Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), NOAA Diving Center (NDC), with 1 vacancy in Silver Spring, MD; Alpena, MI; Newport, RI; Galveston, TX; Seattle, WA; or Sheboygan, WI.

This position is also announced under vacancy number OMAO-[redacted]8-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Duties

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As a Safety and Occupational Health Manager, you will perform the following duties:

• Administer safety and occupational health activities and program for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) scientific and commercial diving operations. Oversee the safety and regulatory compliance of facilities, equipment and materials management and maintenance, personnel training and records retention. Conduct studies on the effectiveness of health programs, make recommendations and implement changes to ensure a safe and helpful workplace for NOAA divers.
• Develop dive safety inspection program goals, objectives and methods to ensure NOAA's dive units comply and align with established regulation. Plan and execute dive unit inspections to measure and minimize hazards and unsafe conditions. Inspects each unit's emergency equipment for compliance and suspend diving activities until deficiencies are corrected.
• Review safety incidents, conduct investigations and identify causal factors through interviews, record reviews and analysis of sequence of events. Draft reports of investigations based on objective evidence and brief to senior management. Communicate safety concerns and provide independent and objective safety recommendations to both NOAA diving units and the NOAA Diving Control and Safety Board.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• This position has physical requirements. Certified Diving Instructor with broad technical expertise and background in a variety of diving systems. The incumbent must pass the entrance requirements and obtain a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) diving certification, including being able to pass NOAA Dive Physical requirements within two months of employment.
• The incumbent may have to be on ships to perform inspections of dive lockers and equipment. Works outside of an office in settings that include ships, small boats, marine environments, diving facilities, and remote locations and may be subjected to extreme temperatures.
• This position requires up to 60 days of travel per year.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Requires valid driver's license to drive gov vehicle to worksites for site visits, audits, inspections and training. This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
• This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

*Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• Needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

EDUCATION:There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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, religious; 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.

To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience, equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Evaluating OSHA scientific diving exemption requirements and aspects of a safety occupational health program;
• Conducting worksite safety inspections or compliance reviews to identify improvements for safety and occupational health performance; and
• Analyzing, assessing and advising management on emerging issues and their impact on safety programs.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Benefits

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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.