulations and standards governing scientific diving. Experience must include independent authority to guide and advise on complex or novel diving situations and to lead investigations, audits, and programmatic improvements across a large and diverse scientific diving program. You must include hours per week worked.

Nice To Haves

• Position will be expected to gain certification within 5 of years of hiring in the following: 1. Dry Suit - Instructor, 2. Diving First-Aid - Instructor, 3. USGS Swift Water Awareness, 4. Hyperbaric Medicine and Diving Physiology, 5. Recognizing & diagnosing Otic barotrauma while in the field, 6. Dive Injury Recognition and Management - Instructor, and 7. Altitude Diving.

Responsibilities

• Prepares new or revised standards, policies, guidance, training, and procedures in support of USGS scientific diving missions.
• Develops training to address the needs of the missions of USGS scientific divers.
• Works with regional dive leads, dive groups, and cooperators to ensure safe scientific dive operations.
• Performs independent external safety audits of dive safety programs and documents results.
• Provides technical scientific diving expertise and assistance in support of underwater scientific research.
• Serves as the senior, lead USGS Dive Safety Officer, is an authorized USGS diver, and serves as the Dive Safety Board Chair.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree