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Emergency Management Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
The Office of Emergency Planning, Protection and Response/ORS, Division of Fire/Rescue Services
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Division of Fire and Rescue Services provides response capabilities for all fire, rescue, and technological emergencies on the NIH campus. The Rocky Mountain Laboratories is the second-largest off-campus intramural research facility within NIH, located on 33 acres in Hamilton, Montana. The facility comprises more than 30 buildings and employs a diverse workforce across a variety of occupations. RML also operates a state-of-the-art Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Integrated Research Facility.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/15/2025 to 12/22/2025
Salary
$73,939 - $137,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Ravalli County, MT
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NIH-ORS-IMP-26-12848948
Control number
852183300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

You must be currently employed by the Department of Health and Human Services, serving on a permanent appointment in the competitive service.

Duties

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If selected for this position as a GS-0089-11/12/13 Emergency Management Specialist your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Participates and assists in the development of emergency plans for all RML facilities including those relating to fire as well as other major emergencies under the "All Hazards" umbrella that could occur within such facilities.
  • Attends relevant meetings, conferences, and working groups with external partners to relay information related to RML resources for emergency management.
  • Remains alert for communications pertaining to any emergency that may be of vital interest to RML components. Evaluates such information, provides information and updates to senior management and suggests actions to be taken to ensure the safety of personnel, property, research animals, and projects.
  • Serves as Incident Commander during on-site emergencies. Directs response operations involving hazardous materials, medical emergencies, and rescues. Remains alert for communications pertaining to any emergency that may be of vital interest to RML components. Evaluates such information, provides information and updates to senior management and directs actions to be taken to ensure the safety of personnel, property, research animals, and projects. Coordinates with mutual aid responders and manages emergency scenes. Manages emergency response teams and equipment readiness. Ensures 24/7 coverage, team certification, and response capabilities. Maintains PPE, apparatus, and HazMat supplies.
  • Provides first responder personalized care of the sick and injured based on DFRS SOPs and local medical direction. Coordinates the treatment and transportation of patients with mutual aid units.
  • Responds to HazMat emergencies as part of the RML HazMat Response Team. Implements the DFRS Emergency Response Plan, perform the classification, identification, and verification on known and unknown materials by using advanced survey instruments and equipment.
  • Select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective suits, perform in-depth hazard and risk assessment of hazardous materials, and perform specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.
  • Determines and implements decontamination procedures and understands chemical, radiological, and toxicological terminology and behavior.
  • Inspects, test, and maintains fire extinguishers on the RML campus and apparatus; maintains and checks for the readiness of all emergency response apparatus; conducts fire protection and prevention activities and receives/relays emergency management information as required; inspects, test, and calibrates personal/chemical protective equipment, technical rescue equipment, hazardous materials analytical equipment and inspects, test, and maintains supplies for various suppression and emergency medical equipment utilized by the Division of Fire Rescue Services in accordance with DFRS Standard Operating Procedures and local medical direction.
  • Responds to HazMat emergencies as part of the RML HazMat Response Team. Implements the DFRS Emergency Response Plan, performs classification, identification, and verification on known and unknown materials by using advanced survey instruments and equipment. Selects and uses proper specialized chemical personal protective suits, performs in-depth hazard and risk assessment of hazardous materials, and performs specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.
  • Serves as the principal advisor to RML and NIH senior leadership on hazard mitigation strategies and risk reduction initiatives. Interprets and applies national directives (e.g., PPD-8, HSPD-5, NIMS, NRF) to RML's unique biomedical research and high-containment lab operations and applying expert judgment in tailoring guidance to RML's operational environment.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • If selected, incumbent will be required travel to the NIH Bethesda Campus and will be subject to other duties as assigned.
  • If selected, incumbent will perform a variety of duties that require a high degree of public trust and confidence which requires the incumbent to be able to obtain and maintain a favorably adjudicated Tier 3 (SECRET) background investigation.
  • This is a Testing Designated Position. The incumbent must submit to and successfully pass a urinalysis drug screening prior to appointment. You will also be subject to unannounced random drug testing for the duration of their time in this position.
  • If selected, incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a certification by the State of Montana or the National Registry as an Emergency Medical Technician within 6 months of appointment effective date.
  • If selected, incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, meeting American Heart Association standards within the first 6 months of appointment effective date.
  • If selected, incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a current Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) certification with the first 6 months of appointment effective date.
  • Incumbent must possess a valid state driver's license and must be able to obtain a government DL covering the apparatus. If selected, incumbent must complete an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course within 6 months from appointment eff date.
  • If selected, incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a current certification as a Hazmat Technician meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration within the first year of your appointment effective date.
  • If selected, incumbent must successfully complete the annual Radiation Safety in the Laboratory training sponsored by the NIH Division of Safety, Office of Research Services within 6 months from your appointment effective date.
  • If selected, incumbent must successfully complete the annual Radiation Safety for Firefighters training sponsored by the NIH Division of Safety, Office of Research Services within 6 months from your appointment effective date.
  • If selected, incumbent must be able obtain and maintain NIMS ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 certifications within 6 months from your appointment effective date.
  • The position requires a high degree of physical fitness, agility, and dexterity. The incumbent is subject to a pre-employment physical and annual medical examination to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-11 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements:

Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M., if related.

OR

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:

1) providing initial support as a first responder, such as assisting with patient care, decontamination procedures, or hazardous materials assessments under direction of senior team members.
2) reviewing and updating emergency response and contingency plans (e.g., fire, hazardous materials, continuity of operations, and all-hazard plans) to ensure preparedness and compliance.
3) participate in emergency response activities by applying standard operating procedures, policies, and directives under supervision. Responses may have included fire alarms, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, or odor investigations.
4) Assist with selecting proper specialized chemical personal protective suits, assist with performing in-depth hazard and risk assessment of hazardous materials, and assist with performing specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.

OR

A combination of post baccalaureate education related to the position and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.


You qualify at the GS-12 level, if you meet the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:

1) assist with the development of emergency management plans (e.g., fire, hazardous materials, continuity of operations, or all-hazards plans) for facilities or organizations.
2) monitoring and evaluating emergency communications and alerts, assessing potential impacts, and providing timely recommendations and updates to senior leadership.
3) serving as a first responder to incidents involving fire, hazardous materials, or medical emergencies; by coordinating on-scene operations with mutual aid units; making decisions on containment, control, and decontamination procedures.
4) performing technical hazard assessments of chemical, biological, radiological, and other materials, using specialized detection equipment and protective gear to identify risks and determine appropriate mitigation strategies.
5) performing inspections, testing, calibrations, and maintenance of emergency response equipment, protective clothing, fire suppression systems, hazardous materials instruments, and medical supplies to ensure operational readiness.
6) select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective suits, assist with performing in-depth hazard and risk assessment of hazardous materials, and assist with performing specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.

You qualify at the GS-13 level, if you meet the following qualification requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:

1) providing initial support as a first responder, such as assisting with patient care, decontamination procedures, or hazardous materials assessments under direction of senior team members.
2) acts as a first responder for all fire alarms, odor investigations and fires based on Standard Operating Procedures.
3) reviewing and updating emergency response and contingency plans (e.g., fire, hazardous materials, continuity of operations, and all-hazard plans) to ensure preparedness and compliance.
4) Select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective suits, perform in-depth hazard and risk assessment of hazardous materials, and perform specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available.
5) Determines and implements decontamination procedures and understands chemical, radiological, and toxicological terminology and behavior.
6) inspects, test, and calibrates personal/chemical protective equipment, technical rescue equipment, hazardous materials analytical equipment.


You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

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

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12848948

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
  • NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • This position may be assigned to work with, handle, receive, or store materials designated as Select Agents and Toxins by the Federal Select Agent Program, and is subject to the terms of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Biological Surety Program (BSP).
  • The NIH BSP requires successful completion of the following:
  • Visit our Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire.
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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 interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.

Agency contact information

Lori Palmer
Phone
301-594-3598
Email
palmerlom@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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