Senior Individual Assistance Specialist

Job description

Introduction

We are a leading, national consulting firm that provides compassionate, full-spectrum emergency management services including planning and preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation services to the public and private sectors before, during and after a natural disaster or catastrophic event.

Our mission is to provide compassionate consulting services to local, state, federal, and industry clients, active in disaster response, recovery, and preparedness. We will be on time, on target, and on budget with the services aligned to the evolving threats and hazards facing our nation.

Position Summary:

Job Title: Senior Individual Assistance Program Specialist- Multiple Levels ( Senior Consultant I, Senior Advisor, and Managing Consultant)

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Seasonal/Regular: Regular

Compensation: Candidates must meet the MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS for that level, and a corresponding level position must be available.

• Senior Consultant II: $90-100k/annual
• Managing Consultant: $90-115k/annual
• Senior Advisor: $114-156k/annual

Benefits Summary:

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Short-Term Disability/Voluntary Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) Account with Company Match
• Paid-Time Off (PTO): Annual Leave and Sick Leave Accruals
• Paid Parental Leave
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Wellness Benefits/Allowance
• Corporate Computer
• Time off to Volunteer
• Cell Phone Allowance

Locations: Onsite in Florida locations, with travel to deployments required and possible remote work

Travel: Travel and on-site work required. Up to 50% travel.

Mission of Role

Be part of a team of knowledgeable, compassionate, and helpful allies for our clients. The Individual Assistance Specialist for Disaster Recovery Services will play an integral part of helping citizens and communities recover from natural disasters. In addition, this role will be providing general recover assistance for emergency operations. Applicants should be passionate about making a difference in the world, and interested in supporting local, state, and federal jurisdictions prepare for and recover from disasters.

We are seeking a seasoned consulting professional with deep expertise in FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) programs to lead and support disaster recovery efforts for public and private sector clients. This role requires a strategic thinker with demonstrated experience managing large-scale projects, consulting on program implementation, and building recovery programs from the ground up. The successful candidate will possess strong business development skills, a client-focused mindset, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through the entire program and grant lifecycle.

Tasks, Duties, and Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions and physical demands.

• Lead/manage the delivery and oversight of FEMA IA programs—including Housing Assistance, Other Needs Assistance (ONA), and Crisis Counseling—ensuring timely execution and regulatory compliance.
• Consult with clients across federal, state, and local agencies, offering subject matter expertise on program development, implementation strategies, and recovery operations.
• Develop and scale disaster recovery programs, such as Disaster Case Management, in collaboration with case management agencies, ensuring long-term support for impacted individuals and communities.
• Serve as the primary liaison with FEMA, state officials, local agencies, and voluntary organizations to ensure coordinated, client-aligned service delivery.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects, providing leadership on workstreams, staffing, timelines, performance, and quality assurance.
• Oversee the stand-up and operation of Disaster Recovery Centers, managing logistics, personnel, and client-facing services for disaster survivors.
• Drive business development efforts, including identifying new opportunities, contributing to proposal development, participating in capture planning, and expanding client relationships.
• Deliver strategic advisory services, using data-driven insights to help clients optimize IA program delivery and improve operational outcomes.
• Analyze service gaps and coordinate with stakeholders to mobilize additional resources, enhancing support for survivors’ unmet needs.
• Ensure accurate data reporting, case documentation, and compliance with federal and state regulations across all recovery initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level reports, briefings, and presentations for clients and internal stakeholders, clearly articulating program results, insights, and recommendations.
• Facilitate/lead workshops, trainings, and stakeholder engagements, supporting client learning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Stay current on FEMA regulations, federal grant management best practices, and emerging trends in disaster recovery and emergency management.
• Support all phases of the grant lifecycle, including proposal writing, implementation, monitoring, and closeout, ensuring alignment with compliance standards.
• Deploy to disaster-affected areas as needed, and remain flexible to support extended hours, weekends, or field-based work during active recovery operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Significant experience in a consulting environment, with a focus on FEMA IA programs or emergency management.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale, client-facing projects and deliver high-impact recovery solutions.
• Strong business development and proposal writing skills, with experience securing and managing federal or state contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to build programs and systems from the ground up and adapt to evolving client needs.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and analytical skills, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Ability to train others and lead projects and/or programs with senior leadership oversight.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction.
• Willingness to travel and support disaster deployments on short notice.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Strong knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Able to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
• Strong time management skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong knowledge in FEMA PA categories A, B, and E.
• Customer service-oriented Technical Skills.
• Excellent and proven computer skills, particularly with database software and Microsoft Office Suite project eligibility, scope of work and estimating costs to repair or replace a facility or structure to restore it to its pre-disaster design.
• The ability to be flexible in a dynamic environment and outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Not a typical office environment, work environment may be outdoors in various weather conditions, on-site with clients, or with an Emergency Operations Center.
• Ability to lift to 25 pounds if needed and be mobile around office or client sites.
• Ability to work remotely as needed.
• Willingness to travel to meetings, events and client sites as needed, sometimes after hours and on weekends.
• May require long hours at a computer.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

