Summary
If you are an exceptionally talented, knowledgeable and motivated individual with experience in managing emergency preparedness activities and developing strategic emergency preparedness plans, and want to play a significant role in a dynamic organization, then consider joining the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) team. For more information, visit http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/Pages/home.aspx.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Military spouses
Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.
Individuals with disabilities
Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.
Clarification from the agency
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. This job is also open to USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers and Call-To-Active Duty (CAD) Candidates.
Duties
If selected for this position as a GS-0089-9/11/12 Emergency Management Specialist your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Develops emergency plans for all NIH facilities.
- Develops plans for the recovery of NIH Mission Essential Functions within the scope of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Program.
- Provides operational coordination to ensure all COOP centers, relocation sites, communication sites and equipment are continually operational.
- Serves as an emergency planning resource for the NIH and is responsible for coordinating NIH resources essential to planning and preparedness functions.
- Represents the NIH at meetings, conferences, and working groups with local, state, Federal organizations and coordinates NIH activities required by these groups.
- Collaborates with senior managers in the Office of Research Services and program managers of other relevant NIH components, in formulating emergency response and recovery plans relative to or involving their program objectives and developing response and recovery plans and exercises to test their adequacy and readiness.
- Serves as planner and observer for readiness exercises sponsored by NIH.
- Participates in the development of policies, objectives, standards, and procedures concerning local, state and federal emergency planning and response to improve effectiveness, meet information needs of managers or to address other emergency management improvement concerns.
- Leads the NIH in readiness exercises conducted or sponsored by local, State, and/or Federal Public Health Service (PHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Defense (DoD), etc.) agencies. Prepares responses based on the type of incident (e.g., radiation, chemical, biological, environmental, etc.).
- Maintains a continuous communications watch for receipt of emergency notifications, alerting instructions, or other vital messages. Remains alert for communications pertaining to any emergency which may be of vital interest to NIH components.
- Evaluates such information, and decides whether senior NIH management should be advised on actions to be taken to ensure safety of personnel, property, research animals and projects (e.g., severe weather, local or regional disasters, National crises, etc.).
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
- Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Incumbent must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle license or must be able to obtain a valid driver's license before a final offer of employment.
- Incumbent will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency.
- This is a Testing Designated Position. Incumbent must submit to and successfully pass an urinalysis drug screening prior to appointment.
- The Incumbent will also be subject to unannounced random drug testing for the duration of their time in this position.
- The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET Clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information access (TS/SCI). The incumbent is required to continuously maintain TS/SCI eligibility as a condition of continued employment.
- The incumbent may be called in during non-duty work hours to take care of unexpected problems or an emergency situation and is required to report for duty when so requested by a supervisor.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for an Emergency Management Specialist, GS-0089 position at the GS-09 level, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Completed a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full hears of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL. B or J.D.
OR
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: assisting in the administration and coordination of emergency management programs, plans, and activities; advising on emergency management program operations and procedures; and participating in emergency management readiness exercises.
OR
A combination of post baccalaureate education related to the position and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
In order to qualify for an Emergency Management Specialist, GS-0089 position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree, or 3 full hears of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M., if related.
OR
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: ???????administering emergency management programs, plans, and activities; advising on emergency management program operations and procedures; developing hazard plans, risk assessments, vulnerability assessments; collaborating with other emergency management staff to assist in emergency response planning; and participating in emergency management readiness exercises.
OR
A combination of post baccalaureate education related to the position and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
In order to qualify for an Emergency Management Specialist, GS-0089 position at the GS-12 level, you must have:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: ???????coordinating emergency management programs, plans, and operations; developing guidance and procedures for emergency management programs; collaborating with other emergency management organizations to meet emergency response program objectives; and planning emergency management readiness exercises.
You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.
Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.
Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12847225
Education
If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.
Additional information
- This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.
- If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency.
- NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
- A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for prior work experience or active duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable for the purpose of determining his or her annual leave accrual rate. All creditable service must be directly related to the duties of the position being filled and decisions to allow for such credit must be finalized prior to the selectee's entrance on duty. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
- Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
- PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration
- We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s). Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions.
- The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
- The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
- Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Visit our Help Applying page for helpful information on the application process.
- If selected, you may be eligible to receive a salary above the minimum based on superior qualifications and/or a special need of the Government for your services. This applies to employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) and Federal Wage System (FWS) pay systems and is at the discretion of the hiring manager. A salary above the minimum must be approved before the appointment.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your score on the required assessments. This recruitment will use the following assessment(s): USA Hire Assessment.
You will be assessed on the following competencies:
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Flexibility
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
.
If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and assessment scores will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
- Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
- Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
- Qualified - for those who meet the minimum qualification requirements
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.
How You Will Be Evaluated
To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the
Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on assessment(s), and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
RESUME:
Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history. If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed.
Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text.
You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position:
- Job title
- Employer name
- Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY)
- Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated)
- Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable)
- Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions)
If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.
Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter.
We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources:
NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the
USAJOBS Resume Guidance.
ASSESSMENT(S):
You must complete any required assessment. Not providing the required information or participating in required assessments will result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating).
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS
To claim veterans' preference, career transition selection priority, Schedule A or military spouse eligibility, you must provide the documentation listed below
AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire.
- Veterans' preference (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation for 10 point claims. Submission of SF-15 is not required, unless you are claiming derived preference (XP) as described in questions 7, 8, or 9 on the SF-15. In those cases, you must submit a completed SF-15 and the required documentation. For 5 point claims, you must submit your DD-214 (if separated) or any written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package.
- Visit our sites on Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) for more information and required documentation.
- Visit our site on the Appointment of Certain Military Spouses for more information and required documentation to verify eligibility.
- Schedule A Eligibility (Applicants with Disabilities) Applicants who are eligible to be considered under Schedule A must submit appropriate documentation to verify eligibility. Documentation must be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a medical professional's letterhead. Veterans' preference takes precedence in these appointments.
The Schedule A and military spouse hiring authorities do not guarantee employment or give an individual preference in the hiring process.
If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible, or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.
Do not submit documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 12/22/2025 to receive consideration.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete and submit all required questionnaires, assessments, and required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click Apply Online button.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required.
- Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim. You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Veteran, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
- Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12847225
- Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.
In addition to the required documents,
we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later.
We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements. For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at
hrss@nih.gov.
If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying, please contact Lori Palmer at palmerlom@mail.nih.gov. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date.
Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.
Next steps
Once you submit your application package, you will receive an acknowledgement email. You will be notified of the status of your applications via email. In addition, you can track the progress of your application package through your USAJOBS account.
At the discretion of the agency, you may be contacted via phone or email for an interview or to provide additional information up to several months from the closing date of the announcement. Please ensure you have provided accurate contact information. To remain in consideration, you must respond in a timely manner to our correspondence and requests for documentation or information throughout the hiring process.