Senior Executive Service Career Opportunity: Chief Safety Officer at NIST

In the world of scientific research and technological innovation, safety, health, and environmental integrity are not secondary considerations—they are the foundational pillars that make groundbreaking discoveries possible. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is currently seeking a highly accomplished, mission-driven executive to fill the critical role of Chief Safety Officer (CSO).

Operating within the Senior Executive Service (SES) framework, this position is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with a competitive salary range of $151,661 to $228,000 per year. As the leader of the Office of Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE), the Chief Safety Officer is responsible for fostering a resilient, proactive, and integrated safety culture across all levels of the Institute. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an executive leader to protect federal personnel, safeguard the environment, and directly support the scientific progress of the nation.

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About the Agency: NIST and the Office of Safety, Health, and Environment

Founded in 1901, NIST is one of the nation's oldest physical science laboratories. From the smart grid and electronic health records to atomic clocks, advanced nanomaterials, and computer chips, countless products and services rely in some way on technology, measurement, and standards provided by NIST.

Operating in such high-tech and often hazardous laboratory environments requires an extraordinarily robust safety infrastructure. This is where the Office of Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) plays a pivotal role. OSHE provides the critical oversight, guidance, and policy framework needed to manage occupational hazards, environmental emissions, and workplace health initiatives. By advising the NIST Director and Associate Directors on all matters related to safety, health, and environmental compliance, OSHE ensures that the agency’s scientific missions are executed responsibly, legally, and without compromising the safety of staff or the surrounding community.

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Job Responsibilities of the Chief Safety Officer

The Chief Safety Officer serves as the principal strategist, administrator, and spokesperson for NIST’s agency-wide safety, health, and environmental programs. Reporting directly to senior leadership, the CSO plays a multi-faceted role that blends technical safety management with executive administration.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Program Administration & Strategic Direction: Plan, direct, coordinate, and administer the comprehensive NIST-wide safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) program. Establish long-term strategic plans and measurable objectives aligned with federal laws and agency milestones.
• Policy and System Implementation: Oversee the development and maintenance of a robust, risk-based safety management system. Ensure safety methodologies are integrated seamlessly into specialized laboratory environments.
• Financial and Resource Management: Prepare, justify, and manage overall budget estimates for the SH&E program. Direct the allocation and realignment of financial resources to address high-priority safety needs.
• Spokesmanship & Stakeholder Engagement: Represent NIST as the authoritative voice on safety, health, and environmental issues. Coordinate and collaborate with Congressional committees, Department of Commerce officials, other federal agencies, private sector partners, and academic institutions.
• Culture Leadership: Actively promote a progressive, transparent, and collaborative safety culture. Engage staff at all levels—from elite research scientists to facilities operations teams—to cultivate shared accountability and open safety reporting.

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Requirements and Qualifications

To be considered for this high-level Senior Executive Service position, candidates must demonstrate both executive leadership capability and deep technical competency.

Basic Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship: Required at the time of application.
• Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
• Drug Testing: Position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing due to its critical-sensitive nature.
• Financial Disclosure: The selected appointee must file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) within 30 days of appointment.

Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs):

Your application must provide definitive, metrics-driven proof of your capability in the following technical domains:

1. PTQ 1 - Complex Program Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, setting resource priorities, aligning cross-functional teams, and building consensus across diverse technical and non-technical stakeholder groups.
2. PTQ 2 - Safety & Health Risk Management: Extensive technical expertise in occupational safety and environmental risk assessment. Proven success in establishing a safety culture in highly complex laboratory, industrial, or scientific research environments.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

All prospective entrants into the SES must demonstrate competence across five core executive areas, representing the foundation of successful federal leadership:

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the American Founding: Knowledge of the American government framework, commitment to public service, and upholding the Constitution.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency: Strategic stewardship of federal resources, eliminating waste, and implementing cost-effective process or technological modernizations.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence: Technical and professional excellence, ensuring quality control and technical accuracy in all organizational outputs.
• ECQ 4: Leading People: Inspiring, mentoring, and leading a diverse workforce toward organizational goals, fostering accountability, and managing change.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results: Aligning initiatives with organizational priorities, meeting key performance metrics, and delivering results safely and effectively.

