Facility Health and Safety Officer (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

Responsible for managing infection control, occupational health, environmental health and safety, emergency preparedness, and compliance programs.

Supports accreditation readiness, conducts staff training, fit testing and BLS certification, tracks safety assessments, PPE, biohazards, drills, and reporting to ensure safe, quality care in detention health settings This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

What you will do

• DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Works collaboratively with the health services administrator and assistant health services administrator as the subject matter expert and key advisor in the day-to-day management, development, implementation and monitoring of the following IHSC programs of responsibility: infection control; occupational health; environmental health, safety and security; and all hazards emergency preparedness and response.
• Serves as a key member of IHSC National PHSP program initiatives, excluding tuberculosis (TB) and infection disease (ID) programs, not limited to attending regional/national meetings.
• Monitors, reviews, coordinates, and ensures complete and timely reporting of infection control; occupational health; environmental health, safety and security; and all hazards emergency preparedness and response activities.
• Conducts data/trend analysis and implement improvement strategies establishing timeframes for continued monitoring concerning all programs of responsibility.
• Secures and maintains all files and information concerning all programs of responsibility in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Develops and maintains infection control; occupational health; environmental health, safety and security; and all hazards emergency preparedness and response local operating procedures as applicable and in coordination with FHPM, FTO, and IPO.
• Forwards revisions and updates to HSA for approval.
• Ensures areas of responsibility to include infection control; occupational health; environmental health, safety and security; and all hazards emergency preparedness and response standards, including updates on national and local policies and procedures, are disseminated appropriately to staff in a timely manner.
• Provides leadership, oversight, staff training and education on infection control; occupational health; environmental health, safety and security; and all hazards emergency preparedness and response in coordination with FHPM, FTO, and IPO.
• Provides policy, records, or other documentation concerning all programs of responsibility as required by investigators.
• May be asked to serve as an acting FHPM when needed.
• Travel required up to 25% as directed by the chief of Health Operations Unit.
• Educates medical staff, custody staff, and noncitizens on IC topics especially during outbreaks and conducts hand washing monitoring.
• Develops facility outbreak plans (i.e. COVID, mumps, varicella, etc.) in coordination with IPO and FHPM.
• Notifies stakeholders of facility status related to communicable diseases as appropriate (i.e. red vs green COVID status, varicella status, etc.).
• Manages Abbott analyzers and any IC related devices ensuring associated supplies are available.
• Leads IC portion of accreditation, excluding TB and ID programs.
• Serves as federal fit tester conducting fit testing for federal staff.
• Ensures all staff meets annual fit testing requirement.
• Serves as CPR Instructor.
• Conducts BLS certification for all federal staff and provides CPR card upon completion.
• Implements and tracks blood borne pathogens (BBP) policy (i.e. check sharps, update training materials, schedule SteriCycle/OSHA for teaching, etc.) in coordination with FHPM and FTO as applicable.
• Serves as subject matter expert for U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to include workforce injury reporting.
• Monitors PPE inventory to establish par levels and completes reporting requirements.
• Monitors biohazard program (i.e. monitoring red bags, ensuring collection of biohazard materials, etc.).
• Manages dosimetry management program (i.e. track and exchange dosimetry badges, sign and store exposure documents, etc.).
• Maintains medical and dental safety data sheets (SDS) binder.
• Performs and maintains health and safety assessments (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually).
• Develops a process to address facility hazards identified during daily health and safety assessments and/or by staff to ensure repairs are completed and a safe environment maintained.
• Serves as emergency preparedness subject matter expert conducting, implementing, educating, and tracking man down, fire, and mass casualty drills.
• Facilitates and documents after action reviews (AARs) post emergency preparedness drills or actual events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Minimum of a master's degree in a qualifying program for USPHS Commissioned Corps officers. Minimum of five years of relevant and related experience(s) to include project/program management, environmental health, infection control, emergency preparedness/management.

