SUMMARY

The purpose of the Biosafety, Safety, and Security Program Compliance Officer position is to support the VA’s mission and strategic initiatives by ensuring that research programs utilizing laboratory and/or office space adhere to standards and guidelines in biosafety, fire and natural disaster safety, radiation safety, environmental safety, equipment management, and security of the research buildings.

QUALIFICATIONS

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: You must possess a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university with a major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this a Health Science Specialist - Research. Note: Transcript(s) must be submitted at the time of application. Please ensure that your transcripts show that a degree was conferred in the appropriate field. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

EDUCATION

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application to verify possession of the basic education requirement.
There is no educational substitution for specialized experience at this grade level.
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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans’ Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran’s preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

MAJOR DUTIES:

• Conducts formal rigorous laboratory and office space inspections on a quarterly basis to ensure that the research environment is safe for employees.
• Serves as the primary contact person for the Logistics Department for performing the annual VA-owned equipment inventories.
• Establishes the monthly schedule of inventories, coordinates with Logistics staff and individual Responsible Officials for performing inventories, as well as personally performing inventories as necessary.
• Ensures that all laboratory staff have appropriate attire and have identification badges while in the research buildings; serves as a source to obtain proper personal protective equipment.
• Ensures the physical plant operates for the safety and comfort of staff and research animals by immediately responding to performance issues with water supply and distribution, HVAC system, electrical distribution and water processing systems.
• Notifies Facilities Management on emergent infrastructure issues as well as developing temporary solutions to maintain continuity of operations.
• Performs safety assessments of the research environment including building perimeter security which includes operable cardkey access doors, permanently locked alarmed doors, windows, and rooftop access.
• Oversees hands-on training of all investigators and staff at routine intervals and not less than annually for all matters regarding biosafety, safety, and research security.
• Drafts Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for training of all investigators and their research staff in specific chemical hazards, physical hazards, Life Safety and Disaster Response.
• Assists in special projects, facility grants projects, or other matters pertaining to the Greater Los Angeles biosafety, safety, and research security program.
• Drafts and maintains the Disaster Response Plans and Continuity of Operations Plan.
• Exercises responsibility for annual or other specific reports dealing with any aspects of biosafety, safety, and/or research security to VA Office of Research & Development (ORD), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), VA Office of Research Oversight (ORO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or other regulatory or oversight organizations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
  Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
  Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcrip