The posting
The IEM Readiness Corps provides a standing force of dedicated professionals prepared to augment governmental and humanitarian efforts before, during, and after disasters. Guided by IEM’s mission of creating a safer, more resilient world, positions within this cadre enable the flexibility necessary to respond quickly to crises. Upon activation, Corps members may collaborate with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to coordinate operations, planning, logistics, and financial or administrative tasks. They may also serve as backfill support or assume leadership roles in Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) or field deployments, managing operations for some of the most significant crises. IEM Readiness Corps members will be responsible for rapidly addressing emerging challenges. They must demonstrate the capacity to communicate concisely, work efficiently under pressure, and maintain readiness for shifting operational needs. It is anticipated that Corps members of the IEM Readiness Corps will serve on an on-call basis and retain the right to accept or decline an engagement.
Join the IEM Readiness Corps if you seek a dynamic, on-call opportunity to deploy rapidly to support our Nation and its communities.
Our team thrives on successfully executing missions under critical conditions and making a difference where it matters most. The Corps aspires to strengthen disaster preparedness, protect lives, and support communities in times of greatest need by uniting a diverse pool of professionals under a consistent operational framework. Corps members should embody adaptability, expertise, and a commitment to excellence in service of this mission.
Primary Work Location: Corps members can originate from anywhere in the United States. Depending on mission requirements, deployment sites can include any U.S. state, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories and occasionally international locations (e.g., overseas airfields). Corps members must be prepared to work onsite for each assignment, often with little advance notice. Once activated, a member should be ready to deploy within 24–72 hours of notification to the assigned location. Assignments may involve operations in various settings—from airports and seaports to emergency operations centers, warehouses, logistics hubs, or other critical facilities—reflecting the diverse scenarios the Corps adapts to. Deployment durations vary by incident; many assignments are approximately 30 days (with potential extensions), while others can last several months and even up to 12 months for large-scale recovery operations. During deployments, work hours can extend beyond a standard 40-hour week and may include night shifts or weekends as the mission needs. All remote work environments must have a personal mobile device that is data capable and reliable access high-speed Internet connectivity (25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload speeds with low latency) to ensure Corps members can be responsive and available for rapid mobilization.
Situational Awareness: Disasters may present austere and challenging conditions, requiring high personal resilience and situational awareness. Corps members could face prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold, limited shelter, no electricity or running water access, and little to no climate control for extended periods. Air quality might be compromised by smoke, dust, or other irritants, and standing water can attract mosquitoes and other insects. Natural and environmental hazards—such as debris, unstable structures, or wildlife (including snakes and other potentially dangerous animals)—may be present in the operating environment. While IEM prioritizes the safety and well-being of its personnel, deployments sometimes demand working and living in difficult conditions to accomplish the mission. Corps members must remain vigilant, adhere to all health and safety protocols, and constantly be aware of their surroundings to mitigate risks and protect themselves and their team.
Physical Requirements: Assignments with the Readiness Corps can be physically demanding. Corps members should be capable of working up to 12-hour shifts for multiple days and expect to spend long periods on their feet. Tasks may involve walking long distances, repeatedly climbing stairs or ladders, and functioning in cramped or confined spaces (e.g., tunnels, debris-filled structures, or temporary field facilities). Fieldwork can require operating in uneven terrain or areas without easy access. Individuals must be able to safely lift and carry up to 50 pounds (to waist level) and handle equipment or supplies as needed. Corps members must meet and maintain any necessary deployment medical and fitness standards to perform effectively under arduous conditions.
General Responsibilities- Corps members of the IEM Readiness Corps fulfill a wide range of emergency management and disaster response responsibilities, including:
- Emergency Coordination and Planning: Collaborate with federal, state, and local government agencies (and occasionally nonprofit organizations) to support disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery initiatives, including liaising between onsite field operations and EOC staff, preparing concise situation reports, contributing to or refining plans, and meeting with community leaders to address urgent needs.
- Rapid Needs Assessment and Resource Support: Perform rapid needs assessments in affected communities to identify critical priorities. Coordinate the allocation of resources and logistics (e.g., personnel, supplies, and equipment) to meet those needs and serve in functional roles within response teams to fill gaps in staffing. Ensure compliance with all operational protocols and maintain the integrity of efforts through effective chain-of-command communication and reporting.
- Air Operations and Logistics: If deployed in an air operations and logistics capacity, carry out specialized airfield and port operations to facilitate disaster logistics, including conducting below-the-wing operations at airports (loading and off-loading cargo or passengers on both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft), manifesting passengers and cargo for airlift, operating ground support equipment on tarmacs or ramps, and coordinating activities between airport/seaport authorities and government responders to ensure the smooth flow of supplies and personnel.
- Humanitarian and Shelter Operations: Support human services missions such as emergency sheltering, mass care for displaced populations, and related humanitarian assistance operations. Apply cultural sensitivity and strong interpersonal communication skills to manage operations or direct assistance programs, ensuring services are delivered effectively and respectfully to diverse, often underserved populations.
