Summary This position is located at the Syracuse VA Medical Center in Syracuse, NY serving as a Emergency Management Specialist - Facility Program Manager, you will be responsible for managing the health care system in sustaining national and regional support to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP). Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION The Emergency Management Specialist (EMS) is a high-profile position requiring daily interaction with the highest levels of medical center leadership, the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), VHA, the VHA Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and community stakeholders. The EMS works with the VISN in coordinating and administering duties required to execute the roles and responsibilities under the VA's national level partners, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as federal, state, and local agencies in the public and private sector. Major duties and responsibilities include: Coordinating the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff, as well as the functions required to manage the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP). Ensuring the emergency response results and conclusions lead to a continual improvement of the emergency management program throughout the healthcare system. 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. Assisting with the various program coordinators relating to Emergency Management (EM), Safety, Pharmacy Cache, Clinical Support, and Law Enforcement. Developing and coordinating all VAMC emergency plans and exercises in accordance with VHA directives and VHA Emergency Operations Plan. Collaborating with community partners to support the execution of national objectives. Representing Executive Leadership at key planning sessions, after actions reviews, and response planning meetings, conferences, forums and symposiums. Providing guidance and assistance in all employee and vulnerable patient/Veteran accountability efforts before, during and after an emergency. Ensuring all data on employee and patient/Veteran accountability is reported to the healthcare system Incident Command Center and VISN in a timely manner. Establishing relationships with the stakeholders and community in order to communicate and disseminate program information to ensure an understanding of the agency's mission and activities. Establishing, maintaining, and fostering strong working relationships with partners at national, regional and local levels. Performing other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday from 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad Hoc telework as determined by the Supervisor. 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 identification 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, 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, you must meet the following: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristics 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 with it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: A current, valid state-issued driver's license. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License. AND Specialized Experience: Applicants must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. To be creditable, experience must have been equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes applying the policies governing emergency management programs and operations; assisting with the execution of a comprehensive emergency management program; responding quickly to emergency situations; implementing a variety of emergency, contingency, and operations plans; applying basic data gathering methodologies to collect various @types of information; using and managing database programs. NOTE: Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. Physical Demands: 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). During emergency situations the employee may be required to remain available 24 hours per day, seven days per week for multiple weeks and is subject to work under emergency notification and contact procedures. The EMS will be provided and must carry a government-provided mobile communication device. 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. Additional Information 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 for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. 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/.
