Clarification from the agency

Public- US Citizen

This position is located with the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). NDMS supports state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) authorities following disasters and emergencies by supplementing health and medical systems and response capabilities. The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, in its role as Coordinator of Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8), Public Health and Medical Services, of the National Response Framework, employs the NDMS to provide patient care, patient movement, and definitive care, as well as veterinary services, and fatality management support when requested by authorities from States, localities, Tribes and Territories, or other federal departments. In a disease outbreak, they may provide mass prophylaxis. During a special event, they stand ready to serve in case of an emergency. But no matter what the specific mission is, NDMS teams provide expert patient care that protects individual health and promotes national health security.

Identifies potential human remains and preserves items of potential evidentiary value at a disaster/death scene that may aid in victim identification, determination of the cause and manner of death.

Canvasses the disaster scene to identify and interview witnesses to obtain information pertinent to the time, the manner, and cause of death.

Documents the location of victims and articles of potential evidentiary value in relationship to their surroundings using measuring devices, cameras, diagrams and other appropriate documentation devices and methods.

Compiles investigative facts such as samples of body fluids and foreign substances for toxicological analysis, weather studies, autopsy reports, and scene and interview records for legal documentation. Provides information and guidance to the pathologist as to what transpired surrounding the victims' death.

Assures compliance with bloodborne pathogens universal safety precautions (per 29 CFR 1910.1030) and radiation monitoring in compliance with the Ionizing Radiation Standard (29 CFR 1910.1096) during all procedures for effective infection control and to assure safety of personnel.

Supports investigations by law enforcement, safety and other investigative agencies. Provides expert and factual testimony for legal purposes.

Works with personnel at hospitals, clinics, morgues, and the disaster site to ensure steps are taken to preserve items and evidence that may be required to aid the investigation.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov
• Suitable for federal employment
• Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
• Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• Two- year probationary may be required.
• Immunization may be required.
• Mandatory training.
• Required to obtain and maintain a Government Travel Card.
• Physical Health Standards (Non-Exam Requirements)

Qualifications

During deployments, the work is primarily related to readiness for and deployment for response during the aftermath of a disaster or public health emergency, where work may be field-based, in a tent environment that is remote and austere, caring for sick, injured, dying, or deceased persons. This work requires above average health, physical, and mental conditioning with routine long periods of repetitive walking, bending, lifting, and carrying, such as carrying NDMS equipment or heavy patients on litters. Incumbent must be capable of working in a high-stress, high security, remote, austere, and uncharacterized environment, void of infrastructure and vital services, requiring specific physical demands, such as the ability to lift 50 pounds, and work characteristics that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. For these reasons, employees are required to complete a physical and health screening process, meet and maintain certain physical standards, as well as mental, behavioral, and cognitive competencies. Work may be performed in an office setting or indoor and outdoor field sites, sometimes in adverse weather. During emergency situations, the work environment may be situated in austere conditions and environment in terms of destroyed infrastructure (e.g., food and water, housing, electricity, communications), the presence of endemic diseases, and limited health and sanitation facilities requiring special safety precautions.

To qualify for this position, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service:

1. Conducting investigations to determine the legal identity and the manner and cause of death of disaster victims; AND
2. Collecting and preserving items of evidentiary value; AND
3. Providing expert and factual testimony for legal purposes; AND
4. Supporting law enforcement, safety officials, and other agencies with investigations.

NOTE: This experience MUST be fully demonstrated in your resume to be considered for this position.

Documenting your experience:

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) For full-time, part-time, or intermittent work schedules include hours worked per week/deployment.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and/or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position or clinical rotation held and the total number of hours worked per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Please read the Qualifications and Required Documents section of this announcement and follow all instructions carefully.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at HHS.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Qualified candidates will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management direct hire guidelines. Veteran's Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures. Selections made under this announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the civil service.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12605842