Background
The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) supports the Federal medical response to natural or manmade disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, transportation accidents, and terrorist acts involving weapons of mass destruction. The NDMS is a federally coordinated system that augments the Nation's medical response capability. The overall purpose of the NDMS is to supplement an integrated national medical response capability for assisting state and local authorities in dealing with the medical impacts of major peacetime disasters and to provide support to the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical systems in caring for casualties evacuated back to the U.S. from overseas armed conventional conflicts. NDMS hires intermittent employees to respond to the various Public Health and Medical Emergencies.
When activated as a Federal employee of NDMS, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, employees are covered under the provisions of section 2812(c)(2) and (d)(2) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, which pertain to liability coverage and compensation for work injuries respectively. Section 2812(d)(3) of the PHS Act provides for service as an NDMS team employee to be considered as “service in the uniformed services” during activations and authorized training activities. As such, when NDMS employees are activated to provide health and other services to respond to victims of a public health emergency or to be present at locations at risk of a public health emergency (which, for example, may include activations in response to a disaster, major emergency, and special event) or when activated to participate in a Federal exercise or other official training, these personnel fall under the employment and reemployment rights provisions of chapter 43, title 38 of the U.S. Code, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
How to Apply
Please review the
employment opportunities, making note of the bulletin number, position, NDMS team and required documentation requirements. This information will be necessary to complete your submission. Submit your interest in the position through our
employment opportunities page . Submit the required documents through e-mail with a cover letter and resume to
ASPRHREMAIL@hhs.gov. Your cover letter must include the bulletin number. Veterans receive preference in selection. IMPORTANT: In addition to submitting a copy of your resume and cover letter, you MUST ALSO provide copies of required documents, (i.e., medical licensures, certificates, diplomas, veteran’s documentation, and/or educational documentation) if applicable to the position you are applying. If these documents are not submitted , your application will not be considered. Additionally, all documents must be submitted electronically via email by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date of the announcement closes to receive consideration for this opportunity.
Veterans’ Preference
You may be eligible for veterans’ preference if you meet certain criteria. To be entitled to preference, a veteran must meet the eligibility requirements in section 2108 of title 5, United States Code. This means that:
• An honorable or general discharge is necessary.
• Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not eligible for preference unless they are disabled veterans.
• Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for preference.
• When requesting consideration for Federal employment, eligible veterans should claim preference on their application or resume.
There are several types of veterans’ preferences. Detailed information on each may be found at the following site:
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/veterans.asp
All applicants claiming preference MUST provide their DD-214. In addition, applicants claiming 10-point
preference must complete form SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference & provide a copy of your
VA Disability letter issued after 1991 or later which documents a service-related disability. The SF-15 is
available online at:
http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf . Failure to provide the required verification
of Veteran’s eligibility will affect your claim for Veteran’s preference.
Note: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly.
Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
What to Expect Next
The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a standing register for vacant positions as they become available. Applicants will be contacted by hiring official when the applicant’s qualifications meet the needs of the available position. No further action is required unless an applicant is contacted by a hiring official.
Return to the NDMS Recruitment page.