Public Assistance Generalist

DCMC Partners•Frankfort, KY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Assistance Generalist serves as a key advisor and subject matter resource in supporting clients throughout the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) grant process. This role is responsible for interpreting and applying FEMA policies, regulations, and guidance; ensuring program compliance; and assisting stakeholders in the development, implementation, management, and closeout of disaster recovery projects. The Public Assistance Generalist works closely with state and local government agencies, municipalities, applicants, federal representatives, contractors, and internal project teams to review project documentation, validate damage assessments, evaluate scopes of work and cost estimates, identify hazard mitigation opportunities, and resolve eligibility, compliance, and documentation issues. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge of FEMA Public Assistance programs with exceptional analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills to help clients maximize recovery outcomes while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements. This position reports to the Project Manager and may support multiple disaster recovery projects and initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience working with FEMA Public Assistance programs, disaster recovery, emergency management, governmental organizations, or related federal grant programs.
Demonstrated experience with FEMA Public Assistance programs and policies.
Knowledge of FEMA Public Assistance eligibility requirements, project development, project formulation, and project closeout.
Knowledge of Methods of Repair (MORs), scopes of work, damage descriptions, cost estimates, and Project Worksheets.
Demonstrated ability to interpret FEMA Public Assistance policies, procedures, regulations, and program guidance.
Strong knowledge of disaster recovery, emergency management, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Ability to research, analyze, organize, and interpret complex technical and programmatic information.
Experience using FEMA, state, local, and/or client grants management workflow software and document management systems.
Experience with FEMA Grants Portal/Grants Manager, EMMIE, or similar grant and disaster recovery management systems.
Intermediate or higher proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and SharePoint.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively within a project team.
Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented, and flexible.
Ability to communicate effectively with government officials, applicants, stakeholders, contractors, and internal project teams.
Bachelor's degree in a related field, including: Engineering, including Civil, Structural, Electrical, Coastal, or Water Resources, Architecture, Construction Management or Construction Inspection, Cost Estimating, Quality Assurance, Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Historic Preservation, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance or Accounting, Insurance, Other related fields.
Equivalent combinations of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
Must be able to work in or support projects based in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Ability to occasionally work outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
Occasional travel to client, applicant, subrecipient, project, or disaster-affected locations may be required based on project needs and operational demands.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced disaster recovery environment and adapt to changing project priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred: FEMA Public Assistance Program Delivery Management, Site Inspection, Damage Assessment, Project Formulation, Cost Estimating, PA Policy and Technical Support, Hazard Mitigation, FEMA Public Assistance training, Grant Administration, Project Monitoring and Compliance, Project Closeout
Experience working directly with government agencies, municipalities, applicants, subrecipients, FEMA, or other federal representatives is preferred.
FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS)
FEMA Advanced Professional Series (APS)
FEMA Independent Study Certifications
Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
Associate Emergency Manager (AEM)
Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS)
Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Relevant FEMA Public Assistance training or certifications

Responsibilities

Explain FEMA Public Assistance guidance, policies, regulations, procedures, and eligibility requirements to applicants, stakeholders, and project teams.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipalities, state and local government agencies, applicants, subrecipients, federal representatives, and other stakeholders.
Identify and interpret applicable federal, state, and local regulations and program requirements to determine appropriate methods of project implementation.
Maintain compliance with applicable FEMA Public Assistance policies, procedures, regulations, and program requirements.
Advocate for client needs while maintaining compliance with FEMA requirements and applicable laws and regulations.
Support applicants throughout the FEMA Public Assistance project lifecycle, from initial damage assessment through project completion and closeout.
Assist stakeholders with establishing recovery priorities, project schedules, documentation requirements, and expectations.
Conduct detailed reviews of damage descriptions, scopes of work, Project Worksheets (PWs), cost estimates, and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, eligibility, and consistency with FEMA requirements.
Review complex repair and replacement projects and identify missing, inconsistent, or unsupported information.
Review and evaluate Method of Repair (MOR), scope, cost, and eligibility information.
Coordinate with applicants, inspectors, engineers, estimators, FEMA representatives, and other counterparts to resolve deficiencies and obtain required information.
Conduct or support assessments of damage to public infrastructure and review associated damage and cost estimates.
Review project documentation to ensure that proposed scopes of work are consistent with observed damage and applicable FEMA requirements.
Conduct or support inspections of partially completed and completed work to verify project progress and compliance with approved scopes of work.
Document findings and advise stakeholders regarding the technical validity, eligibility, and documentation requirements of projects.
Identify potential changes in scope, improved projects, alternate projects, or other project considerations and coordinate appropriate documentation and review.
Identify feasible hazard mitigation opportunities and assist with the development of mitigation measures consistent with applicable FEMA requirements.
Support benefit-cost analysis and other documentation necessary to justify eligible hazard mitigation measures.
Assist stakeholders with appeals, arbitration, time extension requests, scope changes, and other project-related requests, as applicable.
Monitor projects for compliance with FEMA policies, applicable federal regulations, and program requirements.
Review project files to identify documentation gaps, eligibility concerns, potential compliance issues, and outstanding requirements.
Research FEMA policies, regulations, guidance, and program changes and communicate relevant updates to project teams and stakeholders.
Support audits, compliance reviews, monitoring activities, and requests for information.
Maintain complete, accurate, and organized project documentation and electronic records.
Ensure project records are maintained in accordance with applicable records retention and document control requirements.
Support the review and closeout of FEMA Public Assistance projects from both a technical and programmatic perspective.
Review project files to confirm that required documentation, inspections, deliverables, financial information, and other project requirements have been completed.
Verify that completed work is consistent with the approved scope of work and applicable FEMA requirements.
Review final project documentation, invoices, cost records, and supporting information to identify outstanding issues prior to closeout.
Identify and coordinate resolution of outstanding Requests for Information (RFIs), documentation deficiencies, scope issues, compliance concerns, and other open items.
Support the reconciliation of approved project costs, actual expenditures, obligated funding, and applicable adjustments.
Assist applicants with final documentation, project completion requirements, time extensions, and other closeout activities.
Track project closeout status and outstanding requirements using applicable FEMA and client grant management systems.
Assist with the preparation and review of final project documentation and closeout packages.
Maintain complete and audit-ready project files following project closeout.
Support post-closeout audits, monitoring activities, appeals, and requests for additional documentation, as needed.
Enter, maintain, and validate project information in applicable FEMA, state, local, and client grant management systems.
Maintain project trackers, spreadsheets, databases, and documentation logs.
Prepare project status updates, reports, summaries, and other deliverables as requested.
Track project milestones, deadlines, outstanding documentation, and required actions.
Maintain accurate records of project activities and communications.
Track and record work activities accurately and promptly in the DCMC timekeeping system.