IEM is looking to bring on a Full Time - Disaster Recovery Specialist III who will support IEM’s State and Local Disaster Response and Recovery Team with its FEMA disaster recovery efforts, working hand-in-hand with the state/local government and private non-profit representatives to guide them through the Public Assistance process.
Primary Location:
- Live within a commutable distance to Guaynabo and San Juan, PR.
- Work in an Office Environment with a team.
Travel Requirements:
- This position may require travel to complete work assignments or attend meetings.
Essential Functions:
- Provide general programmatic assistance to applicants and maintain currency of and compliance with applicable state and federal grant management policies and procedures relating to the Public Assistance Grant Program.
- Identify potential impacts / implications of policy changes to Federal/State/local programs.
- Perform damage assessments, develop damage inventories, develop scopes of work, compile cost documentation, upload project documentation, and develop detailed cost estimates to establish potential eligibility for FEMA funding and extent of applicable damages.
- Perform project validation reviews and address any inconsistencies, special considerations, and compliance issues with management.
- Plan and conduct meetings and briefing for applicants regarding the program.
- Develop 406 Hazard Mitigation Proposals including benefit cost analyses and recommendations to reduce or eliminate the chance of damage occurring in the future.
- Review supporting documentation for the assigned subawards to ensure that each subrecipient receives appropriate reimbursements.
- Develop, maintain, and implement plans and procedures associated with the effective and efficient delivery and monitoring of grant performance of the Public Assistance Grant Program.
- Works closely with Federal, State and local representatives and must be able to clearly communicate aspects of the FEMA PA program.
- Perform quality control review procedures over work performed by other Disaster Recovery Specialists and Grants Management Specialists.
- Collaborate with IEM’s Disaster Recovery Grants Management Specialists to identify and elevate financial or administrative issues for resolution, including responding to Federal Awarding Agency or Recipient Request for Information.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
- Experience: Five (5) years of experience supporting FEMA HMGP, PA, CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT, or a similar federally funded recovery program.
- Advanced knowledge of FEMA HMGP (Section 404), PA (Sections 406 and 428), and applicable federal grant regulations.
- Experience and Degree Substitution: An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to effectively perform the duties and functions of this position may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing and validating design submissions, engineering reports, construction scopes, technical packages, and cost estimates for disaster recovery or mitigation projects.
- Experience supporting project formulation, grant compliance, reimbursement reviews, monitoring, and closeout activities.
- Experience working with federal, state, territorial, or local government agencies.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Professional Engineer (PE), Registered Architect (RA), PMP, CCM, or other relevant professional certification.
- Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, utility, housing, transportation, flood control, coastal protection, or public facility mitigation programs.
- Experience with FEMA-funded mitigation and resilience projects in Puerto Rico or other federally declared disaster areas.
- Experience reviewing construction documents, design submissions, value engineering analyses, and cost estimating for federally funded projects.
Additional Information:
- Office Locations: Often, these offices are either owned by the client we work with or by IEM. All candidates are expected to follow any rules and regulations of the office in which they are required to work for that project.
Benefits and more:
- 10 paid holidays
- Vacation Pay
- Sick Pay
- 401 (K) plan with matching
- Company paid STD and LTD
Equal Employment Opportunity. All IEM employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment, if necessary, are made without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.
Reasonable Accommodation. IEM is committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or employment process, please email [email protected] with specific details about the requested accommodation. All accommodation requests are reviewed case-by-case in compliance with applicable law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
- Five years of experience supporting FEMA HMGP, Public Assistance, CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT, or a similar federally funded recovery program.
- Advanced knowledge of FEMA HMGP Section 404, Public Assistance Sections 406 and 428, and applicable federal grant regulations.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing design submissions, engineering reports, construction scopes, technical packages, and cost estimates for disaster recovery or mitigation projects.
- Experience supporting project formulation, grant compliance, reimbursement reviews, monitoring, and closeout activities.
- Experience working with federal, state, territorial, or local government agencies.
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.
- Professional Engineer, Registered Architect, PMP, CCM, or other relevant professional certification.
- Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, utility, housing, transportation, flood control, coastal protection, or public facility mitigation programs.
- Experience with FEMA-funded mitigation and resilience projects in Puerto Rico or other federally declared disaster areas.
- Experience reviewing construction documents, design submissions, value engineering analyses, and cost estimating for federally funded projects.
What We Do
IEM is a professional services firm dedicated to building a safe, secure, and resilient world. Since 1985, our innovative strategies, technologies, and solutions have helped government and private sector customers achieve measurable results—lives saved, communities resiliently rebuilt, risks reduced, and preparedness increased. For over 40 years, IEM's skilled professionals have been committed to integrating science, technology, and real-world experience to develop smart, innovative solutions that truly solve each customer’s unique problem. Our list of customers includes federal agencies like the DHS, DOD, FEMA, HUD, SBA; state and local emergency management organizations in all 50 US states and 4 territories; critical infrastructure including nuclear power plants, chemical plants, hospitals, mass transit agencies, ports, and others. Representative IEM projects include: --Program Manager for the State of New York's disaster recovery housing program after Hurricane Sandy --Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program support to State of New York after Hurricane Sandy --Supporting FEMA response planning since 2003 --Preparedness support to 10 major metropolitan regions of Critical National Importance --Developed and applied unique, scenario-based planning process to support rapid, regional planning for catastrophic hurricanes in Louisiana (Hurricane Pam) and Florida and a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone --Developed epidemiological models helping to reduce the risk of casualties associated with potential bioterrorism attacks --Developed web-based emergency management and response system for a federal program --Support research and development of defensive CBRNE systems for the U.S. Army --Exercise and real-time ground support for air evacuations during disaster response evacuations since 2009








