The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

When disaster strikes, America looks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Now FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. We foster innovation, reward performance and creativity, and provide challenges on a routine basis with a well-skilled, knowledgeable, high performance workforce. Please visit www.fema.gov for additional information.

Local Hire employees:

• Help FEMA respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards by performing a variety of emergency management functions which are not limited to disaster survivor assistance, conducting and verifying damage assessments, and providing administrative, financial and logistical support.
• A local hire’s term of employment is 120 days. Local Hire appointments may be extended, in 120 day increments, for a maximum 365 day appointment, based on the needs of the disaster.
• Work within 23 different Cadres which are groups of personnel organized by operational function and FEMA Qualification System (FQS) position.
• Each Local Hire is hired to a position within a Cadre based on his or her skills and experience.

FEMA is seeking candidates with experience in customer service. As a Local Hire (Emergency Management Specialist 1), you will assist with local Disaster Recovery Assistance. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication, interpersonal and customer service skills.

In this position, you will serve as a member of the Disaster Assistance support staff at the local Disaster Recovery Centers and Joint Field Operations.

Typical assignments include:

• Serving as the primary point of contact for persons inquiring about disaster assistance.
• Communicating directly with disaster survivors, to discuss case status and provides clarification with the assistance process, disaster assistance programs, and the current status of their case.
• Entering data into an automated tracking system and providing other basic administrative support.
• Using Microsoft Office computer software to support administrative assignments.
• Reviewing registration forms and requirements for Federal and/or State programs and preparing correspondences/communication for required follow-up actions.
• Assisting in preparing field office emergency management plans and policies, procedures, and risk assessments to ensure essential functions are executed, and are consistent with statutory and agency requirements.
• Facilitating on-going communications with internal operations staff and corresponding operational staff of other Federal agencies.

This is an open continuous announcement which will remain open until 11:59 pm EST on 10/18/2021.  Applications will be reviewed for consideration and referral on a weekly basis until requirements are met.

All applicants received by the cut-off date will be reviewed for qualifications. Those found qualified and requesting consideration, will be referred for consideration for open positions.

FEMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Salaries are comparable to local pay rates.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

STAFFORD ACT EXCEPTED SERVICE APPOINTMENTS: The Local Hire Program is an appointment type granted under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 306 (b), which authorizes FEMA to appoint such temporary employees as necessary to accomplish work authorized under the Act. Appointments under this authority within FEMA are made to the excepted service and are nonpermanent in nature.

To qualify for this position, you must possess:

• 3 years of general experience

       OR

• 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree

IN ADDITION:

• Minimum age of eighteen years of age is required.
• All candidates must be a high school graduate or possess a GED.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Your application must show that you meet all requirements for this position.  You may be found “not qualified” if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position.

NOTE: Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here.