The Veterans Health Administration has adopted the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program Workforce Modernization Plan for emergency preparedness and response responsibilities for emergency management activities within VHA to all levels of Department and with other Departments and Agencies. NOTE: This position requires a valid driver's license. **Relocation/Recruitment Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate**

Duties

Responsibilities include the following: -Responsible for preparing for and carrying out or coordinating emergency functions to prevent, protect form, mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. -Develops and coordinates emergency plans and exercises in accordance with VHA Directive 0320 and supporting appendices. -Coordinates the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff, as well as the functions required to manage the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP). -Coordinates internal and external publicity for the CEMP in conjunction with Medical Center Office of Public Affairs. -Plans, organizes, implements, oversees and provides technical assistance for projects relating to emergency management programs. -Manages and maintains 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. -Develops and maintains the VA contingency plans covering the provisions of continuous patient care and treatment during emergencies. -Acts 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. -Serves as the local program manager for First Receiver Decontamination. -Provides direct support to the Hospital Incident Management Team. -Establishes, revises, and reviews policies, procedures, mission objectives and or organizational design for mission accomplishment and complex and evolving issues and functions. -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. -Provides guidance and assistance to employees and vulnerable patient/Veteran accountability efforts before, during and after an emergency. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Position Description Title/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist, PD #99789-S Telework: May be authorized with supervisor approval. Virtual: This is not a remote/virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized to a Highly Qualified Candidate Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, facility applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Non-Facility applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/15/2024. 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 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. Valid State Driver's license required, will be verified at interview. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience in or related to the Emergency Management Specialist position that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: Knowledge of state and national laws, policies, precedents, regulations, and directives to plan, develop, and execute a comprehensive emergency management program to include catastrophic and mass casualty incident response capabilities, decontamination program capabilities, patient handling, and integrated incident command system; expert knowledge of emergency management program principles, concepts, practices, and functional areas; expert knowledge of advanced management and organizational principles and practices; expert knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods; and interpersonal skills to function effectively with management, staff, and community emergency management organizations. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCompliance InspectionInformation Resources Strategy and PlanningPublic Safety and Security 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 filed kitchens). Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicle operators 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 produces. EMS will be provided and must carry government provided mobile communication device. Work Environment: 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 managemen6t equipment in outdoor storage facility and indoor storage rooms. Incumbent will support site visits to all outpatient clinics to perform hazard vulnerability analysis, conduct drills, conduct training and any other comprehensive emergency management implementation. 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. Incumbent 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Kevin Grant
• Phone: 312-569-8387
• Email: [email protected]