The position is located with the San Francisco VA Medical Center and reports to the Emergency Management Specialist (EMS). The position of an Emergency Management Specialist Assistant (EMSA) provides the health care system in sustaining national and regional support to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/03/2025. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing an emergency response program for a large medical center; interpreting and implementing an emergency management policy directives or applicable procedures, pertinent laws and local and federal policies; developing, guiding, inspecting a healthcare-associated emergency management; identifying life safety hazards such as bio-hazards; considering decontamination for hazardous situations; resolving or mitigating hazards (Must reflect in resume). OR Education: have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., to such a degree in a major field of study related to the work of the position which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts must be submitted with the application. OR Combination: Have a combination of experience and education. Note: To combine education and experience, first determine how much of the qualifying experience and education you have, as a percentage of what is required for each. Add the percentages together, and if the total is 100% or more, then the combined education and experience is qualifying for the position. Example: To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of education beyond the first 18 semester hours (i.e. beyond the first year) by 18. Add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. Transcripts must be submitted with the application. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Compliance Emergency Management Patient Care Public 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 field kitchens). 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/.
Major Duties and Responsibilities: Serves as an Emergency Management Specialist providing support for VAMC preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, as well as the Emergency Management (EM) department inspections, operations, planning, liaison, and other emergency activities. Assists in the development and implementation of Emergency Management program components as directed by the Chief of Emergency Management. Contributes to the planning and organization of activities, ensuring that training and operations requirements are fully integrated and coordinated, and in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. Contributes to the implementation of guidelines that impact the day-to-day operations and the associated emergency management activities and functions throughout the healthcare system. Works directly with the VAMC Emergency Manager, VISN Emergency Manager, and VHA OEM Area Emergency Manager, city, county, state, and federal partners to coordinate and collaborate on EM related planning and incident response. Assists in implementing workforce goals and coordinates personnel resources at the VAMC (includes periods of incident response). Prepares draft annual reports and budgets for all programs, to ensure programmatic yearly objectives are in concert with and support VAMC and VHA strategic plans and goals for approval by the Chief of Emergency Management. Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative and qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives. Engages in the review and provides input to the Chief of Emergency Management of Federal, State, local governments, hospital coalitions, and consortiums' emergency management plans. Analyzes, evaluates, and provides recommendations to the VAMC EM to provide a quality program. Evaluates programs against criteria. Recommends program changes to improve quality. In consultation with the Chief of Emergency Management, the Emergency Management Specialist reviews, analyzes, and coordinates the implementation and evaluation of exercises to test and critique VHA's comprehensive emergency management plans and programs. Aid the Emergency Management manager during exercise scenarios using DUTIES Provides input in the revision and review of policies, procedures, mission objectives, and/or organizational design for mission accomplishment of complex and evolving issues and functions, including the development of appropriate national guidance and procedures as it relates to CEMP, Environment of Care (EOC), and COOP activities for VHA. Provides customer service to medical center employees and vulnerable patient/Veteran accountability efforts before, during, and after an emergency. Responsible for providing data on employee and patient/Veteran accountability, which is reported to the healthcare system Incident Command Center and VISN in a timely manner. Assists in the tracking of contingency supplies and equipment, maintenance of databases, and resource requirements to meet objectives and provide support as needed. Works with the EM to serve as the secondary responsible party for deliberate planning, operations, and logistics. The incumbent functions as an assistant to the EM assigned the responsibility to coordinate the VAMCs' Disaster Emergency Personnel System (DEMPS) program. DEMPS is comprised of qualified volunteers who register and train in disaster management and support national deployment requirements. The incumbent will assist in the identification, training, and recruitment of qualified volunteers with specific skills for supporting national requirements. In the absence of the Chief of Emergency Management, supports and provides advice and guidance to the Healthcare system Director, Deputy Director, VISN and VAMC Directors, Service Chiefs, and other program managers on all aspects of emergency management. The incumbent is assigned the responsibility to coordinate the VAMCs' Disaster Emergency Personnel System (DEMPS) program. DEMPS is comprised of qualified volunteers who register and train in disaster management and support national deployment requirements. The incumbent will assist in the identification, training, and recruitment of qualified volunteers with specific skills for supporting national requirements. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by the supervisor. Telework: This position is not authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist (Assistant)/PD01530A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized