Summary The Fire & Life Safety Program Manager performs duties related to fire protection. Knowledge to serve as technical authority and make significant, far-reaching decisions/recommendations in the development, interpretation and application of the fire and life safety policies, is required. Knowledge and experience to develop and manage a diverse and complex fire alarm system, fire protection system, & fire suppression system in a large organization containing multiple facilities is also required. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Reviews plans for installation or modification of fire suppression systems, fire detection systems, and fire alarm systems. Inspects buildings and other structures in operation and during the course of construction and/or modification to ensure compliance with approved fire protection plans and testing procedures. Makes recommendations to address unsafe conditions or unsafe practices and initiates corrective action. Reviews building and other construction plans and specifications for adequate and appropriate life safety systems and equipment and to ensure that fire safe provisions are included. Provides technical assistance and guidance to Medical Center personnel, aswell as other individuals directly involved in fire prevention work, regarding management of the fire suppression, fire detection and fire alarm systems. Facilitates periodic performance testing to determine whether fire protectionsystems are fully functional. Conducts or arranges for all scheduled testing, as required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Provides oversight and evaluates contractor performance with regard toinstallation, modification or maintenance of the fire suppression, fire detection and/or fire alarm systems. Works with the facility's senior management to develop a written Life Safety,Interim Life Safety, and Emergency Fire Response Plans and may serve as a liaison with the local fire department and emergency responders. Ensures that facility fire drills are conducted, in accordance with applicablestandards. investigates fire sites and makes determinations regarding possible structural,mechanical, alarm, fire extinguishing, or other safety system failures. Prepares reports on fire incidents, as required. Other duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD19013O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: One year (equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service) that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this Safety and Occupational Health Specialist position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position? Specialized experience is experience where you: Managed safety or occupational health program elements. Developed and recommended safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applied 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. Developed safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Analyzed or evaluated new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designed or modified workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspected or surveyed workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Trained workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Worked in occupational fields such as fire prevention engineer. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. (if related) (Transcripts required). Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or 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. OR, Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. (if related). (Transcripts required) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Fire Management Project Management Safety Engineering Technical Competence 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Long periods of walking, standing, kneeling or bending. In the event of emergency response, running may occur when responding to such incidents, i.e., fire alarm activations. Moderate lifting and carrying of equipment and supplies are required. Use of all appendages and good vision and hearing are a must. Emotional and mental stability are required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.