Total 10 job vacancies by Mine Safety and Health Administration

The duties listed are at the full performance level.

As an Authorized Representative (AR) of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the incumbent performs the following duties to enforce the mine safety and health laws and promote safety and health in the mining industry.

Investigations/Inspections (50%): Participates in investigations involving dust explosions or other severe violations of health and noise standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard-to-define problems to resolve. The incumbent may serve as a mine health expert on teams investigating accidents involving health hazards.

Safety and Plan Reviews/Advisory Services (50%): Reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations concerning the adequacy of ventilation plans and requests for variance or waiver from mandatory health standards submitted by mine operators for approval. These plans include, but are not limited to, dust control, bathhouse facilities, potable water, and noise control. During the review process, the incumbent may conduct on-site health surveys to determine whether conditions at the mine are the same as portrayed in the plan, acquire information that may not be clear from the plan, or discusses technical problems causing the plan not to be acceptable. Assists in developing new or modified health regulations, standards, and inspection procedures.

Advises mine operators and other Federal and State inspectors of noise abatement techniques, dust suppression methods, and other significant health issues and technological developments. Evaluates and discuss the acceptability of new mine safety and health methods and equipment with manufacturers and miner operators.Performs other duties as assigned.

The duties listed are at the full performance level.

As an Authorized Representative (AR) of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the incumbent performs the following duties to enforce the mine safety and health laws and promote safety and health in the mining industry.

Investigations/Inspections (50%): Participates in investigations involving dust explosions or other severe violations of health and noise standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard-to-define problems to resolve. The incumbent may serve as a mine health expert on teams investigating accidents involving health hazards.

Safety and Plan Reviews/Advisory Services (50%): Reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations concerning the adequacy of ventilation plans and requests for variance or waiver from mandatory health standards submitted by mine operators for approval. These plans include, but are not limited to, dust control, bathhouse facilities, potable water, and noise control. During the review process, the incumbent may conduct on-site health surveys to determine whether conditions at the mine are the same as portrayed in the plan, acquire information that may not be clear from the plan, or discusses technical problems causing the plan not to be acceptable. Assists in developing new or modified health regulations, standards, and inspection procedures.

Advises mine operators and other Federal and State inspectors of noise abatement techniques, dust suppression methods, and other significant health issues and technological developments. Evaluates and discuss the acceptability of new mine safety and health methods and equipment with manufacturers and miner operators.Performs other duties as assigned.

• Advises on all matters concerned with the formulation and revision of overall technical policy and program goals as well as achievement strategy.
• Responsible for long-range planning and will develop information and plans related to the future operations of the organization.
• Generate initiatives and recommend courses of action designed to maximize the achievement of the organization in attaining the desired objectives.
• Reviews organizational strategies to achieve the goals established at all levels including the Assistant Secretary, and Deputy Assistant Secretaries.
• Advise on goals and strategies, organizational, and program matters based on analysis of data.
• Provides expertise to senior management representatives, program analysts, safety specialists, and other professionals on quantitative analysis and data interpretation.
• Provides data to stakeholders in the mining industry, including Industry Associations which are used in the enhancement and development of safety and recognition programs for their member companies.
• Serves as troubleshooter and catalyst in identifying bottlenecks, evaluating problems from a technical perspective, exploring ways to resolve problems, and aiding Assistant Secretary activities.
• Fully cognizant of all matters that are significant and warrant the attention of leadership whenever they are unavailable and is authorized to speak on their behalf in presenting their views as dictated by the circumstances.
• Fully capable of and will represent the views and opinions of leadership in meetings and committees.
• Responsible for issues involving interaction with other MSHA offices, DOL, or other interagency activities, policy, and management issues of critical interest to the Assistant Secretary.

For GS-1822-12:

