Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VA employees, current permanent Federal employees in the competitive service, and excepted service personnel who qualify for an interchange agreement. Also open to CTAP/ICTAP.

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The incumbent develops and coordinates all VAMC emergency plans and exercises in accordance with VHA Directive 0320 and supporting appendices, and the VHA Emergency Operations Plan which encompasses Continuity of Operations (COOP). Collaborates with community partners to support the execution of national objectives.

Employee will be the primary point of contact and Liaison in managing intra and interagency VA contingency support of Department of Defense (DoD), VA health and medical support of the National Response Framework (NRF) and other applicable authorities and support provided through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS). This position interacts in a professional and competent manner daily with individuals of executive level responsibilities and authority. In this position the EMS represents the Associate Director or Executive Leadership at key planning sessions, after actions reviews, response planning, NDMS, VA/DoD Contingency and Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 meetings, conferences, forums and symposiums; as well as any applicable ad hoc meetings that may present. As a VAMC representative, the requirements for the position will require the incumbent to be detail oriented and address complicated and complex issues requiring tact and diplomacy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Oversight and Growth - 35%

• The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff, as well as the functions required to manage the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP)
• Develop, implement, sustain, and maintain policies and guidance within the VHA, local, and community
• The incumbent is further responsible for ensuring the emergency response results and conclusions lead to a continual improvement of the emergency management program throughout the healthcare system
• Provides leadership with direction management, professional and technical expertise regarding the development and implementation of the CEMP

Resource Management and Contingency Operations - 35%

• The incumbent functions as the local program manager for the Disaster Emergency Personnel System (DEMPS), which is a program comprised of qualified volunteers who register and train in disaster management and support national deployment requirements
• The incumbent recruits, evaluates, identifies, and trains specifically qualified volunteers to support national task orders
• Approval for DEMPS deployments are coordinate through VHA OEM, VISN and Medical Center Director

Exercise, Evaluation, and Community Relations - 30%

• Incumbent reviews, analyzes and coordinates the implementation and evaluation of exercises to test and analyze the healthcare system's comprehensive emergency management plans and associated programs which includes collaboration and integration with the Safety, Patient Safety, Office of Public Affairs, VA Police programs
• Assists in the planning and designing exercise scenarios using Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) principles that meet program objectives and provide measurable outcomes

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8am to 430pm (position is required to work during emergencies, training, outside of normal business hours)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD99789S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/11/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous experience in emergency management is necessary
• Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations where degree of hazard could be of a high nature; knowledge of a variety of emergency, contingency and operations plans, policies, and directives enough to provide advice and assistance.
• Skill in applying basic data gathering methodologies to collect various types of information and knowledge of database entry programs and management
• Extensive knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite software (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) is required

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the pertinent laws, objectives, precedents, guidelines and policies governing various emergency management programs and operations enough to assist with development and execution of a comprehensive emergency management program. Knowledge of analytical and evaluation methods and thorough understanding of how regulatory programs are administered to select and apply program evaluation and measurement techniques (data gathering methodologies) in determining compliance with emergency preparedness and management rules and regulations. Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations where degree of hazard could be of a high nature; knowledge of a variety of emergency, contingency and operations plans, policies, and directives enough to provide advice and assistance. Previous experience in emergency management is required. Skill in applying basic data gathering methodologies to collect various types of information and knowledge of database entry programs and management. Extensive knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite software (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) is required.

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 work is sedentary during non-emergency situations. However, participation in field exercises and operational support missions may require strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment, walking long distance, climbing, working long hours, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. May include various housing and living conditions to include non-climate controlled, limited privacy sleeping facilities (for example, cots, tents, "hot-bunking", gymnasiums, or similar), limited shower and laundry facilities, and limited feeding options (such as shelf-stable meals, meals-ready-to-eat (MRE's), and field kitchens). Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. During emergency situations the incumbent may be required to remain available 24 hours per day, seven days per week for multiple weeks. Incumbent is subject to work under emergency notification and contact procedures. EMS will be provided and must carry a government provided mobile communication device.

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.