Emergency Management Specialist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Emergency Management Specialist to lead and coordinate emergency functions, plans, and exercises across the healthcare system. You will ensure compliance with directives and support continuity of operations.

The role requires coordinating with VHA, VISN, and Medical Center leadership, developing EM guidelines, and serving as a key advisor on emergency management issues. Telework may be authorized on an ad-hoc basis.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in emergency management within a healthcare or government setting.
• Ability to develop and evaluate emergency plans and guidance consistent with directives.
• Experience coordinating across multiple agencies and stakeholders during emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, coordinate, and execute emergency functions to prevent, protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.
• Develop and coordinate emergency plans and exercises in accordance with directives and national frameworks.
• Advise on EM guidelines and structures for general and specific operations and COOP continuity.
• Serve as liaison on Emergency Management issues and coordinate with various program coordinators.

Skills

Emergency management

Policy development

Stakeholder coordination

Public health liaison

Education

FAC-COR Level I

Job description

Summary

The Emergency Management Specialist position reports to the Associate Director or Executive Leadership Team. The position of an Emergency Management Specialist (EMS) manages the health care system in sustaining national and regional support to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP).

Summary

The Emergency Management Specialist position reports to the Associate Director or Executive Leadership Team. The position of an Emergency Management Specialist (EMS) manages the health care system in sustaining national and regional support to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/21/2026. 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. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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 - but are not limited to: Experience with the pertinent laws - objectives - precedents - guidelines and policies governing various emergency management programs and operations needed to assist with development and execution of a comprehensive emergency management program; with analytical and evaluation methods and thorough understanding of how regulatory programs are administered to select and apply program evaluation and measurement techniques (data gathering methodologies) in determining compliance with emergency preparedness and management rules and regulations; Experience responding to emergency situations where degree of hazard could be of a high nature; experience with a variety of emergency - contingency and operations plans - policies - and directives enough to provide advice and assistance. DRIVING REQUIRMENTS: Incidental operators are employees - other than those occupying a position officially classified as a motor vehicle operator - who are required to operate a Government-owned or -leased motor vehicle to properly carry out their assigned duties. To qualify as an incidental operator - an employee must possess a valid State license - have a safe driving record - pass a road test - and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely. Preferred applicants will possess the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer's Representatives (FAC-COR) Level I. 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

• Incumbent is responsible for 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
• Incumbent develops and coordinates all VAMC emergency plans and exercises in accordance with VHA Directive 0320 and supporting appendices - and the VHA Emergency Operations Plan which encompasses Continuity of Operations (COOP)
• Develop - implement - sustain - and maintain policies and guidance within the VHA - local - and community
• 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
• Serves as advisor and representative on Emergency Management issues
• Develop and implement a variety of EM guidelines and structures for general and specific EM operations including contingency plans and the continuity of operations compliant to agency established guidelines for the medical center
• Incumbent serves and assists the various program coordinators relating to Emergency Management (EM) - Safety - Pharmacy Cache - Clinical Support - and Law Enforcement
• Incumbent is the primary point of contact and Liaison in managing intra and interagency VA contingency support of Department of Defense (DoD) - VA health and medical support of the National Response Framework (NRF) and other applicable authorities and support provided through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
• Utilizes EM principles ensuring accurate and proper documentation and anticipating possible inquiries from VHA OEM - VISN - and VAMC Executive Leadership
• Analyzes - maintains - synchronizes - and sustains the CEMP with national and local stakeholders
• all the same - as the Office Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - The Joint Commission (TJC) - Office of Information Technology - National Fire Protection Association (NPFA) - and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• Participates in the development - coordination and review of directives - white papers - Medical Center Memorandum - service support agreements - standard operation procedures - policy matters and related documents issued by the VHA and the Healthcare System
• 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
• Incumbent plans and organizes meetings for the Emergency Management Committee (EMC) and ad hoc workgroup
• Completes meeting preparations ensuring agendas are prepared - participants are notified - and guest speakers are scheduled
• Summarizes - records - and distributes minutes of meetings to the EMC team
• Supports the VISN EM in completing quarterly and annual report requirements including preparing reports and EMC activities as deemed by the Environment of Care
• Coordinates internal and external publicity for the CEMP in conjunction with Medical Center Office of Public Affairs
• Assists the Area Emergency Manager in maintaining and reporting daily bed inventory for NDMS and VA/DoD Contingency - as deemed appropriate
• 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
• Incumbent is responsible for ensuring Cascade Calling Systems are updated and prepared for immediate use during any type of emergency or exercises
• Maintains calling rosters for Medical Response Team - Incident Management Team - Decontamination Team - and any other specialized teams requiring activation
• 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 recruits - evaluates - identifies - and trains specifically qualified volunteers to support national task orders
• Incumbent serves as the local program manager for First Receiver Decontamination
• Monitors the Decontamination Unit Leader in organizing and coordinating all areas of responsibility related to the Decontamination Response Team including coordinating with the Safety Officer - Industrial Hygienist - Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Coordinator
• Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for ADHOC Only telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Emergency Management Specialist/PD99789S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized