Clarification from the agency

OPEN TO CURRENT PERMANENT VA EMPLOYEES ONLY

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This position performs technical duties as a Paramedic (Basic and Advanced Life Support Services). In addition to performing all the duties and responsibilities of a Paramedic, the incumbent will, as a regular and recurring part of their assignment, exercise supervisory authorities and responsibilities over the Ambulance Services Program (ASP). Incumbent will have technical and administrative authority over all positions assigned to the ASP to include Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Lead Paramedics, and others support staff as assigned.

GENERAL:

• Executes all the duties and responsibilities of a Paramedic, as a regular and recurring part of their assignment, exercise supervisory authorities and responsibilities over the Ambulance Services Program (ASP).
• Preserves technical and administrative authority over all positions assigned to the ASP to include Emergency Medical Technicians (GS-0640-07), Paramedics, (GS-0640-09), Lead Paramedics (GS-0640-10) and others support staff as assigned.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES:

• Oversee/monitor all aspects of the Ambulance Services Program (ASP).
• Evaluates procedures/techniques of patient care for compliance with emergency medical service protocols.
• Plans the work of the ASP employees, setting and adjusting both short and long-term priorities and goals.
• Creates, adjusts, and approves ASP employee schedules as well as reviewing and approving leave requests in accordance with VA policy and ASP workload needs.
• Prepares forecasts of funds needed for equipment, materials, and supplies of the ASP.
• Provides advice on emergency medical service care, system delivery, and on the interpretation and application of policies, regulations, and directives.
• Develops, implements, and/or recommends organizational policy, planning, and procedural initiatives related to Ambulance Services.
• Takes corrective action to improve the quality and quantity of work and resolves problems not covered by precedents or established policies related to Ambulance Services.
• Ensures the operation of an effective system of internal controls by periodically reviewing internal control measures, initiating needed revisions, and evaluates procedures/techniques of patient care for compliance with emergency medical services protocols.

PARAMEDIC DUTIES:

• Performs all the duties and responsibilities of a Paramedic.
• Maintains the knowledge and ability to supervise, lead, and perform the following duties/activities:
  • Responds to on-site accidents and other emergencies involving injury and illnesses, sometimes encountering situations which may be life threatening.
  • Determines and prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance.
  • Performs physical examinations and obtains patient history, assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness.
  • Administers Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing Advanced Cardiac Life support (ACLS), International trauma life support (ITLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP), advanced airway management, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and/or drug treatments.
  • Performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life threatening and non-life-threatening conditions per established procedures or as authorized/directed by physicians.
  • Responds to cardiac and respiratory emergencies, performs cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; maintains circulation controls bleeding and provides spinal management and immobilization.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals.
• Takes appropriate measures to prevent disease transmission or exposure to bodily fluids.

AMBULANCE/TRANSPORT/VEHICLE OPERATION:

• Selects the most efficient route to and from sites, taking into consideration traffic patterns, health facility locations, etc.
• Retains skills and familiarity with emergency and patient transport vehicle characteristics to safely operate the vehicle under adverse weather and/or traffic conditions to provide emergency and patient transportation.
• Adheres to traffic ordinances and regulations pertaining to operation of emergency vehicles.
• Prepares appropriate patient and vehicle use documentation and reports to ensure medical requirements are met.
• Performs thorough safety and operator maintenance inspections and makes minor repairs on a variety of emergency ambulances, patient transport vehicles, and medical equipment.

Work Schedule: Tours of duty will be working rotating shifts; Initial schedule Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm;
Telework: Not suitable
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Paramedic/PD10137A
Relocation/Recruitment Expenses: Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/11/2025.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

GS-11 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have one of the following:
Specialized Experience: Must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Supervisory Paramedic. Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience are:

• serving as a lead/supervisor and technical advisor pertaining to emergency medical services and overall management and supervision of the emergency patient transportation and Ambulance Service Program (ASP)
• manages oversite and/or coordination with tenant activities, private medical organizations and smaller installations under their jurisdiction
• develops, coordinates, and implements programs, budgets, policies, regulations, and emergency response procedures
• serves as technical advisors to management on all matters pertaining to emergency medical services and ambulance transportation matters
• makes an independent preliminary assessment of the patient's condition and selects from a variety of prescribed protocols the one that is considered appropriate under the given circumstances
• retains broad knowledge and skills sufficient to provide and gather information on the human body structure, function, illnesses and diseases, and the treatment procedure supporting patient charting and goals for the assigned patient for the purpose of communicating with the patients and nursing/medical staff members; and performs thorough safety and operator maintenance inspections and makes minor repairs on a variety of emergency ambulances, patient transport vehicles, and medical equipment.

There are Four (4) Selective Placement Factors (SPF) have been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

Selective Placement Factor (Screen-out): Must have the following:
BLS - You must have and maintain current/valid Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification. (CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). (Validated during interview process)
-AND-
State Certification - You must have a valid/current National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) certification. (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). (Validated during interview process)
-AND-
Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) - You must have a current and valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification. (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED to receive credit for further consideration). (Validated during interview process)
-AND-
DRIVER"S LICENSE (DL) -You must have a valid and unrestricted state driver's license. (DO NOT provide driver's license. We may not accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview).

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• First Response
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership
• Planning and Evaluating

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The Supervisory Paramedic work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients in a variety of situations. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients, frequently under adverse conditions or in confined areas. The Supervisory Medical Care Transportation Technician may be required to spend prolonged periods in protective breathing apparatus and protective clothing during chemical, nuclear, biological, or hazardous materials incidents/exercises.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.