These positions will have supervisory responsibilities.

Expected Hours of Work:

Schedule may vary. Work on evenings and weekends may be required. Dependability and punctuality are paramount.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 50% travel is expected for this position.
• Must be willing to travel and deploy to client sites for extended periods of time.

Physical Demands:

• Mobility required on-site with clients.
• Sitting or standing for hours at a time.
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time if needed.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. repetitively throughout the day and as needed.

All Level REQUIRED Experience and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in emergency Management or related field. Equivalency: Professional experience beyond minimum requirements, in a related field may substitute the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
• At least 1 year of direct leadership experience or experience leading complex portions of projects teams/tasks, program management or full scope programs.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of full scope Emergency Management protocols and familiarity with state and local plans, agencies, and funding sources is necessary.
• Experience with Grants Portal, EMMIE, or any state-specific grant systems.
• Experience in at least two major Disaster Recovery efforts.
• Experience working and supporting in an Emergency Operations Center.
• Individual Assistance in FEMA Program experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel.
• 5+ years of customer service experience.
• 5+ years of project management experience.

Below are experience requirements for a FEMA Individual Assistance Specialist at all 3 levels:

Senior Consultant II Level Minimum Required Experience:

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in FEMA Individual Assistance or equivalent roles in disaster recovery.
• Direct experience supporting multiple disaster operations or deployments.
• Strong knowledge of FEMA IA policies, systems (e.g., NEMIS or Recovery platforms), and appeal processes.
• Able to manage complex cases and assist with documentation or appeals.
• Skilled in coordinating with community partners and supporting program implementation in the field.

Managing Consultant Level Minimum Required Experience:

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in FEMA Individual Assistance or equivalent roles in disaster recovery.
• Direct experience supporting multiple disaster operations or deployments.
• Strong knowledge of FEMA IA policies, systems (e.g., NEMIS or Recovery platforms), and appeal processes.
• Able to manage complex cases and assist with documentation or appeals.
• Skilled in coordinating with community partners and supporting program implementation in the field.

Senior Advisor Level Minimum Required Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in FEMA IA, emergency management, or related recovery programs, with demonstrated leadership in disaster operations.
• Experience managing teams in DRCs, MRICs, or field deployments.
• Expert-level understanding of FEMA IA programs, policies, and coordination frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead IA functions during declared disasters, including staff supervision, community engagement, and interagency coordination.
• Adept at resolving escalated issues and overseeing complex case management processes.
• Leads teams of IA specialists, provides performance feedback, and contributes to operational planning and continuous improvement.

All Level Preferred Experience and Education:

• Applicable Certifications: Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Project Management Certification
• Business development experience.

Regular status positions will receive these benefits:

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Short-Term Disability/Voluntary Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) Account with Company Match
• Paid-Time Off (PTO): Annual Leave and Sick Leave Accruals
• Paid Parental Leave
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Corporate Computer
• Time off to Volunteer
• Cell Phone Allowance

EEO Statement

AC Disaster Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. AC Disaster Consulting will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any protected characteristic.

Please redact or remove information that identifies applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at (or graduation from) an educational institution from the resume or other application documents prior to submitting the application.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodation by contacting AC Disaster Consulting Human Resources team at [email protected].

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