• Conducts special investigations of accidents and fatality disasters after rescue and recovery operations are completed. Secures evidence and maintains a chain of custody, issuing citations or orders resulting from the disaster. Makes determinations regarding possible knowing, willful violations, and participates in civil or criminal proceedings, as necessary.
• As required, independently conducts a wide variety of on-site safety and health inspections and investigations of coal mines, preparation plants, and related facilities.
• Investigates discrimination complaints filed by miners, representatives of miners, or applicants for employment.
• Investigates possible knowing and or willful violations.
• Conducts other investigative activities as the needs of the district dictate.
• Develops unique investigative strategies.
• Collects evidence and facts according to all local, State, and Federal mandates, laws, rules, and/or regulations.
• Maintains control of evidence and confidential statements and other documented facts in accordance with MSHA guidelines, policies, procedures, and mandates.
• Secures evidence, facts, information, reports, and other documentation.
• Analyzes facts and evidence collected during an investigation to assure proper interpretation of said facts and evidence.
• Conducts interviews with possible witnesses. May also conduct interviews or collect information or evidence from businesses associated with coal mining, inspectors, supervisors, managers, engineers, technical support staff, and specialists.
• Coordinates investigative activities with adversarial legal counsel and or mine management, as needed.
• Ensures that the purpose of the investigation is fulfilled and all issues are adequately addressed.
• Conducts interviews with possible witnesses. May also conduct interviews or collect information or evidence from businesses associated with coal mining, inspectors, supervisors, managers, engineers, technical support staff, and specialists.
• Prepares written reports of inspections and investigations issuing citations and orders for violations found during the examination.

Supervises, controls, and manages activities of the Quality Assurance and Materials Testing Division personnel. Directs the work of personnel who assess and insure through technical evaluation, testing, review, audits, and inspections, that manufacturers, producers, and distributors of a wide variety of equipment and materials produced for mine use comply with MSHA regulations and criteria related to flammability, fire resistance, and fire safety.

Serves as a manager. Plans, directs, and reviews the work of first-line supervisors and subordinate staff. Plans and assigns work to subordinates, setting priorities and preparing schedules for completion of work, considering the difficulty of the assignments and capabilities of employees. Evaluates subordinate's performance. Approves appointments (including supervisors), promotions, awards, and disciplinary actions and resolves employee problems. Identifies training needs and ensures that appropriate training is provided. Reviews completed assignments, projects, and reports of Division Employees to ensure proper application of standards, regulations, policies, and procedures, and attainment of goals and objectives.

Interviews and selects candidates for vacant positions. Develops and implements new or revised performance standards. Evaluates performance based on daily observation, approves promotions, awards, and disciplinary actions. Hears and resolves formal and informal complaints from employees. Refers complaints not resolved at the local level to higher authorities. Effects disciplinary measures such as warnings, reprimands, and suspensions. Works with high-level enforcement, mining industry, academia, state, and federal officials to address identified engineering and related problems, developing solutions as appropriate.

Approves timecards and employee leave requests. Responsible for being knowledgeable about management's role and responsibilities in labor management relations and being completely familiar with the terms in the NCFLL Collective Bargaining Agreement and using this knowledge to manage the workforce.

Ensures equal opportunity for all employees supervised. Ensures fair and unprejudiced employment practices in recruiting and selecting candidates for appointments to positions supervised.

Serves as a principal MSHA expert in the field of quality assurance and product audits.

Supervises, controls, and manages activities and major programs of the organization.

Provides overall technical direction for the Center Internal Review Program, including monitoring test and evaluation procedures, analyzing internal audit results, and recommending corrective measures.

Responsible for internal reviews of the Approval and Certification Center procedures and must be conversant with specialty areas which may include mechanical, electrical, and/or electronic engineering; materials; explosives; and laboratory functions related to these disciplines.

Responsible for the Center's Approval/ Certification Revocation Program.

Oversees the quality assurance and audit programs for the Division and the Center. Advises others on quality assurance and quality control matters relating to flame-resistant materials, permissible electrical and mechanical products, and equipment. Provides technical direction for investigations of most complex machine-mounted illumination systems concerning their ability to comply with the regulations outlined in the Federal Mine Safety Act of 1977.

Provides leadership and a wide range of professional and advisory services across the specialties encompassed by organizational responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• The initiation, adjustment, or curtailment of major programs or activities of the organization, including changes made to emphasize, revise, or develop new long-range program goals and objectives, or to reduce resource requirements without affecting operations.
• Determining workforce and budgetary needs.
• Providing advice and consultation to Department, MSHA, and industry officials.
• Serving as chairman, member, or advisor of task forces and committees, and may serve as an expert witness in hearings and other proceedings of national importance.
• Directs or redirects the focus of resources to a diversified range of field complaints and technical problems and safety requirements mandated for mining products developed for use in underground coal mines.
• Maintains effective work relationships and program support with organizations and individuals in government and the mining industry.
• Administers the Center's internal controls for the prevention of waste, fraud, and abuse and is responsible for implementing internal Center reviews, recommending corrective actions, and preparing reports of findings and results for the Center Chief.
• May serve as the acting Center Chief upon the Center Chief's absence from the office.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

For GS-1822-13:

Represents the District Manager at technical meetings with representatives of mining companies, unions, manufacturers, and the public, and serves on technical committees making presentations in lieu of the District Manager.

