P9871T OEHE Sanitarian (Emergency Mgr) GS-0688-12 (08.11.2022).docx

PP/SERIES/GRADE: GS-0688-12

INTRODUCTION

This position serves as the Sanitarian (Emergency Management Point of Contact) (EMPOC) for the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service. The primary purpose is to coordinate COVID-19 preparedness and response activities between the Phoenix Area Office and PAIHS Service Unit hospitals and clinics. The position also manages general emergency preparedness and response activities at the Phoenix Area Office.

This position is located in the Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS), Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE), Phoenix Area Indian Health Service (PAIHS).

This is a 4 year term position.

MAJOR DUTIES

10% Serves as an emergency management subject matter expert. Trains Area and Service Unit teams in Incident Command System (ICS). Knowledgeable and proficient in ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 level FEMA trainings. Knowledgeable in patient decontamination from chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological contaminants and is capable of teaching technical patient decontamination to hospital personnel. Subject matter expert in PPE used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and can train practitioners on donning, doffing and limitations of use. Provides active shooter preparedness training.

FACTORS

Factor 1 – Knowledge Required by the Position Knowledge of professional environmental engineering/scientific/chemical concepts, principles, and practices that enable the employee to serve as a technical specialist in patient decontamination from chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological contaminants and is capable of teaching technical patient decontamination to hospital personnel.

Professional knowledge of, and skill in applying, a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodologies of Environmental Health Services. A thorough knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and mitigation.

A thorough knowledge in Incident Command System for Healthcare.

Expert in range of PPE for COVID-19 and other hazards and hierarchy of controls.

Expert in COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection.

Exceptional writing skills and use of Word and Power Point.

Exceptional public speaking skills.

Significant knowledge in a broad range of environmental health program elements is required, including institutional environmental health, epidemiology and environmentally related communicable diseases, food safety, drinking water quality, waste management, vector control, occupational health and safety, emergency preparedness, and indoor air quality.

The incumbent must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to assess community environmental health needs, establish program priorities, and develop action plans. Therefore, registration as a professional Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) shall be required for entry into the position. The RS/REHS credential shall be from a recognized accrediting body such as the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or a state with reciprocal registration.

Factor 2 – Supervisory Controls Receives administrative and technical direction from the Institutional Environmental Health Program Manager with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions or goals. The incumbent independently designs and carries out programs within the framework of applicable laws. Work results are normally accepted without change. The incumbent’s work is periodically evaluated for completeness and technical accuracy.

Factor 3 - Guidelines Guidelines to be followed include, but are not limited to: CDC, FEMA, CMS and Joint Commission Standards; federal regulations from OSHA and FDA; and Guidelines from PHS, NIOSH, CDC, and other various professional groups such as NFPA, APIC, NCRPM, and ACGIH. Guidelines are often inadequate. The employee adapts or modifies existing guidelines to fit the situation.

Factor 4 - Complexity Leadership at Area and Service Unit level. The work consists of a variety of assignments involving many different, unrelated processes and methods pertinent to the Environmental Health Services. The employee decides what needs to be completed by researching, analyzing, testing, and evaluating information, unusual circumstances, unconventional issues, conditions, and problems.

Factor 5 – Scope and Effect The purpose of this position is to prepare and coordinate response to COVID-19 public health emergency and other disaster conditions impacting Phoenix Area IHS hospitals, clinics, area office, and district and field OEHE locations in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Owens Valley, California.

Factor 6 – Personal Contacts Personal contacts are made with service unit preparedness personnel, service unit CEOs, Area executive leadership and other subject matter specialists from IHS headquarters, tribal governments, and state and federal preparedness officials.

Factor 7 – Purpose of Contacts The purpose of contacts is to plan, direct, and control actions of others involved or to be involved in any one or more aspects of a preparedness project. The work requires active and leading role on conferences, meetings, and negotiations on problems and issues of considerable consequence or importance involving varying viewpoints, goals, and objectives. Interactions with professionals will require the ability to resolve differences among individual professional opinions, experience, judgement and philosophy and facilitate professional, proven and accepted solutions.

