Summary This position serves as an Area Emergency Manager (AEM) for the VHA Office of Emergency Management, Operations section. This position works for a Regional Emergency Manager and has program responsibility for comprehensive emergency management support to several VA Medical Centers within their geographic area, development and coordination of all VHA's emergency plans, exercises, response operations and other activities as needed with VHA partners. Responsibilities This job announcement will remain open for 10 business days and will close on 09/23/2024. 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 Develop, review, and critique emergency management response plans, especially in relation to healthcare operations. Prepare for and perform assessments of a healthcare facility in regards to emergency management plans and programs. Develop after action reports and improvement plans based on incidents, exercises, and assessments. Coordinate patient reception activities (NDMS and VA-DoD) to include the training and exercise of teams. Develop plans, training and exercises, coordinating with and involving multiple agencies. Coordinate, design, implement, and evaluate exercises to test and improve healthcare emergency management programs. Conduct emergency management site visits and assessments and work with healthcare facilities on the preparation for, and improvement plans regarding same. Develop and monitor agreements, documents, public education, and training required to effectively deliver emergency management programs. Monitor progress of projects utilizing timelines and benchmarks, documenting completions of goals and objectives. Coordinate with other agencies in the design and review of emergency management plans. Establish criteria to evaluate and assess progress, maintaining currency with legislation, regulations, and other guidance documents. Coordinate with emergency management and public health agencies to prepare for major medical disasters. Establish and maintain a professional network fostering strong working relationships with media, key officials, agency stakeholders, and community groups to communicate and disseminate program information. Deliver presentations orally and in writing to the general public and a wide variety of audiences with proficiency. Provide effective stewardship in the preparation, availability, use, and accountability of resources for effective response and recovery operations. Persuades others; develops networks and coalitions; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions; builds consensus through give and take. Determines objectives and strategies; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities. Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral and written communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts, and shapes communications to meet the needs of a specific audience; actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions. Anticipates the implications and consequences of situations and takes appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies. Notices trends and develops plans as appropriate; Anticipates how individuals and groups will react to situations or information and plans accordingly. Applies professional knowledge of emergency management principles; considers and takes into account all hazards, phases, stakeholders and impacts relative to disasters. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-13. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. 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. Telework: Available at management's discretion (applicant is required on site 50% of work schedule per pay period). Virtual: This is virtual position. 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/PD19029A and PD19030A 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 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. Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/23/2024. 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. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below: GS-12 Specialized Experience Requirement: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11 in Federal Service that typically includes, but is not limited to, 5 of 7 following specialized experience examples. Emergency Management (EM) activities Regulations and policies governing EM Assist in directing, monitoring & implementing complex programs and interdependent EM projects Collaborate to plan, schedule and carry out major EM response Apply unrelated processes and methods to ensure the mission of the organization Coordinate with Federal departments and agencies Support complex national emergency preparedness response GS-13 Specialized Experience Requirement: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12 1n Federal Service that typically includes, but is not limited to, 7 of 9 following specialized experience examples. Apply FEMA policies & procedures to health-related organizations, structures, misson, program and operational doctrine Develop complex national emergency preparedness missions Use analytical and evaluative methods and regulatory programs to administer emergency management programs Evaluate the content of the new and or modified legislation for the projected impact on emergency management policies and programs Review and maintain security and confidentiality of sensitive communications and documents Coordinate and direct the accomplishment of all functions of the emergency management staff Prepare data, reports and correspondence Establish, modify and implement emergency management objectives and programs Facilitate and present emergency management plan during disasters AND Drivers License Requirement: Possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Reminder - Do no include a copy of your license; if referred for interview it may be requested at that time. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Planning and Evaluating Communications Forward Thinking Emergency Management 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 distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions, long periods of standing, and bending and stooping. 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 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 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.