From: Stephanie Jones [ssikes1@atu.edu]

Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 8:58 AM

To: Stephanie Jones

Subject: FEMA - Program Specialist (Hazard Mitigation) in Atlanta, GA

Program Specialist (Hazard Mitigation), GS-0301-12

	EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT/OPPORTUNITY #: MW-08-R4-0045-SEG

OPENING DATE: 01/25/2008 CLOSING DATE: 02/08/2008

THIS IS AN EXCEPTED SERVICE FOUR YEAR POSITION THAT IS EXCLUDED FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT:	Full Time - Temporary
POSITION:	Program Specialist (Hazard Mitigation)
SERIES - PAY GRADE:	GS-0301-12
NUMBER OF POSITIONS:	1
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:	GS-12
SALARY RANGE:	$67,693 to $88,004
ORGANIZATION:	FEMA Mitigation Division Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch
DUTY LOCATION:	Georgia (Atlanta)
	RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED

WHO MAY APPLY: Eligible Candidates - All

DUTIES: Serves as a Mitigation Specialist to advise the Mitigation Division Director and Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Branch Chief on regional pre- and post-disaster mitigation programs.

Assumes a key role in the HMA Branch for monitoring and overseeing policy and program implementation elements for the following: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program; Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program; Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) Program; Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Program; State mitigation planning, and mitigation for repair of public facilities.

For all but the largest and most severe disasters, may serve as the Mitigation Officer and in some cases, the Mitigation Branch Chief. As the Mitigation Officer or Mitigation Branch Chief, manages and supervises a moderate to large staff of permanent and temporary employees assigned to the mitigation disaster operation.

Serves as the leader of the Federal inter agency team and in the production of an early implementation strategy that will guide post-disaster mitigation program efforts and expenditures. Provides advice to the HMA Branch Chief of the status and past performances of States in terms of previous mitigation commitments.

Identifies and carries out program improvements that will generate cost savings both in procedures for delivery of mitigation assistance and in the strategies that FEMA, State and local agencies should take to reduce the cost of mitigation programs.

Supports the cadre manager for all mitigation reservists assigned to the region, including recruitment, training, performance evaluation and deployment. Supports the HMA Branch Chief in working with States in developing strategic plans related to pre- and post-disaster grant programs, mitigation planning, and mitigation Memorandums of Understanding, assists States in the Administration of FEMA managed pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements as contained in the OPM's Qualification Operating Manual. These are available on line at www.opm.gov. The manual states that one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade in the Federal service is required. Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of that position.

Applicants meeting the basic qualification requirements and any selective placement factor stated in this Employment Opportunity will be rated and ranked on the following Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA`s).

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Include with your application a Narrative Statement describing possession of each evaluation criterion (i.e. knowledge, skills and abilities or KSAs). Failure to provide the Narrative Statement will adversely impact your ranking score and your ability to be certified for referral to the selecting official.

If there is a Selective Placement Factor(s), please address fully and separately. Failure to meet the Selective Placement Factor(s) will result in no further consideration.

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with this position as defined below. When describing your knowledge, skills, and abilities, please ensure to give examples and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possessed, the level of the people with whom you interacted, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR:

Experience with Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs at the federal level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES (KSAs):

1. Ability to analyze and plan programs dealing with natural hazard conditions, floodplain management, emergency management, and/or pre-and post-disaster mitigation programs.

2. Ability to deal effectively with a variety of individuals and groups on controversial mitigation issues.

3. Knowledge of grants management principles, techniques and procedures as related to program and disaster grants.

4. Writing ability sufficient to draft studies and plans and write reports.

5. Ability in oral communication that will enable incumbent to deliver briefings and make presentations to high-level military and civilian audiences.

BASIS OF RATING: If the applicant meets the minimum qualifications, he/she will be given the minimum earned rating of 70 points. Applicants will then be rated by a rating panel, a subject matter expert, or Human Resources Specialist as determined by the Agency designee at the time of the rating. A maximum of 30 points may be awarded for KSA responses. The minimum earned rating plus the earned rating for all the KSAs will be combined to arrive at the total earned rating. Eligible veterans who meet established criteria will receive additional points (5 or 10) added to their total score as a result of their military service as appropriate. The applicants with the highest scores will be referred to the selecting official for possible selection.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AT FEMA

This position is being announced under FEMA'S 4-year CORE Program (Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery employees). These positions are authorized under P.L. 93-288 to perform temporary disaster work and are funded from the Disaster Relief Fund. Appointments are excepted service, temporary appointments.

This position is projected to be completed as a permanent position within the next 6 to 24 months. When this occurs, the location and/or job description of this position may change.

Depending on the level of disaster activity, the incumbent is subject to release to a non-pay status and recall to duty to meet fluctuating work requirements. Travel to disaster areas may be required with very short notice at any time of the year. Employees agree to accept (1) emergency assignments other than those specified in the position; (2) to work overtime as necessary, with little scheduling flexibility; and, (3) if released to a non-pay status, to report when recalled within 48 hours or agree to immediate separation from service.

EMERGENCY ASSIGNMENT: FEMA employees may be subject to 24-hour on-call in the event of an emergency. This service may require irregular working hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee`s official position description. Selectee must be able to relocate to emergency sites with little advance notice and function under intense physical and mental stress.

