What We're Looking For:
Job Summary
The Individual Assistance (IA) Director provides senior-level leadership, technical expertise, and program oversight for disaster response and recovery programs supporting State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government clients and disaster-affected communities. The Director is responsible for leading Individual Assistance engagements, managing project teams, advising clients on program strategy, and overseeing the successful delivery of survivor-focused disaster assistance programs.
The IA Director serves as a senior advisor on FEMA Individual Assistance programs, disaster survivor services, housing and human services programs, disaster case management, and related recovery initiatives. This position provides strategic leadership throughout the disaster response and recovery lifecycle while ensuring programs are effectively staffed, managed, and delivered in accordance with client objectives and applicable requirements.
The position requires extensive disaster recovery and Individual Assistance experience, demonstrated success managing staff and complex programs, and exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
What You'll Do:
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Individual Assistance programs and disaster survivor support programs.
- Serve as a senior advisor to SLTT clients regarding Individual Assistance programs, policies, operational strategies, and recovery needs.
- Lead and manage IA project teams, including program managers, supervisors, case management personnel, housing specialists, technical staff, and other project resources.
- Establish project priorities, staffing requirements, performance expectations, operational procedures, and delivery standards.
- Provide leadership and technical guidance related to FEMA Individual Assistance programs and other survivor services, housing assistance, disaster case management, unmet needs, and community resources.
- Assist clients with developing and implementing scalable recovery programs following hurricanes, floods, wildfires, severe storms, and other disaster events.
- Develop operational strategies, staffing models, workflows, policies, procedures, and performance measures for IA programs.
- Monitor program performance, staffing levels, service delivery, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and contractual requirements.
- Identify program risks, operational challenges, service gaps, and emerging survivor needs and develop mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate with FEMA, state emergency management agencies, local governments, tribal and territorial governments, voluntary organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with senior client leadership and government officials.
- Ensure compliance with program requirements, client policies, privacy standards, and applicable regulations.
- Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management support to managers, supervisors, and project staff.
- Support workforce planning, recruiting, mobilization, training, and staff development initiatives.
- Participate in client meetings, executive briefings, operational planning sessions, and recovery strategy discussions.
- Support development of scopes of work, staffing plans, technical approaches, proposals, and other business development materials.
- Assist organizational leadership in identifying emerging client needs and opportunities to expand disaster response and recovery services.
- Travel to client and disaster-affected locations as required.
- Perform other duties consistent with senior program leadership responsibilities.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly leads and manages program managers, supervisors, technical staff, housing specialists, case management personnel, and other project resources.
- Provides coaching, mentoring, professional development, and performance management for project staff.
- Establishes staffing requirements, performance expectations, and operational standards.
- Supports workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, mobilization, and training efforts.
- Oversees multidisciplinary teams supporting disaster response and recovery operations.
What You Need to Succeed:
Experience
- Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting, administering, or leading FEMA Individual Assistance programs.
- Ten (10) or more years of management and leadership experience, including direct supervision of staff, supervisors, and project teams.
- Significant experience managing complex disaster response and recovery programs.
- Demonstrated experience advising SLTT leadership and collaborating directly with FEMA.
- Proven experience resolving complex programmatic issues and leading large-scale disaster operations.
- Experience working with senior government officials, community organizations, and disaster recovery stakeholders.
- Experience developing operational strategies, staffing models, policies, and recovery program frameworks.
Education
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university preferred.
- Relevant professional experience may substitute for educational requirements.
Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of FEMA Individual Assistance and disaster survivor support programs.
- Demonstrated expertise in FEMA IA programs and policies, including Individual and Households Program (IHP), Mass Care/Emergency Assistance, housing and sheltering, Disaster Case Management, and survivor services.
- Strong understanding of disaster response and recovery operations and the needs of disaster-affected communities.
- Proven ability to lead complex, large-scale programs and multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong personnel management, mentoring, and leadership skills.
- Knowledge of program operations, service delivery, quality assurance, and performance monitoring.
- Ability to develop practical solutions and operational strategies in rapidly changing disaster environments.
- Strong executive-level communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with government officials, clients, FEMA representatives, and community stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong written communication and documentation skills.
- Ability to lead teams effectively through rapid mobilization and changing operational requirements.
- Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% to 50% based on project needs.
- Ability to adapt to changing project priorities and disaster response and recovery requirements.
Licenses/Registrations
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
- Additional certifications in emergency management, human services, project management, disaster recovery, or related fields are a plus.
- Valid driver's license may be required based on travel requirements.
Compensation:
The approximate compensation range for this position is $141,880-$204,242 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.
Why Choose Us:
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
- Professional and personal development
- Generous paid time off
- Commuter and wellness benefits
THIS POSTING IS FOR A CURRENT VACANCY AND MICHAEL BAKER INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 12/15/2026.
Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.
Based in Pittsburgh and with over 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.
We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.
We Make a Difference.
Michael Baker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.
EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.
*It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
*There is no current application deadline. Michael Baker will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or no longer needed.
— Sarah J.
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Marketing Manager
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