If the incumbent holds a clinical license, it is the responsibility of the incumbent to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain current active status. This position may be required to perform clinical activities with the scope of clinical license in times of critical needs within the agency.

Ability to critically analyze situations, data and information and be able to develop and pose probing questions. Strong project management, quality management, and performance improvement skills to include the ability to plan and prioritize workload, conduct surveillance, employ research techniques, collect, and analyze data, and perform program reviews and evaluations.

Ability to interact well and collaborate with all levels of personnel and management in IHSC, ERO, ICE and DHS offices, and with Federal contractors. Proficiency with electronic health records and ability to quickly develop competency with IHSC's electronic health record.

Demonstrates the ability to quickly develop competency in and assimilate knowledge of ICE and IHSC rules, regulations, and policies; applicable detention health care standards NDS/PBNDS, NCCHC, ACA, FRS (if applicable to the facility), OSHA regulations, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Codes; and the accreditation/compliance review and auditing processes.

Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and SharePoint; ability to manage, organize, and analyze complex information using spreadsheets and other data management tools.

Demonstrates high level, professional, effective written and verbal communications; executes effective teaching skills ensuring goal directed outcomes; ability to prepare reports in electronic formats. Maintains basic readiness status. Maintains current CPR/BLS certification

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position.
• A complete application includes: U.
• Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references.
• (i.e., name, title and contact information) Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience.
• A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF). *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER).
• (Place under "Performance Appraisal") For IHSC USPHS officers only, a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
• Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement.
• If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.
• New Call to Active Duty Cover letter/Letter of Interest.
• Please include location preference here.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references (i.e., name, title, and contact information) CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") U.S. Public Health Service - Appointment Board Decision Letter/Email or a screenshot of AES dashboard to the United States Public Health Service

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process.

To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Additional information

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE Health Service Corps, Office of the Deputy Assistant Director of Health Systems Support, Health Operations Unit.

The facility health and safety officer will report directly to the assistant health services administrator with the health services administrator as reviewing official. Incumbent serves as the facility health and safety officer for one of the ICE Health Service Corpsstaffed facilities located across the nation.

Staffing is a complement of Public Health Services Officers, federal General Schedule civil servants, and contract health professionals.

As the facility health and safety officer (FHSO), the incumbent is responsible to support the assistant health services administrator (AHSA) in the day to day managing, assessing, planning, developing, and evaluating clinical programs that align with IHSC policy, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), ICE Performance Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS), American Correctional Association (ACA), and/or Family Residential Standards (FRS).

Serves as the subject matter expert on the implementation and monitoring of program requirements at the local level in coordination with the facility healthcare program manager (FHPM), facility training officer (FTO), and infection prevention officer (IPO), supporting the safe, quality provision of care for the detained population; promoting an environment of safety and security for detained noncitizens, employees, and visitors; and ensuring emergency preparedness and response readiness of the local facility healthcare team.

IHSC provides direct care to more than 131,000 detained noncitizens housed at 17 designated facilities throughout the nation. The health care provided includes medical, dental, and mental health care, and public health services.

IHSC provides medical case management and oversight for more than 191,000 detained noncitizens housed in 128 non-IHSC staffed detention facilities across the country. In addition, IHSC oversees the financial authorization and payment for off-site specialty and emergency care services for detained noncitizens in ICE custody.

The ICE detained population is more than 275,000 noncitizens with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days.

IHSC provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Incumbent reports to the assistant health services administrator keeping the supervisor informed on the status of projects, and consulting on successes and obstacles. Reviewing official (second line supervisor) is the health services administrator.

Performs specialized or complex professional tasks without the benefit of close supervision or detailed guidelines; independently establishes criteria, formulates approaches, and evaluates efforts.

Uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as policies, regulations, accreditation standards, precedents, and work direction for application to specific situations and work products.

Assignments are usually of a long-term, recurring or broadly defined nature and are not accompanied by instructions; however, objectives, priorities and deadlines are provided on new assignments. The incumbent selects his/her own methods and solves most normal problems arising during the course of work.