Summary This position serves as the Deputy Reginal Administrator (DRA) for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Birmingham Region. The DRA assists the Regional Administrator in the direction, management, and control within the area of responsibility of programs and goals. The selectee will be expected to report to the Birmingham Area Office; this is not a remote position. This position is outside the bargaining unit. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to the following: Participates with the Regional Administrator (RA) in implementing program and administrative policies, and in planning program operations. Assists the RA in planning regional goals and objectives, and participates in the establishment of National Office goals, objectives, plans and program operations and evaluate program accomplishments and achievements in the Region/assigned area of responsibility. Performs the full range of supervisory and managerial responsibilities either directly or through subordinate supervisors; provides direct supervision to Assistant Regional Administrators, Area Directors, and other Regional Office staff as appropriate. Assists the RA in all phases of providing leadership and overall administrative direction, in establishing program objectives, in coordinating and executing programs, and in maintaining intra- and inter-agency and State government liaisons. Works with regional managers and OHR/OASAM to coordinate administrative and management services provided to Regional offices. Establishes and maintains direct communications with employees and their representatives to advise, consult, and assist them concerning occupational safety and health programs and problems. Directs, controls, evaluates and provides technical, policy and administrative staff assistance to operational Area Offices which are responsible for the inspection, enforcement, and compliance efforts as well as all other regional program efforts to ensure they are administered fairly, uniformly, and accurately. Conducts a continuing region-wide public education program aimed at achieving voluntary compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act for those affected by the Act. Directs the execution of the region-wide federal agency occupational safety and health program. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications This series has an Individual Occupational Requirement: Education: 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 Experience: (for positions above GS-5): Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. 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. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. OR Certificates 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. You must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement listed above, as well as the Specialized Experience below to qualify for Safety and Occupational Health Manager (Deputy Regional Administrator), as described below. Applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-14, in the Federal Service. Specialized Experience is the experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the duties of the position successfully, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Qualifying specialized experience for this GS-15 position includes: Supervises a staff of subordinate employees in the accomplishment of the agency or office section's mission. The candidate must have experience in at least eleven (11) of the following: Developing strategies to accomplish the Department's Strategic Plan and/or the OSHA Operating Plan; Making work assignments, including the establishment of priorities and goals for work accomplishment and the timeframes for the completion of assignments; Ensuring that the quality and productivity of work are in compliance with agency policies and/or agency regulations and/or management's priorities; Monitoring employee performance to identify and address performance deficiencies; Providing leadership and direction to subordinate supervisory personnel regarding their compliance with applicable regulations and/or codes of ethics and conduct and that of the personnel within their charge; Developing and/or implementing performance standards; Evaluating employee performance and preparing performance appraisals for subordinate staff; Ensuring the occupational safety and health of subordinate personnel by securing and providing, when applicable, the appropriate personal protective equipment and by ensuring a safe office environment, this may include the prompt investigation of workplace accidents, injuries, and illnesses; Interviewing candidates for employment and making recommendations for selection and/ or selecting a candidate or candidates for employment; Recommending promotions and/or reassignments of subordinate personnel; Making recommendations for awards and employee recognition initiatives for subordinate personnel; Making recommendations for training and/or employee development programs for subordinate personnel; Researching and/or writing and/or coordinating with human resources personnel in the writing of disciplinary actions; Receiving and either writing or coordinating written responses to employee complaints of harassment or other prohibited personnel practices; Approving requests for leave. AND Serves as a supervisory official and leader in an OSHA area or regional office section whose efforts directly effectuate a successful and efficient occupational safety and health enforcement, compliance assistance, administrative support, or Whistleblower Protection Program. This experience may be demonstrated in any of the following ways: Providing authoritative guidance and direction to managers and subordinate supervisors in the interpretation and application of applicable federal and State OSHA regulations and/or guidelines and/or policies. Working with other managers to establish and/or individually establishes operating plans and programs to effectuate the mission of the agency in accordance with OSHA's strategic plan and/or mission and/or vision. Monitoring progress of the office and/or subordinate personnel toward the accomplishment of office goals and/or program operating plan and makes any necessary adjustments. Serving as Acting Regional Administrator (RA). Education Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION You may not be aware, but in the regulations for agency ethics programs, there are requirements for supervisors. Section 2638.103 of Title 5 of the CFR states: Every supervisor in the executive branch has a heightened personal responsibility for advancing government ethics. It is imperative that supervisors serve as models of ethical behavior for subordinates. Supervisors have a responsibility to help ensure that subordinates are aware of their ethical obligations under the Standards of Conduct and that subordinates know how to contact agency ethics officials. Supervisors are also responsible for working with agency ethics officials to help resolve conflicts of interests and enforce government ethics laws and regulations, including those requiring certain employees to file financial disclosure reports. In addition, supervisors are responsible, when requested, for assisting agency ethics officials in evaluating potential conflicts of interest and identifying positions subject to financial disclosure requirements. Supervisory Financial Disclosure: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually. Click here for Telework Position Information. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.