Safety & Occupational Health Specialist in Vicenza, Italy

Summary About the Position: This position is with the Safety and Occupational Health Division in Vicenza, Italy. Federal employees in Vicenza, Italy are currently entitled to receive a 15% Post Allowance (COLA) in addition to the base salary. This is subject to change. Responsibilities Provide safety and occupational health support/assistance to HQ, district Superintendent, district Chief of Staff, school administrators, Chemical Hygiene Officers/Coordinators, nurses, facilities management and DoDEA employees in a timely manner. Liaison and maintain close professional relationships with the host installation safety, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, environmental health, and fire departments for mission essential support. Serve as technical advisor for the HQ Safety and Occupational Health Division Chief and support the district superintendent, school principals, and DoDEA employees on matters pertaining to the safety of students, employees, contractors and visitors. Develop and deliver technical inspection reports, trend analysis, briefings, training, safety awareness products, conduct accident investigations, and maintain accident reporting and hazard tracking systems. Conduct safety inspections and directly support special projects and policy development; obtain and maintain playground safety inspector certification. Serve as an essential team member within the DoDEA Safety and Occupational Health Division and participate in projects that standardize and enhance the safety program for DoDEA. Provide technical and regulatory expertise in areas such as electrical and fire safety, fall protection, chemical hygiene, material handling equipment, machine guarding, and vehicle operations. Provide technical and regulatory expertise in areas such as hazard communication, construction and renovation design reviews, and OSHA record keeping requirements. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: U.S. Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Specialized Experience GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes managing safety or occupational health program elements, developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management, and 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. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral 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. Specialized experience GS12: One year of specialized experience which includes evaluating a school’s safety hazards; developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, or cost of accidents and occupational illnesses; and training workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11 or above). Physical Demands: Consistent and repeated inspections of existing facilities, playgrounds and new construction must be performed which requires frequent standing, walking, climbing, crouching, frequent stretching and lifting of moderately heavy items such as facilities and grounds equipment. Work Environment: Frequent inspections of new construction sites, maintenance facilities, bus operations and exercise/drill observations involve frequent exposure to operating machines and equipment, hazardous materials, high noise level, dust and fumes. May perform job duties requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) against safety hazards. Such PPE may include hearing, foot, eye, hand, head and visibility protection. The incumbent may be required to travel by military and/or commercial aircraft to a variety of stateside and overseas locations for meetings and conferences. The incumbent is subject to a variety of environmental conditions typical of the overseas areas in which traveling, to include the potential for exposure to acts of terrorism. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Customer Service Decision Making Organizational Awareness Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Additional Information Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are not considered Ordinarily Resident under the applicable Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). An ordinarily resident is anyone who has lived in the host country longer than the allowed number of days without being a member of the forces assigned, civilian component or a family member of either the aforementioned or who has obtained a work permit for any duration. Ordinarily Resident restrictions apply and vary depending on the host nation. Applicants who have family members with special medical needs should ensure that prior to accepting a position overseas their family members’ medical needs can be met. Access to care in a military treatment facility may not be available to civilian employees except on a space available basis. Consequently, host nation medical facilities may be the only care available. The availability and level of care at host nation medical facilities will vary by location. Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only. Medical and dental care may be provided by host nation providers. The availability and level of care at host nation medical and dental facilities will vary by location. Status candidates subject to the 5 year overseas rotation, who are currently overseas, must have enough time to meet the initial tour stated in the job announcement. Waivers may not be granted to meet the 5 year limitation requirement. Status applicants in their fourth year of an overseas assignment cannot be selected unless a waiver of the 5 year overseas service limitation requirement is approved. Selectees initially recruited from the United States may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. (Subject to approval). Overseas allowances may be authorized in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25-V1250.pdf Selectees recruited outside the U.S. will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire. For positions in a foreign country, that country’s laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee’s same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information before applying for or accepting this position. The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months. Applicants with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should notify ra@dodea.edu This position is not covered by a bargaining unit. Eligible for Telework per DoDEA policy. You can find more information about this vacancy in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.