Serves as the liaison to the District Manager regarding technical complaints from unions and mining company management.

Acting as a representative of the District Manager on fatalities, explaining the Government's position, assisting in the technical evaluations of the injury/fatality causes, and reviewing the fatality draft reports for final approval.

Drafts correspondence, speeches, etc., on a variety of technical subjects for the District Manager.

Represents the District Manager offering testimony in court proceedings.

Develops, recommends and participates with the District Manager in planning strategy and goals for internal and internal special emphasis programs.

Conducts literature research for the District Manager in the review of various technical publications, keeping the District Manager aware and current on new and changing issues.

Reviews all new technical programs proposed by Headquarters staff to evaluate their impact on existing programs and procedures within the District to insure the proposed programs will have a positive impact.

Directs, monitors evaluates, and is accountable for the work of employees who are engaged in information technology and data management for the District, making adjustments in objectives, work plans, schedules and commitment of resources.

For GS-1822-13:

• Conducts mine safety and health conferences for the review of issued citations and orders in accordance with procedures contained in Title 30 CFR part 100 in an attempt to mediate and resolve disputes before they are heard in a more formal setting.
• Examines all the evidence of the case (including the circumstances under which the citations/orders were issued), hears arguments regarding the severity of the violations and/or amount of assessed penalties and considers all relevant information before making a final decision to either sustain, modify, or vacate each citation and/or orders scheduled for discussion.
• Provides expert technical advice and guidance on MSHA policies and procedures regarding the conference process and resolves complaints and conflicts which arise in their application and interpretation.
• Authorized by MSHA and SOL to serve as the MSHA representative at judicial hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.
• Coordinates conference information regarding the status of violations under consideration for knowing or willful investigations under Section 110(c) of the Mine Act with the District's SSI/CLR.
• Reviews requests for conferences submitted by alleged violators who wish to discuss the facts surrounding a citation and/or order issued during an inspection and determining whether or not a conference is warranted.
• Prepares legal research through document reviews of relevant information about the specific citation or order being contested, including MSHA policy memoranda, manuals and legal decisions detailing rule interpretations and court cases.
• As required, independently conducts a wide variety of on-site safety and health inspections and investigations; preparing reports and issuing citations and orders for violations found during examinations.
• Prepares pre- and post-trial pleadings and discovery, including pre-hearing orders and post-trial briefs.
• Prepares and presents a variety of written correspondence, including researching and responding to congressional inquiries and deliberating policy issues having an impact on conference activities.
• Prepares written reports of inspections and investigations, issuing citations and orders for violations found during examinations.

Serves as full deputy and alter ego to the Director of the office by sharing in the overall program management, leadership, and decision-making activities.

Supervises two Division Chiefs, FOIA Officer, and employees in the immediate OSRV office. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates and sets priorities. Interviews candidates for positions, making recommendations for appointment, promotion, or reassignment involving such positions. Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring group grievances and the more serious complaints not resolved to higher level supervisors. Handles minor disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands, recommending action in more serious cases.

Negotiate and coordinate major policy, regulatory, programmatic, and procedural issues with senior staff-level managers and specialists representing Government, industry, and labor, and other interested stakeholders, such as state and local officials. Develop and make presentations to industry, labor, and governmental groups including joint groups.

Represents the agency views on legislative and regulatory proposals. Reviews proposals for new and revised mine safety and health regulations and standards. Coordinates development of MSHA position with appropriate managers and technical specialists, negotiates resolution of technical and programmatic issues and makes recommendations to the Assistant Secretary concerning whether to proceed with a regulatory project. Develops the MSHA regulatory plan and agenda for inclusion in the Departmental Plan and Agenda and monitors plan and agenda items. Analyze proposed legislation, draft regulations and executive orders and testimony from other Federal agencies in order to assess their impact on regulatory standards and regulations. Analyze proposed legislation, draft regulations and executive orders and testimony from other Federal agencies in order to assess their impact on MSHA and MSHA standards and regulations.

