Community Disaster Program Specialist

American Red Cross • Des Moines, IA

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About The Position

The Community Disaster Program Specialist guides, leads, and supports trained volunteer teams delivering disaster cycle services and care to people affected by disasters. The role builds and sustains volunteer engagement, supports volunteer-led programming, and works with volunteers and community partners to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The specialist works within an assigned geographic area and helps ensure services are delivered rapidly, accessibly, equitably, and in ways that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, with a focus on frontline communities.

The position supports local disaster response, including volunteer-led Disaster Action Team responses to home fires, and participates in regional disaster operations after completing required training. Regional disaster employees must deploy outside their region at least once a year. Candidates within 50 miles of the Des Moines, Iowa chapter are preferred; relocation assistance is not available. The position requires working in the assigned geographic area and may require work outside regular duty hours, including nights and weekends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• At least 3 years of related experience.
• Current valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Ability to coordinate staff and volunteer activities.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated collaboration with diverse groups and individuals representative of the community’s demographics.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, facilitate, solve problems, market programs, lead, and manage partnerships.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work outside regular duty hours, including nights and weekends.
• Ability to meet training and physical capacity requirements for disaster deployment.
• Ability to work daily within the assigned geographic area.
• Ability to sit for extended periods, work at a computer terminal, and work in a small cubicle.
• Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including frequently lifting or moving up to 15 pounds and occasionally lifting or moving up to 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to inspire and coordinate volunteers and foster a sense of purpose and community impact.
• Experience building strong relationships with diverse community groups to drive participation and support.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including public speaking, presentations, and group facilitation.
• Proficiency with digital tools and databases and advanced Microsoft Office skills, including producing documentation, reports, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and support diverse volunteer teams implementing volunteer-led disaster cycle services programming.
• Help ensure disaster cycle services are delivered rapidly, accessibly, equitably, and in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways to meet clients’ urgent disaster-caused needs, with a focus on frontline communities.
• Assist with implementing disaster cycle services program activities or a specific disaster cycle services function within an assigned geographic area.
• Engage disaster volunteers who are the primary workforce and are representative of the communities they serve.
• Support local efforts to prepare and mobilize communities and engage partners in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and emergencies.
• Implement plans to meet assigned volunteer-engagement targets and support volunteer-led Disaster Action Team responses to local home fires or assigned functional tasks.
• Serve as a local point of contact for community partners and organizations, including leaders supporting frontline communities and community resiliency.
• Participate in regional disaster response operations in alignment with the Disaster Cycle Services Concept of Operations after completing training requirements.
• Deploy to disaster relief operations outside the region at least once a year, subject to training and physical capacity requirements.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Health Spending Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off starting at 15 days per year, based on FLSA status and tenure
• 11 paid holidays, including six core holidays and five floating holidays
• 401(k) with 6% match
• Paid family leave
• Employee assistance
• Short- and long-term disability and insurance
• Service awards and recognition

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level