REGISTRATION FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE: The Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that all male applicants born after 12-31-59, who are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, be registered or they are not eligible for appointment within this Agency.

CITIZENSHIP: Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: Mandatory Direct Deposit/Electronics Funds Transfer (DD/EFT) for salary payment is a condition of employment at FEMA. Selectee will be required to participate in DD/EFT.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

PUBLIC TRUST: This is a Public Trust position that requires a background investigation. Appointment to the position is subject to the applicant or appointee successfully completing essential security investigation forms, the applicant or appointee cooperating with the investigator, the completion of the investigation, and the favorable adjudication of the investigation. Failure to satisfactorily complete any aspect of this process is grounds for immediate termination. Applicants for this position may be required to submit to a urinalysis for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

OTHER INFORMATION

If claiming 5 point veterans' preference, a DD-214 reflecting character of discharge must be submitted. If claiming 10 point veterans' preference, both a DD-214 and SF-15 must be submitted along with the required documentation listed on the SF-15.

Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants' who may have the same name. As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your SSN is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and other who may know you.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY

Applicants can apply for this position by submitting a resume, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF-612) OR any other written format. The resume or application must contain:

The Employment Opportunity number, title and grade of the job for which applying (indicate the lowest grade level that you will accept if applying for a position advertised at multiple grade levels);
Full name, mailing address, day and evening phone numbers, social security number, country of citizenship, branch and date of military service, if applicable;
High school name and location, date of diploma or highest grade completed, college name and location, majors, type and year of any degrees received;
Work experience for at least ten years that includes job titles, duties and accomplishments, employer`s name and address, supervisor`s name and phone number, starting and ending dates, hours per week and salary; and to include all periods of unemployment during the ten year time frame.
List of other qualifications such as job related training courses, job related skills, job related certificates and job related honors, awards and special accomplishments.

IF YOU ARE FAXING OR EMAILING YOUR DOCUMENTS, THEY MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM EASTERN TIME ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Mail - Use of a postage paid Federal Government agency envelope to mail your application or resume is not allowed and will not be considered. Complete application packages must be received in the office by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. All forms should be sent to:

   FEMA Human Resources Division
   Building 729, P.O. Box 129
   Mt. Weather, VA 22611
   Attn: Stacey Gray

   Phone: 1-800-879-6076

E-Mail - FEMA-HIRE-ME@dhs.gov. Complete email packages must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Please list the job opportunity announcement number in the subject line.

Fax to Stacey Gray at 540-535-3634 . Complete faxed packages must be received by the closing date of the announcement.

To obtain additional information about employment opportunities, visit our WEB site at www.dhs.gov, or call our Employment Opportunities Hotline on 800-879-6076. Applicants needing TDD/TTY assistance should call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

If you are sending your application via Email, please DO NOT use .zip or other compressed file formats. Preferred file formats include .doc, .txt, .pdf. Electronic files can be no larger than 4 mb.

Please be sure to include the following information in your application (incomplete applications may not be considered for the position).

Job Information:

- Announcement number and position title and grade(s) for which you are applying

Personal Information:

- Full name, mailing address, day and evening phone numbers

- Last four digits of your Social Security Number

- Country of citizenship (must be U.S. citizen to be eligible)

-Veterans Preference, if applicable. Attach latest report of Separation from Active Duty (DD-214) to establish honorable discharge from military service. Attach SF-15 & required proof (i.e., an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces) if you are claiming a 10-point veterans preference. If appropriate documentation is not received by the closing date, preference will not be granted.

-Applicants who are on active military duty: Applicants who are on active military duty will not have a DD Form 214 at the time of application. Prior to appointment, we will verify:

o Your eligibility for veterans preference, and

o That your military service was honorable.

- Special appointment eligibility (e.g., 30% compensable disability, handicap, Peace Corps, etc.). Attach supporting documentation.

- If you are or were a Federal government employee, please attach your latest SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action), indicating the highest Federal civilian grade held and dates and attach a copy of your latest performance appraisal.

Education:

- Colleges and Universities: Name, city, state, major(s), type of degree and year received (or total semester/quarter hours earned)

- Other educational programs, if relevant. Show dates and total hours of program.

Job-Related Work Experience:

- Job title (include series and grade if Federal job)

- Name and address of employer, supervisor’s name, and supervisor’s telephone number (please indicate if you do not want us to contact your current supervisor)

- Starting and Ending dates (month and year)

- Hours worked per week

- Annual salary

- Duties and accomplishments

- Please document at least the past 10 years of experience.

Other Job-Related Qualifications:

- Relevant skills (e.g. foreign languages, computer software/hardware)

- Relevant training courses

- Relevant current certificates and licenses

- Relevant honors, awards, etc. (e.g., memberships in professional and honor societies, publications, leadership activities, performance awards). Give dates, but do not send documents.

If applying as an ICTAP eligible, submit a copy of the Reduction in Force (RIF) or separation notice and a copy of the last performance appraisal.

THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A HIGHLY QUALIFIED WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, and any other non-merit factor.

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.