Chairs public hearings on proposed regulations and standards. Questions those who testify to clarify issues and viewpoints to facilitate development of the agency's position. Provides MSHA input into Departmental responses to congressional inquiries related to MSHA standards and regulations and the overall regulatory process. Reviews and provides MSHA comments and position concerning testimony by industry, trade organizations, and union spokespersons.

Directs and manages the development and writing of draft and final version of new and revised mine safety and health standards. Develops or reviews memoranda for Assistant Secretary's signature to proceed with publication of draft regulations in the Federal Register. Prepares and/or reviews a wide variety of correspondence and documents, including specialized policy papers, analytical reports and issues papers, on issues affecting all aspects of the mining industry for the Director's and/or other high-level signature.

This is a career ladder progression position; the duties described below are at the full performance level, GS-12. Applicants selected at a grade below GS-12 will serve in a developmental capacity, wherein the work is less complex in nature and the supervisor, or a senior level employee provides specific instruction and guidance. At the Full Performance Level (GS-12), the incumbent:

• Coordinates with others to achieve compliance with the requirements of MSHA approved products.
• Coordinates audits of manufacturers of approved equipment and exercises oversight to ensure compliance with approval requirements.
• Works with a wide range of industrial personnel and governmental personnel through MSHA requirements.
• Develops and implements standard operating procedures and/or resolution procedures to address adequacy, effectiveness and safety of existing and emerging technologies.
• Provides technical support, direction and policy interpretation in response to inquiries from those involved in acquisition and maintenance of MSHA approved products.
• Provides assistance to the Office of Solicitor on citations concerning products that do not conform to the requirements of 30 CFR.
• Serves as the Mining Equipment Compliance Specialist authority representing MSHA accident investigations involving mining equipment which may result in development of accident hazard alerts, information bulletins, post-accident remedies, etc. Identifies corrective actions to improve safety of products, processes, and procedures.
• Ensures industry compliance of MSHA approved products utilizing the defect assessments and field complaint programs. Plans and develops audit plans, and reports results of the quality assurance practices.
• Audits permissible equipment involved in accidents or field complaints against applicable MSHA standards under 30 CFR through examination, testing or both to determine if those products meet approval requirements.
• Independently conducts investigations of field complaints received from enforcement personnel and equipment manufacturers. Analyzes findings and identifies deficiencies, makes determinations as to compliance/ non-compliance, determines the level of hazard, making recommendations for method and equipment modifications the manufacturer can make to come into compliance or initiates rescission of the product, if necessary.
• Plans, organizes, develops new and implements existing quality control programs having a nationwide impact on mine safety.
• Conceives, plans, develops, implements and administers mine safety quality control programs of MSHA approval holders. As part of the programs, procedures are developed and written, and information disseminated to equipment manufacturers, mine operators, and MSHA enforcement personnel through formal training and presentations, handouts, etc.
• Prepares written and oral presentations and formal and provides informal talks at meetings, seminars, and workshops for enforcement and technical experts in the mining industry.
• Develops highly specialized training courses and seminars related to all areas of mining equipment and products.
• Travels throughout the United States to present specialized training courses and seminars related to mining equipment and products information on compliance and safety practices and methods to the mining community.
• Serves as a principal instructor during the presentation of training courses and seminars presented to those having an interest in worker health and safety world-wide.

For GS-1822-12 :

The duties listed are at the full performance level.

As an Authorized Representative (AR) of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the incumbent performs the following duties to enforce the mine safety and health laws and promote safety and health in the mining industry.

Investigations/Inspections (50%): Participates in investigations involving dust explosions or other severe violations of health and noise standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard-to-define problems to resolve. The incumbent may serve as a mine health expert on teams investigating accidents involving health hazards.

Safety and Plan Reviews/Advisory Services (50%): Reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations concerning the adequacy of ventilation plans and requests for variance or waiver from mandatory health standards submitted by mine operators for approval. These plans include, but are not limited to, dust control, bathhouse facilities, potable water, and noise control. During the review process, the incumbent may conduct on-site health surveys to determine whether conditions at the mine are the same as portrayed in the plan, acquire information that may not be clear from the plan, or discusses technical problems causing the plan not to be acceptable. Assists in developing new or modified health regulations, standards, and inspection procedures.

Advises mine operators and other Federal and State inspectors of noise abatement techniques, dust suppression methods, and other significant health issues and technological developments. Evaluates and discuss the acceptability of new mine safety and health methods and equipment with manufacturers and miner operators.

Performs other duties as assigned.