Emergency Management Specialist
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
Summary
Located within the Salt Lake City VAMC & reports to the Assistant Director. The position of an Emergency Management Specialist (EMS) manages the health care system in sustaining national & regional support to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP). The EMS is a high‑profile position requiring daily interaction with the highest levels of VAMC leadership—Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)—VHA & the VHA Office of Emergency Management (OEM)—and community stakeholders.
Qualifications To qualify for this position—applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement—04/03/2026. 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.
MAY QUALIFY BASED ON EXPERIENCE: 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—
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.
Preferred Experience: Backgrounds in fire safety, emergency medical response or related fields, as well as prior experience in disaster planning, risk assessment, emergency operations and training. Key skills such as leadership under pressure, critical thinking, strong communication, adaptability, and team building are also highly valued—along with experience with emergency management software and regulations.
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 such as 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, and field kitchens). Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s 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 procedures. 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/ .
Duties
The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff—
The incumbent is further responsible for ensuring the emergency response results and conclusions lead to a continual improvement of the emergency management program throughout the healthcare system
The incumbent 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
The incumbent is responsible for managing and maintaining the health care system’s automated alert and notification system—coordinating—and monitoring results with the Communication Support Team
Consults and advises on creating subgroups—training requirements and message building
The incumbent functions 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 and support national deployment requirements
The incumbent initiates—ensures— and maintains an inventory of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) and other decontamination equipment
Coordinates with the Industrial Hygienist on annual PAPR functional checks
Ensuring training is provided to the Decontamination team
Responsibilities include forecasting decontamination sustainment fund and life cycle management of equipment
Incumbent 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 which includes collaboration and integration with the Safety—Patient Safety—Office of Public Affairs—VA Police programs Knowledge of the pertinent laws—objectives—precedents—guidelines and policies governing various emergency management programs and operations enough to assist with development and execution of a comprehensive emergency management program
Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations where degree of hazard could be of a high nature
Knowledge of a variety of emergency—contingency and operations plans—policies— and directives enough to provide advice and assistance
Extensive knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite software (Outlook—Word—Excel and PowerPoint) is required
Other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday—0730‑1600 Telework: This position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework
Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD99789‑S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Qualifications To qualify for this position—applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement—04/03/2026. 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.
MAY QUALIFY BASED ON EXPERIENCE: 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—
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.
Preferred Experience: Backgrounds in fire safety, emergency medical response or related fields, as well as prior experience in disaster planning, risk assessment, emergency operations and training. Key skills such as leadership under pressure, critical thinking, strong communication, adaptability, and team building are also highly valued—along with experience with emergency management software and regulations.
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 such as 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, and field kitchens). Incumbent must have and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s 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 procedures. 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/ .
Duties
The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: The incumbent is responsible for coordinating the Healthcare System efforts and engaging staff—
The incumbent is further responsible for ensuring the emergency response results and conclusions lead to a continual improvement of the emergency management program throughout the healthcare system
The incumbent 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
The incumbent is responsible for managing and maintaining the health care system’s automated alert and notification system—coordinating—and monitoring results with the Communication Support Team
Consults and advises on creating subgroups—training requirements and message building
The incumbent functions 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 and support national deployment requirements
The incumbent initiates—ensures— and maintains an inventory of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) and other decontamination equipment
Coordinates with the Industrial Hygienist on annual PAPR functional checks
Ensuring training is provided to the Decontamination team
Responsibilities include forecasting decontamination sustainment fund and life cycle management of equipment
Incumbent 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 which includes collaboration and integration with the Safety—Patient Safety—Office of Public Affairs—VA Police programs Knowledge of the pertinent laws—objectives—precedents—guidelines and policies governing various emergency management programs and operations enough to assist with development and execution of a comprehensive emergency management program
Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations where degree of hazard could be of a high nature
Knowledge of a variety of emergency—contingency and operations plans—policies— and directives enough to provide advice and assistance
Extensive knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite software (Outlook—Word—Excel and PowerPoint) is required
Other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday—0730‑1600 Telework: This position may be authorized for ad‑hoc telework
Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD99789‑S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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