Factor 8 – Physical Demands The work is a blend of office and field work involving extended time at a desk and periodic times that constant standing, walking, stooping, bending, or other uncomfortable positions are required during disaster drills, trainings and facility consultations.

Factor 9 – Work Environment

The work is usually performed in an office setting except for travel to attend meetings and conferences or conduct onsite drills or trainings. May be exposed to extreme cold or rain while working outside or heat and cramped working space while inside. Extensive travel within the Phoenix Area is required occasionally in small aircraft including helicopter.

Other Significant Factors This position is covered under the Indian Child Protection Act and is hereby designated an authorized childcare position subject to P.L.101-630 and P.L 101-647.

Conditions of employment – this position requires, at a minimum, Level 6 – BI high risk level since the contents of the PD meets the Public Trust position criteria.

Conditions of employment - Registration as a professional Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) shall be required for entry into the position. The RS/REHS credential shall be from a recognized accrediting body such as the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or a state with reciprocal registration.

Position Evaluation Statement for Sanitarian (Organizational Title: Emergency Manager Point of Contact-EMPOC)

GS-0688-12

Location: DHHS, Indian Health Service, Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, Division of Environmental Health and Services.

Background: A new position was approved from OEHE Management team. In consultation with HHS Headquarters Classification team, the 601 series was not an approved series and recommended the 690 or 688 series. The DEHS Director approve the 688 Sanitarian series as a career ladder new position. The team is requesting a SPF be added to the position. A full classification is generated to ensure the OPM standards are followed.

PD#: P9871T

Reference: US OPM Position Classification Flysheet for Sanitarian Series, 0688, TS-82 October 1969. Job Family Standard for Professional Work in the Medical and Healthcare Group, 0600, Industrial Hygiene, 0690 series definition, September 2017. Job Family Position Classification Standard for Professional Work in the Engineering and Architecture Group, 0800, Environmental Engineering, 0819 series, November 2008. Introduction to the Position Classification Standards, Appendix 3, Primary Standards, TS-134 July 1995, TS-107 August 1991, Revised: August 2009.

Title and Series Determination: The correct series for this position is in the Sanitarian Series, GS-0688. This series includes positions that involve planning, developing, administering, evaluating, and promoting program concerned with the elimination and prevention of environmental health hazards. Also included are positions which involve developing and revising health laws, rules, and regulations. These positions require a broad knowledge of any one or a combination of the health, agricultural, physical or biological sciences sufficient to understand the basic concepts, principles, methods, and techniques of environmental health; and a practical knowledge of health laws, rules, and regulations. This material does not include grade-level criteria and recommend other standards and guides to evaluate sanitarian positions but are not specific which standards, therefore the two standards below were utilized for the position.

Environmental Engineering, 0819 series: This series covers positions managing, supervising, leading, and/or performing professional engineering and scientific work involving environmental programs and projects in the areas of environmental planning; environmental compliance; identification and cleanup of contamination; and restoring and sustaining environmental conservation.

Industrial Hygiene, 0690 series: This series covers positions managing, supervising, leading, and/or performing professional work involving environmental conditions which adversely affect the health and safety of people in the workplace. The work includes eliminating or controlling occupational and environmental health hazards such as those required of the Emergency Manager.

Introduction to Position Classification Standards: The standard were used as a basic tool for maintaining alignment across the position to show how titling practices are authorized in order to reflect the continuum of title, duties and responsibilities.

