Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Mandarin)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration•Saint Louis, MO

14d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in the Kansas City's Saint Louis Area Office in Saint Louis, Missouri. The full performance level is GS-12. The position is in a bargaining unit, is not remote, and requires the selectee to report regularly to an assigned DOL office. Telework may be available as determined by management and agency policy. A writing sample may be part of the interview process. The specialist conducts inspections and investigations at workplaces across agricultural, construction, general industry, and maritime sectors to assess compliance with federal OSHA standards. The work includes investigating fatalities, injuries, serious accidents, and unsafe conditions; reviewing workplace processes, safety programs, injury and illness data, and applicable standards; identifying hazards and violations; and recommending abatement methods. At the GS-12 level, the specialist also conducts targeted outreach, proposes fiscal penalties, documents inspections for legally sufficient cases, and assists agency attorneys with contested cases, including testifying. Assignments become more difficult and complex with less supervision as the employee progresses. The position requires fluency in Mandarin, a valid driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle, a drug test before appointment, a medical examination, and the ability to meet physical requirements, including lifting items up to 25 pounds and using personal protective equipment. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old, and may be required to complete a probationary period and obtain the necessary security or investigation level. Applicants must meet the occupational series’ individual occupational requirement and the specialized experience requirements for the grade. The IOR may be met through qualifying education, specialized experience, or certain certifications. GS-11 applicants generally need one year of qualifying experience equivalent to GS-09, or qualifying doctoral-level education or a combination of education and experience. GS-12 applicants need one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11; education cannot substitute for experience at GS-12. Applicants must submit a resume of no more than two pages, and only the resume uploaded under the USAJOBS Resume document type will be reviewed.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 16 years old.
Must be fluent in Mandarin.
Must have a valid driver's license and ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Must pass a drug test before appointment.
Must complete a medical examination and maintain physical requirements, including the ability to lift items weighing up to 25 pounds and use personal protective equipment.
Must obtain the necessary security or investigation level; a probationary period may be required if not previously completed.
Must meet the Safety and Occupational Health Series Individual Occupational Requirement through qualifying education, experience, or certification.
For GS-11, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, qualifying doctoral-level education, or a qualifying combination of education and experience.
For GS-12, must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11; education cannot substitute for experience at this grade.
Qualifying specialized experience may include safety and occupational health inspections, hazard analysis and control, application of safety laws and regulations, safety training, or related program work.
Resume must be limited to two pages; only the resume uploaded under the USAJOBS Resume document type will be reviewed.
Foreign education must be shown to be comparable to U.S. accredited education and applicable coursework requirements.

Responsibilities

Conduct occupational safety and health inspections in agricultural, construction, general industry, and maritime establishments to assess compliance with federal OSHA standards.
Investigate fatalities, injuries, serious accidents, and other unsafe conditions.
Prepare for inspections by reviewing work processes, operations, and applicable standards.
Conduct opening conferences with management, employees, and employee representatives to explain inspection purposes and procedures.
Conduct closing conferences with employers to review identified hazards and cited violations.
Plan, schedule, and conduct inspections individually, as assigned, or in response to complaints from employees or union representatives.
Inspect worksites, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures.
Review safety activities and occupational safety and health programs for compliance with requirements.
Analyze injury and illness data and identify workplace hazards and violations.
Conduct targeted outreach and provide information about OSHA legislation, regulations, and compliance activities to varied audiences.
Recommend abatement methods appropriate to work processes and operations.
Propose fiscal penalties.
Conduct interviews; review documents; and research equipment manuals, consensus standards, interpretations, and court decisions.
Document inspections to support legally sufficient cases.
Assist agency attorneys in preparing contested cases for administrative law judge hearings and testify in examinations by agency and employer attorneys.
Participate in efforts to obtain warrants and subpoena witnesses and documents when necessary.