Senior Public Assistance Consultant

Simeon Global Consulting•Frankfort, KY

5d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Public Assistance Closeout Consultant / Specialist leads the closeout of FEMA Public Assistance (PA) projects for state, local, tribal, territorial, and other eligible applicants. This is a senior, closeout-focused position: the primary function is to move obligated projects — including the largest, most complex, and most stalled in the portfolio — through final reconciliation, closeout package development, and closeout submission to timely, defensible completion. This role is expected to operate with a high degree of independence and sound professional judgment. The senior consultant owns a closeout portfolio end to end, makes and defends eligibility and cost determinations on complex projects, resolves the issues that stall closeout, and serves as a closeout subject-matter resource to applicants, the Recipient, and less-experienced team members. While the position supports the broader PA lifecycle as needed, closeout leadership is the core of the job.

Requirements

Extensive, hands-on FEMA PA closeout experience is the primary requirement for this position. Candidates must have a strong, demonstrated track record of independently taking projects through final reconciliation and closeout — including large and small project closeout, RPA/subrecipient closeout, cost reconciliation, deobligation, and preparation of audit-ready closeout packages — including complex and high-value projects.
Typically 5+ years of FEMA Public Assistance or disaster-recovery experience, with a significant portion focused on project closeout.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment on complex eligibility and cost matters, manage competing priorities and deadlines, and serve as a resource or mentor to less-experienced staff.
Bachelor's degree in emergency management, public administration, business, engineering, construction management, finance/accounting, or a related discipline preferred. Additional relevant disaster-recovery or FEMA PA experience may substitute for education depending on the position.
Deep working knowledge of FEMA Grants Portal, PAPPG, 2 CFR Part 200, project formulation, cost estimating, and procurement compliance.
Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and organizational skills, and comfort working directly with governmental applicants and FEMA.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Eligibility to work in the United States. Must be located in the United States.
Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Successful completion of company and any applicable client background and reference checks is required as a condition of employment.
Must be willing and able to travel to various work sites as needed.
Must be willing and able to work long hours in emergency response environments.

Nice To Haves

Experience in public sector, disaster response, or emergency management (a plus, not required).
Demonstrated ability to work independently and take initiative in fast-paced settings.
Comfortable adapting to new platforms or project types as needed.

Responsibilities

Own and manage a portfolio of PA projects through the closeout phase, driving obligated projects — including large, complex, and high-value projects — to timely, defensible final completion.
Reconcile obligated versus actual costs, determine and process the amendments and versions needed prior to closeout, and support deobligation or adjustment of unexpended or ineligible funds.
Prepare, review, and approve complete and accurate closeout requests and packages for large project, small project, and RPA (Recipient-level) closeout.
Independently resolve outstanding documentation, cost, and eligibility issues that hold up closeout, coordinating with applicants, FEMA, the Recipient, and specialists to clear them.
Prioritize a closeout pipeline: proactively identify projects ready for — or stalled in — closeout, triage by risk and deadline, and work them to completion.
Make and defend eligibility and cost-reasonableness determinations on complex closeout matters, and prepare files that withstand FEMA, state, or federal audit.
Serve as a closeout subject-matter resource — providing guidance and quality review to applicants and to less-experienced consultants, and helping set closeout standards and processes for the team.
Assist applicants with closeout submissions in FEMA Grants Portal, including final documentation, uploads, and closeout-related project records.
Lead and support responses to FEMA Requests for Information (RFIs) issued during the closeout process.
Maintain closeout trackers, status reports, and issue logs, and report closeout progress and risks to project leadership.
Advise applicants on FEMA closeout requirements, documentation standards, deadlines, and PA policies.
Assist applicants with the identification, documentation, and evaluation of disaster-related damages and emergency response costs.
Conduct or support site inspections and damage assessments, including documenting facility conditions, dimensions, quantities, photographs, and supporting information.
Assist with development and validation of Damage Descriptions and Dimensions (DDDs), Scopes of Work (SOWs), and cost estimates.
Evaluate potential eligibility of facilities, work, and costs in accordance with the Stafford Act, 2 CFR Part 200, FEMA PA policy, PAPPG, and applicable state requirements.
Support project formulation for both emergency work and permanent work, including FEMA PA Categories A–G.
Collect, organize, review, and reconcile supporting documentation such as invoices, contracts, purchase orders, force-account labor, equipment usage, materials, mutual aid, insurance information, and proof of payment.
Support cost estimating and cost-reasonableness reviews using actual costs, contractor estimates, historical costs, FEMA cost-estimating tools, or other appropriate methodologies.
Review procurement and contracting documentation for consistency with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Track projects through the PA lifecycle, including damage identification, project development, validation, obligation, amendments, and reconciliation.
Identify potential issues involving insurance, environmental and historic preservation, hazard mitigation, duplication of benefits, procurement, or other compliance requirements and coordinate with appropriate specialists to clear them ahead of closeout.
Lead or support development of appeals, Requests for Equitable Adjustment, or other project-related submissions, as appropriate to the assignment.
Participate in and, where appropriate, lead meetings with applicants, FEMA, state emergency management agencies, engineers, contractors, and other recovery stakeholders.
Maintain detailed records of applicant communications, decisions, outstanding actions, and project status.