Grade Level Determination: The referenced standard provides evaluation using the Factor Evaluation System, (1) Knowledge Required by the Position; (2) Supervisory Controls; (3) Guidelines; (4) Complexity; (5) Scope and Effect; (6) Personal Contacts; (7) Purpose of Contacts; (8) Physical Demands; and (9) Work Environment. The evaluation of this position using the factors is as follows:

Factor 1, Knowledge Required by the Position This factor measures the nature and extent of information or facts that a worker must understand to do acceptable work, such as the steps, procedures, practices, rules, policies, theories, principles, and concepts; and the nature and extent of the skills needed to apply this knowledge. The Knowledge required by the subject position exceeds FL 1-6 and is most comparable to Level 1-7. Professional knowledge and skill is required in applying a wide range of concept and principle of an healthcare facility sufficient to conduct a variety of complex specialized tests in an area of disaster management and performing inspections of community institutions (childcare centers, Head Start Centers, senior centers, correctional facilities), food service operations and sanitation facilities (water, wastewater, solid waste facilities). Perform highly specialized assignments of an advanced nature and considerable difficulty, requiring extended specialized training and experience; provide advisory, reviewing, inspecting, education and training, or problem-solving services on specific environmental health problems or functions as supported in the 0690 and 0819 series. A professional registration as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) or Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or a state RS/REHS with NEHA reciprocity is required for the position. Knowledge required for this position consist of extensive knowledge of public health and disease prevention with specific knowledge of environmental health practices; and thorough knowledge of the environmental health programs for the Phoenix Area Offices. This enables incumbent to plan, organize and implement a comprehensive environmental health program in order to coordinate COVID-19 preparedness and response activities between the Phoenix Area Office and PAIHS Service Unit hospitals and clinics. The position will also manage general emergency preparedness and response activities at the Phoenix Area Office.

The higher FL 1-8 is not applicable to position because at this level, a mastery of professional knowledge is required to apply experimental theories, which is a requirement of higher level echelon.

This factor is evaluated at Level 1-7 for 1250 points.

Factor 2, Supervisory Controls This factor covers the nature and extent of direct or indirect controls exercised by the supervisor, the employee's responsibility for carrying out assignments, and how completed work is reviewed. The Supervisory Controls for the subject position exceeds FL 2-3 and is most comparable to Level 2-4. The Institutional Environmental Health Program Manager outlines overall objectives and available resources. The incumbent independently establishes criteria, formulates approaches and evaluates efforts. The Sanitarian handles problems and deviations in the work assignment in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training or accepted practices in the occupation. The incumbent’s work is periodically evaluated for completeness and technical accuracy.

The higher FL 2-5 is not met because at this level the supervisor provides administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined functions. At this level incumbent must have independence from technical supervision, which is not the case.

This factor is evaluated at Level 2-4 for 450 points.

Factor 3, Guidelines This factor covers the nature of guidelines used, and the judgment needed to apply them. The Guidelines for the subject position exceeds FL 3-3 and is most comparable to Level 3-4. The Sanitarian has independence in using the guidelines and must continually exercise judgment, drawing on professional training and experience with the environmental health program. Where guidelines are not available, the employee is expected to analyze results and recommend changes. Guidelines are often inadequate. The employee adapts or modifies existing guidelines to fit the situation specifically during emergency disaster management crisis. The Sanitarian must exercise sound judgment in interpreting the guidelines, and recommends new approaches to the current policies. Remains continuously aware of new developments in all related areas of environmental standards.

The higher FL 3-5 is not applicable to position and is applicable to higher echelon in which top agency management officials and senior staff recognize the employee as a technical expert in the development and interpretation of professional guidelines.

This factor is evaluated at Level 3-4 for 450 points.

Factor 4, Complexity This factor covers the nature, number, variety, and intricacy of tasks, steps, processes, or methods in the work performed; the difficulty in identifying what needs to be done; and the difficulty and originality involved in performing the work. The Complexity for the subject position exceeds FL 4-3 and is most comparable to Level 4-4. Work includes reviewing, researching, evaluating, and developing recommendation to resolve substantive problems that effectuate institutional environmental health, epidemiology and environmentally related communicable diseases, food safety, drinking water quality, waste management, vector control, occupational health and safety, emergency preparedness, and indoor air quality. Requests are forwarded from several sources in which the incumbent develops and prepares the reply ensuring that the healthcare determination reflects regulatory provisions and accepted healthcare principles. The incumbent must recognize cases that are uncommon, evaluate a variety of data, and make final recommendations to the Director of Environmental Health.

