Emergency Management Specialist (Preparedness)

Federal Emergency Management Agency•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Emergency Management Specialist serves in FEMA Region 3’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program. The role supports preparedness activities and provides assistance with planning and preparation for crises, disasters, humanitarian emergencies, hazards, and natural or man-made/technological incidents. The specialist works in emergency planning and preparedness, coordinating emergency response and preparedness training, exercises, and local assistance. The ideal candidate has experience reviewing or developing radiological emergency response plans, conducting or evaluating radiological emergency exercises, or both. Employees have regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities and may be recalled at any time for emergency operations. Deployment may involve irregular hours, duties outside the official position description, extensive travel with little advance notice, and relocation to emergency sites with austere and operationally challenging conditions. Selected applicants must attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding; FEMA covers travel expenses. Future promotions depend on performance at a higher level, continuing need, and administrative approval.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Successfully pass and maintain a Moderate Risk background investigation; this may include a credit check and review of financial issues and certain criminal or drug-related matters.
Register for Selective Service, if applicable.
Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements, including 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band.
Be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card.
Be able to deploy with little or no advance notice anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period.
GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9, including reviewing or developing emergency response plans for natural hazards; conducting or evaluating emergency response exercises; and responding to or planning for natural hazard incidents. Alternatively, qualifying education or a combination of experience and graduate education may be used as described in the announcement; transcripts are required when using education.
GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11, including reviewing or developing emergency response plans for technological hazards; developing and conducting exercises for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear scenarios; and responding to or planning for technological hazard incidents involving hazardous-material releases.
Selected applicants must attend a three-week, in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding.
Current or former political appointees in specified Executive Branch positions within the last five years must disclose this information to Human Resources.
Applicants qualifying through education must provide transcripts; foreign education must be documented as comparable to U.S. accredited education.

Nice To Haves

Experience reviewing or developing radiological emergency response plans.
Experience conducting or evaluating radiological emergency-related exercises.

Responsibilities

Participate in preparedness activities and assist with planning and preparation for crises, disasters, humanitarian emergencies, hazards, and natural or man-made/technological incidents.
Serve as a specialist in emergency planning and preparedness.
Provide, coordinate, and participate in emergency planning and work involving emergency response and preparedness training, exercises, and local assistance.
Respond to emergency management operations when recalled, which may involve irregular work hours, duties outside the official position description, and deployment to emergency sites.