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Summary The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP) Workforce Modernization Plan for emergency preparedness and response responsibilities for emergency management activities within VHA and with other Departments and Agencies and established consistency of functions and streamlines hiring process. Emergency Management Specialists (EMS) manage the health care system in sustaining national and regional support to the CEMP. Responsibilities Program Oversight and Growth Responsible for coordinating the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff, as well as the functions required to manage the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP).Advises Agency Executives and key stakeholders with expertise on program and policy impacting the CEMP including vulnerable Veteran populations. Coordinates internal and external publicity for the CEMP in conjunction with Medical Center Office of Public Affairs. Assists the Area Emergency Manager in maintaining and reporting daily bed inventory. Plans, organizes, implements, oversees and provides technical assistance for projects relating to emergency management programs. Reviews documents received for review, concurrence and/or signature by EMS. Utilizes EM principles ensuring accurate and proper documentation and anticipating possible inquiries from VHA OEM, VISN, and VAMC Executive Leadership. Responsible for managing and maintaining the health care system's automated alert and notification system, coordinating, and monitoring results with the Communication Support Team. Represents the healthcare system at the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and federal, state, county, and local coalition. Plans and organizes meetings for the Emergency Management Committee (EMC) and ad hoc workgroup. Serves as subject matter expert to the Medical Center Director and Executive Leadership Team during system disruption, natural disasters or medical surges impacting the Healthcare System or vulnerable Veteran populations. Collaborates with VISN EMS, VHA OEM, community partners and stakeholders ensuring guidance for continuity of care during any planned or unplanned event. Resource Management and Contingency Operations Functions as the local program manager for the Disaster Emergency Personnel System (DEMPS). Serves as the local program manager for First Receiver Decontamination. Monitors the Decontamination Unit Leader in organizing and coordinating all areas of responsibility related to the Decontamination Response Team.Activates and provides direct support to the Hospital Incident Management Team. Prepares the Hospital Command Center (HCC) for drills, exercises and responses. Establishes, revises, and reviews policies, procedures, mission objectives and or organizational design for mission accomplishment and complex and evolving issues and functions. Develops and maintains VHA emergency operations plans in support of internal and external requirements and mandates. Exercise, Evaluation, and Community Relations 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. Works with committee and community partners to perform hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA) requiring assessment of risks having potential to interrupt the continuity of critical operations. Revise and review policies, procedures, mission objectives and/or organizational design for mission accomplishment of complex and evolving issues and functions. Serves as advisor and representative on Emergency Management issues. Develop and implement a variety of EM guidelines and structures for general and specific EM operations. Develop taskings for EM activities. Serves to assist in management over the overall healthcare, missions, and functions. Provides direct support to other facilities within the VISN in their EM preparedness and planning efforts. Provides personnel and contractors with direction and advice regarding EM activities, policies, procedures, guidelines, directives, and organizational information. Contributes in the development and maintenance VAMC emergency operations plan in support of internal and external requirements and mandates. Supports and provides advice and guidance to Healthcare system Director, Deputy Director, VISN and VAMC Directors, Service Chiefs and other program managers on all aspects of emergency management. Provides guidance and assistance in all employee and vulnerable patient/Veteran accountability efforts before, during and after an emergency. Establishes and maintains relationships with the stakeholders, and/or community in order to communicate and disseminate program information with results in an understanding of the agency's mission and activities. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD99789S 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 To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 will 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, 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, 10/30/2025. 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-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. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education 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: developing, evaluating, and ensuring the effectiveness of internal and external exercises to provide continuous learning, meet objectives and provide measurable outcomes. Serving as the primary responsible party for deliberate planning, design, coordination, and execution of emergency management exercises and drills in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and other applicable standards. Conducting program analysis, evaluations, and reviews to ensure plans are current and meet both internal and external requirements. Developing, researching, interpreting, analyzing, implementing, and applying a variety of guidelines that impact planning and day to day emergency management operations and the associated emergency management activities and functions. 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. Working Conditions: The work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office; however, the incumbent may be required to work in a warehouse and store emergency management equipment in outdoor storage facility and indoor storage rooms. Supports site visits to all outpatient clinics to perform hazard vulnerability analysis, conduct drills, conduct training and any other comprehensive emergency managementimplementation. Environment may be subject to adverse weather to include wind, precipitation, temperature and humidity extremes. Protective gear (gloves, hard hats, hearing protection, and similar) and adherence to safety precautions may be required. Travel within the United States may be required. Must be able to travel by motor vehicle, train, boat, and aircraft. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: 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. Receiving Service Credit or 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.