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Salary and Compensation Overview

Positions within the Senior Executive Service are compensated based on performance, qualifications, and the scope of responsibilities. The salary structure is highly competitive with private-sector executive compensation while adhering to federal standards.

Position Title	Pay Grade / Scale	Minimum Salary	Maximum Salary	Location
Chief Safety Officer	ES (Senior Executive)	$151,661	$228,000	Gaithersburg, Maryland

Note: SES salaries are subject to annual adjustments and performance-based awards. Federal executive positions do not receive standard locality pay increases; compensation is determined on an individual basis within the established ES pay band.

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Comprehensive Benefits and Work-Life Balance

NIST provides its executive staff with an outstanding benefits package designed to support personal wellness, financial security, and a healthy work-life balance.

Key Benefits Programs Include:

• Flexible Work Initiatives: Eligible for telework and flexible scheduling, allowing you to manage professional demands alongside personal commitments.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Access to accumulated annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and Paid Parental Leave.
• Family and Childcare Support: NIST hosts an on-site childcare center, childcare subsidy programs for qualifying families, back-up childcare options, and comprehensive elder-care resources.
• Health and Wellness Perks: Employees benefit from on-site fitness centers, dedicated lactation spaces, structured wellness programs, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Insurance & Retirement: High-quality federal health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, alongside the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) matching.

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Critical Application Tips: The Two-Page Resume Strategy

Applying for an SES position is vastly different from standard federal job applications. The NIST selection process features a strict, non-negotiable Resume-Only format with a maximum length of two (2) pages.

Crucial Guidelines for a Compliant Application:

1. Respect the Two-Page Limit: If your resume is even one line over two pages, it will be discarded without review. Every word must count.
2. Incorporate ECQs and PTQs Directly: Do not attach separate narrative essays. Your professional experiences must be written in a way that naturally highlights your executive leadership (ECQs) and technical safety expertise (PTQs) within the body of your standard resume.
3. Formatting Constraints: Use a highly legible font no smaller than 11-point. Maintain margins of at least 0.8 inches. Save your final document as a PDF to ensure formatting remains locked.
4. Omit Restricted Content: Do not use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. Ensure your resume contains no hyperlinks, images, graphics, or social media handles. Do not include your Social Security Number or photos, as this will lead to immediate disqualification.
5. Focus on Outcomes: Frame your accomplishments using the Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) model. Show what you managed (budgets, staff size) and the measurable impact of your leadership.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is eligible to apply for this Chief Safety Officer position?

This vacancy is open to all qualified US citizens, current federal employees, and existing members of the Senior Executive Service. NIST is committed to equal opportunity hiring based on merit and professional competence.

2. What is the deadline for submitting my application?

All application materials, including your two-page resume and necessary supporting documentation (like SF-50s or SESCDP certifications), must be submitted and received by September 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

3. What is the OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB)?

If you are selected for the position and are not currently a career member of the SES (or a certified graduate of an SES Candidate Development Program), your application must be reviewed and formally certified by OPM's Qualifications Review Board before you can be officially appointed.

4. Who can I contact if I experience technical difficulties during the application process?

For system-wide USAJOBS issues, consult the online Help Center. For questions specific to this vacancy, or to request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, you can contact the servicing Human Resources Specialist, Amy Laughter, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-845-5196.

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Serving as the Chief Safety Officer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology is more than an executive role—it is a commitment to protecting the people and progress driving national scientific discovery. If you possess the exceptional leadership capabilities, risk management expertise, and executive vision required to oversee safety across highly sophisticated research facilities, take the next step in your career. Align your professional experience with the required ECQs and PTQs, refine your two-page executive resume, and submit your application to join the leadership team at NIST today.