Senior Residential Hazard Mitigation Subject Matter Expert (California)

ICF • Los Angeles, CA

3d • Remote

About The Position

ICF's Disaster Management division seeks a Residential Hazard Mitigation Subject Matter Expert to support FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) planning and projects in California following recent wildfire and straight-line wind events. The role focuses on identifying residential property mitigation strategies to reduce risks to homes and property from wildfires, wind, ice storms, and severe weather. The SME will help position programs to optimize disaster grant resource allocation, develop solutions for impacted areas, and provide strong risk management. Based in Southern California, the position requires willingness to travel across the state as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 5 years of FEMA HMA project experience, including program start-up through implementation and closeout.
• Familiarity with emergency planning, mitigation planning, and grants management systems.
• Experience coordinating with residential property owners to develop mitigation strategies and support implementation of retrofitting measures.
• Demonstrated success managing complex cross-functional teams to achieve high production, meet tight deadlines, and deliver compliant, quality work products.
• Based in Southern California and willing to travel across the state as necessary.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and integrity and ethics.
• Ability to work as a team player, build organizational capability, motivate teaming partners and staff, and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and project management software.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or higher in a related field.
• Experience securing federal grants of $50 million or greater.
• Knowledge of California-specific building codes and hazard mitigation priorities.
• Familiarity with the FEMA Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) tool and methodology.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an expert in FEMA HMA grant programs and advise local government and private nonprofit clients on large-scale mitigation projects.
• Assess risks and identify vulnerabilities in homes and communities to wildfires and related hazards.
• Develop strategies to reduce risk, including building codes, structure retrofits, and community-wide resilience plans.
• Identify and secure funding for mitigation projects.
• Implement ongoing public education and outreach programs, explaining complex technical concepts to homeowners and community members.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, community-based organizations, industry, and nonprofits to achieve shared mitigation goals.
• Coordinate with engineers, contractors, emergency managers, and other professionals to implement mitigation projects.
• Monitor project execution to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to FEMA programs.

What This Job Offers

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