The higher FL 4-5 was not met for subject position and usually reserved for higher echelon who advises industry and agency management on the interpretation, intent, legislation, court decisions, and scientific findings.

This factor is evaluated at Level 4-4 for 225 points.

Factor 5, Scope and Effect This factor covers the relationship between the nature of the work, as measured by the purpose, breadth, and depth of the assignment, and the effect of the work products or services both within and outside the organization. The scope and effect required by the subject position exceeds FL 5-3 and is most comparable to Level 5-4. The purpose of this position is to prepare and coordinate response to COVID-19 public health emergency and other disaster conditions impacting Phoenix Area IHS hospitals, clinics, area office, and district and field OEHE locations in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Owens Valley, California. The work involves providing expert advice and technical direction to activities concerned with the identification, evaluation, and control of environmental hazards found in the healthcare environment from exposure to chemical, physical, ergonomic, and biological hazards which meets the 0690 series. The determinations made by the incumbent affects the safety of the Phoenix Area Office and PAIHS Service Unit hospitals and clinics.

The higher FL 5-5 is not applicable to subject position and is reserved for higher echelon who formulates and explores new theories and phenomena of unknown conditions.

The factor is credited at Level 5-4 for 225 points.

Factor 6, Personal Contacts & Factor 7, Purpose of Contacts Personal Contacts: This factor measures face-to-face contacts and telephone dialogue with persons not in the supervisory chain. The personal contacts required by the subject position exceeds Level 2 and is most comparable to Level 3. Contacts include Tribal communities, officials, managers and subject matter experts from federal and other outside agencies. Other contacts include co-workers within and outside the Phoenix Area, IHS and Tribal environmental health staff and engineers within Phoenix Area.

The higher Level 4 is not met because at this level includes members of Congress, state governors and mayors.

Purpose of Contacts: The purpose of personal contacts ranges from factual exchanges of information to situations involving significant or controversial issues and differing viewpoints, goals and objectives. The purpose required by the subject position exceeds Level B and is most comparable to Level C. The purpose of contacts is to plan, direct and control actions of others involved in aspects of a preparedness project. The Sanitarian influences and persuades groups to comply with established policies using persuasion to resolve professional opinions with proven accepted solutions.

The higher Level D is not applicable to subject position because at this level, one would justify and defend matters involving significant or controversial issues and/or programs.

According to the 0819 series, appropriate level of personal contacts at FL 6-3 and the corresponding purpose of contacts level at FL 7-C, intersects on the chart depicted on page 89 resulting and credited for 180 points. (See chart below):

Factor 8, Physical Demands This factor measures the requirements and physical demands placed on the employee in performing the work assignment, including the agility and dexterity required, and the extent of physical exertion. The physical demands required by the subject position exceeds FL 8-1 and is most comparable to Level 8-2. Work involves regular and reoccurring visits to the field where there is considerable walking, bending, climbing and stooping during on-site survey, inspections and investigations and site visits.

This factor is evaluated at Level 8-2 for 20 points.

Factor 9, Work Environment This factor considers the risks and discomforts in the employee's physical surroundings, and the safety precautions required. The work environment required by the subject position exceeds FL 9-1 and is most comparable to Level 9-2. During surveys or inspections there is occasional exposure to conditions of some risks wherein facilities are undergoing construction, modification and improvements. May be exposed to extreme cold or rain while working outside or heat and cramped working space at site visits.

This factor is evaluated at Level 9-2 for 20 points.

POSITION EVALUATION SUMMARY CHART

6. Personal Contacts &

7. Purpose of Contacts 6-2 7-3

Grade Conversion: GS-12 (2755-3150)

GS-12

Approved Organizational Title: Emergency Manager Point of Contact (EMPOC)

FINAL TITLE, SERIES & GRADE: Sanitarian GS-0688-12

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