Supervisory Industrial Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration • North Chicago, IL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Industrial Hygienist works in the Industrial Hygiene Division of the Public Health Department, Fleet Medicine Directorate, at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois. The FHCC is a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois providing medical and dental services to U.S. military veterans, recruits, active-duty personnel, and eligible beneficiaries.

The position oversees and conducts facility inspections, investigations, and surveys to identify occupational health hazards and assess regulatory compliance. It evaluates exposures, studies work operations and environments, analyzes potential toxic materials, and recommends effective controls or changes to work procedures and schedules. The work encompasses chemical, biological, physical, and radiological hazards across varied activities and environments.

The role also manages hazardous-waste receipt and disposal and associated records in accordance with EPA standards, state law, and facility regulations; contributes to national-level committees; and develops industrial-hygiene policies, procedures, and reports. The position requires knowledge of industrial-hygiene requirements and oversight agencies to develop and implement a program for a large facility.

This is a non-virtual position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The role is at the GS-12 level. Recruitment or relocation incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized; the Critical Skills Incentive is not approved.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet one of the specified basic qualification pathways: an eligible bachelor's or graduate degree in industrial hygiene or a related field; an eligible bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, or life science with the specified coursework; or American Board of Industrial Hygiene certification.
• Provide transcripts if qualifying through education, or proof of certification if qualifying through ABIH certification.
• Possess a current, valid state-issued driver's license.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, including relevant industrial-hygiene knowledge and experience, such as inspections in health care facilities, knowledge of medical-facility operations and materials, use of sampling instrumentation, sampling strategies and analytical-method limitations, hazard controls, and ability to organize material and speak to groups for training.
• Current or former Federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement must have 52 weeks at GS-11 by the announcement closing date and provide supporting SF-50 documentation.
• Pass a required pre-placement physical examination.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements, if applicable.
• Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program, as required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Meet the position's physical demands, including carrying equipment, climbing, standing, walking, bending, using personal protective devices, and occasionally working in hot or cold areas and confined spaces.
• Meet all requirements by the announcement closing date of 11/02/2026.

Nice To Haves

• A high level of accomplishment or complexity in previous work, with experience in the same or a similar position and the ability to assume duties with little or no training.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and conduct facility inspections to identify occupational health hazards, determine the need for further investigations and surveys, and ensure compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Determine compliance with established criteria, evaluate exposures, and advise on control measures and changes to work procedures or schedules.
• Address varied work activities and environments involving chemical, biological, physical, and radiological hazards.
• Study work operations and processes, examine work environments, and analyze findings.
• Analyze the nature and degree of toxic materials present.
• Recommend procedures suitable and effective for the work environment.
• Receive and dispose of hazardous waste and maintain records in accordance with EPA standards, state law, and facility regulations.
• Participate on national-level committees to support consistent and appropriate industrial-hygiene practices and measures.
• Develop industrial-hygiene policies, procedures, and detailed reports.
• Develop and implement an industrial-hygiene program for a large facility.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family; specific eligibility and benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining the annual-leave accrual rate; approval is not guaranteed and must be requested before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager