Industrial Hygienist

Incumbent must be resourceful in devising alternative methods to accomplish program objectives when technical guidelines are not always clear-cut economic conflicts arise etc. Work situations cover a wide variety of hazards work activities and environments and involve numerous types and quantities of exposure to chemical biological physical and radiological hazards. Incumbent must exercise good judgement in selecting ways and means of adapting established methods of monitoring analyzing and controlling to meet unique hazardous situations including interpretation of multiplicative hazardous factors in work operations. Duties include:

• Conducting studies of work operations and processes examining work environments analyzing findings promulgating recommendations and preparing various reports.
• Performs analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials present.
• Interprets results of studies for the work environment in terms of possible impairment to health nature of health impairment potential for medical center damages etc.
• Determines the need for and effectiveness of control measures and changes in work procedures. Recommends procedures that will be suitable and effective for the environment.
• Receives and disposes of hazardous wastes and maintains appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards state law and VA regulations.
• Prepares comprehensive and legally sufficient written reports of all monitoring activities performed which are subsequently incorporated into comprehensive reports prepared to assess the overall effectiveness of the industrial hygiene program.
• Ensures proper documentation of employee exposures in medical records.
• Conducts program for the education of workers in the prevention of occupational exposures and diseases at the medical center (hazard communication program).
• Presents expert testimony before courts of law hearing boards workmens compensation commissions and other investigative bodies covering all matters pertaining to industrial hygiene.
• Performs on-site inspection of new construction to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and standards.
• Actively participates in and advises multidisciplinary committees on matters related to industrial hygiene.

Work Schedule: Multiple shifts Monday- Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm or 7:30am to 4:00pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the 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 the Federal service.

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 03/31/2026.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): You must meet one of the following basic requirements below to be eligible for the GS-0690 Industrial Hygiene job series. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Applicants must meet one of the following Basic Requirements:

• A bachelors or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene occupational health sciences occupational and environmental health toxicology safety sciences or related science;

OR

• A bachelors degree in a branch of engineering physical science or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry including organic chemistry and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry physics engineering health physics environmental health biostatistics biology physiology toxicology epidemiology or industrial hygiene;

OR

• Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). Note: You must submit a copy of your certification with your application. Certification cannot be credited without documentation.

Please note: Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. For engineering degrees to be acceptable the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade as required by the this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

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.

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements above applicants must also meet one of the grade specific requirements listed below: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Industrial Hygienist and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Specifies goals and obstacles to achieving those goals generates alternatives considers risks and evaluates and chooses the best alternative in order to make a determination draw conclusions or solve a problem. Use knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform ones job; works with understands and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear dissemination of information and ideas; actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions. Knowledge of procedures for assessing evaluating and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws regulations and guidance. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of health risk analysis; establish an exposure assessment strategy; collect basic characterization information (workplace work force and agents); assess exposure to the work force; prioritize health risks; implement monitoring and control strategies for unacceptable exposures; schedule and perform periodic reassessments; and document and communicate health risk exposure.

OR

• Possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a course of study directly related to this position. Note: Transcripts required.

OR

• Combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate level education beyond a Masters degree (36 semester hours) in a course of study directly related to this position.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communications
• Compliance
• Decision Making
• Health Risk Analysis
• 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: The performance of duties requires long period of walking standing crawling kneeling and bending. Moderate lifting and carrying of equipment use of personal protective devices and work in hazardous and confined spaces is required. Use of all appendages good vision and hearing are necessary. Emotional and mental stability are required.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at