Emergency Management Specialist

Summary The position is responsible for Emergency Management (EM) work preparing for and carrying out or coordinating emergency functions to prevent, protect from, mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. The position serves as a program coordinator in one of the major areas for Emergency Management, Operations, Plans, or Logistics for the Veterans Health Administration Office of Emergency Management. Responsibilities This job announcement will remain open for 10 business days. The initial application review cut-off for this job announcement is 50 applications. The first 50 applications received will be considered first. Applications received after the initial cut-off number (50 applications) may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. Prepare for and implement all Emergency Management work to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency disasters. Maintains active and effective professional working relationships with vendors and service providers, and maintains effective liaisons with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local emergency response partners as appropriate. Support all emergency functions including managing and coordinating all emergency management and contingency response operations, response planning, and integrations of Federal, State, local, non-governmental organizations, and private sector disaster programs. Ensuring proper readiness of response capabilities such as the investment, maintenance, exercising and validation of personnel, facilities, equipment and other assets. Knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) functional roles within the National Response Framework (NRF). Proficient computer skills with the ability to utilize various office automation software programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite, to include word processing and spreadsheet applications. Possess a valid commercial drivers license with endorsements Ability to communicate both written and orally. Ability to review documents and reports and provide information required for corrective actions as required. Assists in the development of standards of readiness for deployable assets and maintains accountability. Consult with Program Manager when responding to new initiatitives and evolving Emergency Preparedness and response expectations. Other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available at management discretion. Telework: Available at managements discretion. (The applicant is required on site 50% of work schedule on-site per pay period). Virtual: Available, the employee may work at a VA facility or other VA-leased space other than the facility that is hiring the employee and is authorized for telework up to 50%. Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD19037A and PD19038A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements 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. Possess a valid motor vehicle license and/or CDL. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2024. 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 GS-7 a position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Selective Placement Factor (SPF) Requirement: This position includes a selective placement factor (skill, knowledge, ability, or other worker characteristic basic to – and essential for – satisfactory performance of the job). Selective placement factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration. Do you meet the below selective placement factors for this position? Note, license verification will be requested later in the recruitment process. Possess a valid motor vehicle operators license. Able to obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL). AND You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS- 07 Education Qualification: Possess level of education reflected in one of the below statements. If basing all or part of qualification on education, transcript is required with the application and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. One full year of graduate education; OR Have a Bachelors Degree with Superior Academic achievement. OR GS-07 Specialized Experience: Have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05 on Federal Service that typically includes, but is not limited to, 3 of the 5 following specialized experience examples. Review and edit documents and reports Utilize various office automation software programs Apply Federal law and Emergency Management Regulations Ensure compliance with applicable guidelines Aide in developing ever-evolving concepts, strategies and business practices OR GS-07 Combination of Education & Specialized Experience: Have more than 3 years of undergraduate education and specialized experience. GS- 09 Educational Qualification: Possess level of education reflected in one of the below statements. If basing all or part of qualification on education, transcript is required with the application and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Masters Degree or equivalent graduate-level education; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if relate OR GS-09 Specialized Experience: Have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07 on Federal Service that typically includes, but is not limited to, 5 of the 7 following specialized experience examples. Interpret and apply theories, concepts, principles, practices, methods, and techniques of emergency management programs Apply regulations, policies, procedures, and principles as it relates to emergency management issues Use the National Incident Management System (NIMS) functional role in an operations center Prepare, review and edit executive-level reports Compile and provide input for executive-level presentations on a variety of topics and issues Utilize various office automation software programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite, to include word processing and spreadsheet applications. research and comprehend Federal law, Emergency Management regulations, policies, and guidance OR GS-09 Combination Education & Specialized Experience: Have more than one year of graduate education and specialized experience. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal Skills Technical Competency Writing Communications Incident Management Analysis and Problem Solving 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 including carrying persons and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. Deployments 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 (MREs), and field kitchens). For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.