Industrial Hygienist

Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (2858 current openings) Sacramento, California Full-time Security Clearance: Not Required
Application Deadline:
2026-08-18
Posted:
2026-08-12

6 days left to apply

Salary: $88,037 – $121,371 per year (GS-11)

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-11 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. (TRANSCRIPT AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) A. You must possess a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR B. You must possess a bachelor's 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 C. You must possess a Certification from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH)). IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower level in Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the Industrial Hygienist position. Specialized experience includes planning and conducting industrial hygiene surveys and evaluations within a Health Care System to ensure compliance with environmental, occupational health, and safety standards; developing and documenting baseline and periodic industrial hygiene exposure assessments to identify hazards such as physical, chemical, biological, and radiological risks; operating appropriate sampling equipment and interpreting results; developing and delivering training on industrial hygiene topics. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that is directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school graduate level education and qualifying specialized experience to meet the total qualification requirements at the GS-11 level. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE AND COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Position Overview

The position is located in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Service and ensures the industrial hygiene elements of the Occupational Safety and Health program are implemented in accordance with standards set by the Veterans Health Administration, The Joint Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and applicable VA and VHA directives.

Duties

  • ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties and responsibilities include: Inspecting medical facilities to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys. Acquiring quantitative and qualitative data to prepare various comprehensive and legally sufficient reports to assess the overall effectiveness of the industrial hygiene program. Conducting studies of work operations and processes to determine compliance with various established criteria. Interpreting results of studies for the work environment in terms of possible impairment to health, nature of health impairment, potential for medical center damages, etc. Examining work environments for compliance with health and safety requirements. Preventing and eliminating environmental issues in the workplace that cause sickness, impaired health, or illness. Performing analysis of substances to determine the nature and degree of toxic materials present. Determining and recommending control measures and procedures that will be suitable and effective for the environment. Receiving and disposing of hazardous wastes and maintain appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards, state laws, and VA regulations. Evaluating environmental conditions to identify a variety of hazards including physical, chemical, and biological hazards; ionizing and non-ionizing radiation; and other environmental agents. Providing technical review of plans and specifications for new constructions, maintenance and repair, replacement, or modification projects; assuring all codes and standards are incorporated into the plan design so proper occupational health protection systems are maintained or provided . Making recommendations to correct all deficient design criteria noted, citing the appropriate code or standard. Updating and advising Occupational Health as to medical surveillance requirements for employees working with hazardous materials or in hazardous environments as determined by OSHA. Specifying appropriate signs and labels, approving overall facility controls, providing the correct laser safety training as needed, and designating both laser and incidental staff. Performing the Nominal Hazard Zone (NHZ) evaluation, making sure that appropriate control measures are in place as well as approving alternate controls. Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved PLEASE NOTE: Salary range for Sacramento, CA: $88,037 to $114,454 Per Year. Salary range for Stockton, CA: $93,358 to $121,371 Per Year.