Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Hines, IL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois, and is organizationally aligned under the Office of the Medical Center Director and the Director, Safety and Occupational Health Service. The specialist works with supervisors, union officials, and safety and occupational health committees to eliminate or control hazardous operations and conditions across the medical center’s facilities.

The role advises the Safety & Occupational Health Manager on program status and recommends changes to work programs to meet new standards. It independently schedules workplace surveys, evaluates risks and compliance, investigates accidents, analyzes causes, and recommends preventive or corrective measures. The specialist also coordinates with external safety professionals, consults with related specialists on work-process changes, and trains employees and lower-grade safety and industrial hygiene staff. The position participates in facility safety, accident review, construction safety, and environment-of-care committees.

The work schedule is 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. Applicants must meet the stated specialized experience or education requirements, as well as the GS-12 grade requirements. Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process.
• Participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Meet the specialized experience or education qualification requirements by the announcement closing date, November 4, 2026.
• For the education pathway, have a major in safety or occupational health, or a related degree supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in specified related disciplines; submit transcripts when qualifying based on education.
• For GS-12, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11, including experience identifying and analyzing safety and occupational health problems, evaluating approaches, conducting studies and investigations, reporting findings, conducting training, and providing technical guidance.
• Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must meet the GS-12 time-in-grade requirement: 52 weeks at GS-11, with supporting SF-50 documentation.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; from May 7, 2025, non-REAL-ID-compliant driver's licenses or state identification cards cannot be used as acceptable employment identification.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Safety & Occupational Health Manager on program status and recommend work-program changes to meet new safety and occupational health standards.
• Consult with safety and occupational health specialists outside the facility about hazards associated with new laboratory equipment and other work areas, and identify evolving control techniques and protective devices.
• Independently schedule surveys of VA buildings and offices to identify and evaluate risks in varied work environments.
• Assess compliance of mechanical and physical conditions with established safety policies and procedures.
• Direct accident investigations, analyze contributing factors and causes, and develop specific prevention methods.
• Consult with specialists in related occupations about work-process modifications and recommend corrective or remedial safety measures.
• Train employees and lower-grade occupational safety and industrial hygiene staff on chemical, biological, physical, and other safety subjects.
• Adapt available media to specialized training needs and participate in developing innovative safety training and promotion activities.
• Participate in the Hines Safety, Accident Incident Review Board (AIRB), Hines Construction Safety Committee, and Environment of Care (EOC) committees.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal service, work experience, or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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