- Technical Expertise and Augmentation: Leverage specialized technical skills or expertise (e.g., hazardous materials handling, communicable disease surveillance, grant writing and documentation, debris removal coordination, mass care management) to augment the operation’s capabilities. May be called upon to serve as a subject matter expert in a specific field, providing training or guidance to other team members or partner agencies, and could be embedded within a Joint Field Office (JFO) or local EOC to support specific technical needs.
- Adaptive Leadership and Support: Adapt to various roles and organizational structures as the situation demands, including operating outside the primary skill area or comfort zone. Manage stakeholder relations by addressing needs in real time; when in leadership positions, delegate tasks appropriately, monitor team progress, and escalate critical issues through the proper chain of command. The ability to remain flexible and step into different roles or leadership levels helps ensure mission success in fluid environments.
- Continuous Improvement: Contribute to continuous improvement processes during and after each deployment. Participate in after-action reviews, debriefings, and feedback sessions to capture lessons learned. Help document best practices and implement improvements so that the Corps maintains a consistent standard of excellence and is even better prepared for the next assignment.
Desired Skills:
- Emergency Response Experience: Professional experience responding to natural disasters, technological incidents, or human-caused emergencies. Experience could include work with emergency management agencies, first responder organizations, humanitarian relief efforts, or military service dealing with contingency operations.
- Multi-Agency Coordination and Communication: Demonstrated ability to coordinate efforts across multiple agencies or organizations during a crisis. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills are essential, as Corps members must relay information clearly and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- Relevant Backgrounds: A background in specialized areas, such as military airlift operations, logistics management, or humanitarian shelter management, is highly valuable. Experience gained as an armed forces reservist, National Guard member, or in disaster relief nonprofits can enhance effectiveness in specific Corps roles.
- Adaptability and Initiative: Proven self-motivation and adaptability in dynamic, evolving situations. Comfortable working independently and integrating into a team structure. The most successful Corps members can think on their feet, adjust to new information or changing plans, and maintain professionalism under stress.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Disaster/Emergency Experience: One (1) year of direct experience in disaster response, emergency management, or a closely related field. Examples include responding to hurricanes, wildfires, or other emergencies, working in humanitarian or shelter operations, or military experience in contingency operations.
- Physical and Medical Fitness: Ability to meet and maintain all physical and medical standards necessary for deployment. Corps members must be able to sustain the rigors of fieldwork without compromising their health or the safety of the mission.
- Rapid Deployment Availability: Willingness and ability to deploy on short notice (often within 24–72 hours of being notified) and to remain on assignment away from home for a minimum of 30 consecutive days at a time (or longer, if needed).
- Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with standard office and communication software (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, email, video conferencing tools) to effectively report and coordinate remotely when necessary.
- Technology Access: This position requires the initial use of your own computer and smart mobile device with reliable internet access. All necessary software and access credentials as well as a stipend will be provided. This is a requirement to ensure all orientation can be completed and mission alerts for activation can be received.
- Knowledge Base: Familiarity with disaster management frameworks, terminology, and relevant legislation (e.g., Stafford Act, National Response Framework). An understanding of basic emergency planning principles and incident command structures is expected.
- Clearance and Background: Ability to successfully pass any required background checks. Must be willing to obtain and maintain security clearances or credentials if the client or assignment requires them.
- Training: Completion of fundamental Incident Command System training courses (i.e., ICS 100, 200, 700, 800) either before deployment, as these courses provide essential knowledge for working within the National Incident Management System.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
- Language Skills: Bilingual or multilingual abilities can be extremely helpful in communicating with diverse communities during disaster operations.
- Extended Experience: Substantial experience in disaster response, disaster recovery, emergency operations, grant management, or organizational leadership roles (e.g., managing large teams, coordinating multi-agency disaster recovery projects, extensive field deployments domestically or internationally).
- Disaster Recovery Programs: Hands-on experience with federal disaster recovery and assistance programs. Experience with the FEMA Public Assistance grant processes, hazard mitigation programs (such as FEMA Sections 404 and 406), or HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) is highly desirable.
- Grants and Documentation: Familiarity with grants management, including interpreting and applying federal disaster relief policies and using grants management software or systems to track project work. Experience in developing or reviewing project worksheets, action plans, or similar documentation is a plus.
- Professional Certifications: Relevant professional certifications or licenses, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), or other specialized credentials in emergency management, project management, or logistics.
- Emergency Operations Center Experience: Previous involvement in staffing or leading roles within an EOC at the local, state, or federal level or similar coordination center during an incident. Experience contributing to developing emergency plans or standard operating procedures in an official capacity.
Compensation:
- Competitive rates for each deployment are tied to the member’s skills, credentials, and the scope of engagement responsibilities.
- Travel and other eligible expenses incurred during deployments are reimbursed following Federal Travel Regulations or applicable contract guidelines.
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.
