EXPLOSIVES SAFETY SPECIALIST

Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for an Explosives Safety Specialist, Position Description Number T6364000 or T580000 and is part of the 158th Fighter Wing Command of the Vermont Air National Guard *This position is also advertised as a Title 32 vacancy under VT-13041755-AF-26-28 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/884667300

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES: 1: Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates activities necessary to the overall management of a diverse weapons/explosives safety program. Reviews complex weapons and explosives safety plans/programs and develops and issues instructions and procedures establishing technical and administrative weapons and explosives safety requirements which frequently become official policy and may impact a wide range of agency explosives activities. Ensures and performs periodic inspections, evaluations, and surveys of facilities, equipment, and operations; and identifies deficiencies in the program and variances to the standard using a comprehensive knowledge of regulations, standards, procedures, methods, and techniques to determine compliance with weapons and explosives safety regulations. Guidelines tend to lack specificity for many applications and are often insufficient to resolve highly complex or unusual work problems. Evaluates a variety of complex, unconventional weapons and explosives safety problems or circumstances; determines risk assessment of the hazardous processes/conditions identified; and determines applicable methods and procedures for controlling or eliminating hazards. Plans alternative course of specialized action to resolve hazardous conditions and unsafe working practices, modifying and extending accepted principles and practices where available precedents are not directly applicable. Documents and reviews inspection findings, initiates appropriate program improvements based on findings, and prepares formal reports for dissemination to appropriate parties. Advises key commanders and managerial and executive personnel of courses of actions affecting weapons and explosives transportation, storage, handling operations, work processes, human-machine relationships, and environmental conditions which impact on the safety and efficiency of personnel. Recommends appropriate measures to prevent unnecessary exposure and eliminate or control hazardous operating procedures. Ensures follow-up inspections are conducted and violations and hazards corrected. 2: Plans, directs, and conducts investigations and analyzes mishaps and hazardous conditions to determine origin, causes, and contributing elements and prepares written evaluation reports concerning findings. Weapons and explosives operations involve a substantial number and diversity of hazards which include those with potential for significant severity and loss. Establishes in and participates on Safety Investigation Boards and investigates all explosives Safety mishaps and hazards to include the preparation and submittal of appropriate reports. Compiles and analyzes mishap data, identifies trends, and develops comprehensive recommendations to reduce or eliminate mishaps. Reports typically contain graphs, charts, and recommendations for changes in operating procedures, regulations, and use of protective devices that affect agency activities. 3: Prepares supplements to instructions and manuals and develops specialized local instructions defining mishap prevention, weapons and explosives handling, use and storage procedures based on interpretation and/or adaptation of higher command instructions and policies formulated by other federal government agencies. Evaluates new trends for policy development or for further inquiry and study leading to new methods for eliminating or controlling serious hazards to life and property. Coordinates with other installation offices regarding comprehensive environmental, weapons and explosives safety matters affecting installation personnel and devises specialized operating practices involving diverse but recognized hazards. Prepares and revises local written procedures or abatement actions for conditions not directly addressed by existing standards or guidelines and evaluates agency-wide effect. Evaluates safety standards adopted by Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board, national safety associations, publications on explosives operations, work processes; and current problems and modifies/adapts for local application. Makes recommendations and decisions on complex policy issues that frequently become official policy and may impact a wide range of agency weapons and explosives safety activities. 4: Reviews and develops explosives site plans (utilizing manual and automated techniques) and specifications for new construction, major building alterations, and/or changes in equipment and monitors project through completion to ensure compliance with explosives safety standards and safety codes. Recommends design changes not included in the original plan and provides technical recommendations to eliminate or control explosives safety hazards in the construction, repair and maintenance of installation facilities and equipment. **REFER TO PD FOR FULL LIST OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES**

Qualifications and evaluation

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): -Comprehensive knowledge of the body of laws, regulations, policies, standards, procedures, methods, and techniques applicable to a broad range of weapons and explosives safety requirements sufficient to plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate a diverse weapons and explosives safety program and advise key managerial personnel on courses of action affecting facility operations, weapons handling procedures, explosives operations, work processes, human-machine relationships, etc., which impact on the safety and efficiency of personnel. -Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to weapons and explosives safety to sufficiently interpret and modify or significantly depart from standard techniques in devising specialized operating practices concerned with accomplishing project weapons and explosives safety objectives; and explaining the reasons and purposes for applying measures and procedures, minimizing or abating hazards. -Knowledge of weapons and explosives safety principles, practices, standards, and abatement measures related to diverse aviation and industrial settings sufficient to apply a wide range of methods and techniques in the inspection of government weapons and explosives storage locations, maintenance facilities, demolition areas, etc., to determine compliance with applicable regulatory provisions. -Knowledge of physiological and psychological factors sufficient to conduct a wide variety of activities promoting safe working practices, use of protective gear, and proper equipment operations. - Knowledge of the requirements, methods, and techniques of accident and mishap investigation of normal to high risk weapons and explosives storage and operating areas, to include fact-finding, analysis, risk assessment, resolution of safety problems, and submitting formal reports. -Knowledge of organizational and communication skills to develop working relationships and manage program segments with diverse military, civilian, professional, and technical populations. Verbal and writing skills sufficient to prepare safety presentations/briefings, formal training materials, investigative reports, weapons and explosives safety inspections and surveys. -Knowledge of standards, procedures, methods, and techniques applicable to explosives facility construction; sound technical knowledge sufficient to analyze safety design features and specifications; and to develop new methods and procedures to identify or control hazardous processes during weapons and explosives use, handling, storage and demolition. You will be rated on the following core competencies: 1) Regulations 2) Explosives Safety 3) Weapons PPE 4) Mishap Investigations 5) Communication

Education

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of graduate level education and experience may be used to qualify for this position at the GS-11 level as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. 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 You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position. 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

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Resume: resume must show relevant experience, where you worked, job title, detailed duties and accomplishments written in your own words (Do not plagiarize), employer's name and address, supervisor's name and phone number, starting and ending dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.), hours per week and salary. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your position title, pay plan, series and grade. Your detailed experience should be listed under each job title with starting and ending dates. Resume must show applicants name and contact information. Other supporting documents (as applicable): DD-214 Veterans Preference Certifications For current Federal employees: Latest SF 50, Personnel Action NGB 22 (if you are a former member of the VTNG) Helpful Hints for Applying: - Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address and phone. - Include details about the experience that relates to the position you are applying for. - Be specific and always include Month and Year for the dates of your experience. - Be sure to include your applicable military experience and explain the duties of the MOS/AFSC held. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. If you are using education to qualify for this position or education is a mandatory requirement to meet qualifications, You must submit copies of college transcripts that identify each course, the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade and grade-point received. Submitting a certificate or a degree will not suffice. You must submit transcripts when required. Photocopies are acceptable.

Additional information

The purpose of this position is to perform work in a broad range of weapons safety program elements, such as inspections/surveys, evaluations, mishap investigations, and safety training. Veterans Preference Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx. - 10-Point Veterans' Preference: You must submit all supporting documentation as specified on the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference". You can locate the SF 15 at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf - 5-Point Veterans' Preference: You MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 which includes Character of Service (usually Member-4 copy). If you are currently active duty, you may submit written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should also include when your terminal leave will begin, your rank and dates of active duty service. If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).