Federal

Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Safety Inspector)

๐Ÿ“ Boulder, Colorado ZA-3/4 $99,800 - $187,093/yr
Posted: May 18, 2026 Deadline: May 27, 2026 (Closes in 9 days)

About This Position

NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life. The Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment Division is seeking a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Safety Inspector) to conduct workplace inspections and manage safety programs

Qualifications

In order to qualify at the ZA-III level, applicants must possess: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 (ZA-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as: 1. Experience with safety programs in scientific, construction, and facility environments.

  1. Experience applying safety protocols and procedures regarding occupational safety and health with demonstrated experience persuading and influencing others to comply. In order to qualify at the ZA-IV level, applicants must possess: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13(ZA-III at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as: 1. Experience applying OSH regulations in scientific, construction, and machine shop environments
  2. Experience abating hazards and inspecting safety equipment with an emphasis on cranes, rigging, fall protection systems, and machine shops Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Major Duties

As a Safety Inspector, you will perform a variety of occupational safety and health duties in support of a research-focused environment. Duties vary by grade level. At the ZA-III level, you will: Conduct workplace safety inspections.

Identify hazards in the workplace and develop recommendations to mitigate hazards. Manage assigned safety program(s). At the ZA-IV level, you will: Inspect facilities associated with a research institution to identify safety hazards independently.

Provide expert-level recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards in laboratories, construction sites, and machine shops. Apply expert knowledge to manage assigned agency-wide technical occupational safety and health programs by interpreting codes, analyzing compliance status, developing training, and compiling improvement plans for assigned safety programs.

Education

Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Please prepare a resume that is no longer than two pages; only the first two pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended.

How you will be evaluated: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Subject Matter Experts may be used to review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review only 2 pages of your resume.

SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume. Referral: If you are among the top-qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration.

You may be required to participate in a selection interview.

You will be referred based on your eligibility (e.g., Merit candidate, veterans' preference, etc.). Please review the Evaluation Process on how applicants are review and referred based upon how they wish to be considered for the position. Rule of Many Rating Procedures: Applicants are ranked in score order based on their assessment rating plus Veterans preference points, as applicable.

The top 40 applicants will be referred to the hiring manager. CTAP or ICTAP eligibility: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must submit proof of eligibility (See REQUIRED DOCUMENTS SECTION) and be determined eligible and rated as well-qualified to receive special selection priority. "Well Qualified" means that

in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective placement factor(s), if applicable, you must receive a score of 85 or higher. Please review the following site regarding required documents to support CTAP or ICTAP eligibility and additional information regarding this authority - CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility?

Additional Information

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here! We may share your application package with other selecting officials. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.

Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.

You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY to be considered for this position. All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible to make qualification or eligibility determinations. A probationary period may be required.

This position has physical requirements which include but may not be limited to: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Reaching above shoulder Walking 1 hour Standing 1 hour Ability to distinguish basic colors Hearing (aid may be permitted) This position has environmental factors which include, but may not be limited to: Outside and inside NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. As part of the application process, you will be asked to respond to four narrative questions. While your responses to these questions is not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question.

You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The Human Resources Office will evaluate your application to determine your eligibility for the position.

After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Need help applying? If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement between regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

ET). If you receive any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or, at a minimum, the error message text and number. We will provide you with a technical support number for further assistance if necessary.

If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder), please visit the USAJOBS USAJOBS Help Center - How to.... We regret that we are unable to support any issues with USAJOBS, as this service is not maintained by the NIST. If you are experiencing a significant hardship that hinders your ability to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement prior to the vacancy closing date and during regular business hours to discuss your situation.

Required Documents

The documents required vary based on how you're applying (i.e., as a veteran or disabled veteran, current or former Federal employee, etc.). Please review the Required Documents for this position to find out if there are any documents required with your application. Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

A complete application includes: 1) A resume, 2) vacancy question responses, and 3) submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, or if the documents submitted are illegible you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible). Resume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choosing.

Please prepare a resume no longer than 2 pages; only the first 2 pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended.

Cover letters are optional. To receive any credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and the number of hours worked for the experience listed on your resume. We suggest you review the qualification requirements for this position as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports the position qualifications.

Please refer to the Resume Guidance on how to build an effective resume. Reinstatement: If you are a former federal employee (separated from Federal service for at least 1 year) and wish to be non-competitively reinstated for a higher grade or full performance level than which you left federal employment, you MUST provide a copy of your separation SF-50 (the "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2") AND the last performance appraisal you received from your federal employment which shows at least a fully successful rating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Safety Inspector) position at National Institute of Standards and Technology?
The salary range for this position is $99,800 - $187,093/yr. This is a ZA-3/4 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (Safety Inspector) job located?
This position is located in Boulder, Colorado. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is May 27, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.