OPS State Individual Assistance Officer - 31902484

Requisition No: 879811 

Agency: Division of Emergency Management

Working Title: OPS State Individual Assistance Officer - 31902484

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 31902484 

Salary:  $45.00/Hour 

Posting Closing Date: 08/03/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

State Individual Assistance Officer - OPS

Bureau of Recovery

Florida Division of Emergency Management

This position is located in Tallahassee, FL

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters. These range from floods and hurricanes to incidents involving hazardous materials or nuclear power. FDEM is the liaison between federal, state, and local agencies. FDEM prepares and implements a statewide Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, routinely conducts extensive exercises to test state and county emergency response capabilities, provides technical assistance to local governments as they prepare emergency plans and procedures, as well as conducts emergency operations trainings for state and local government agencies.

FDEM serves as the lead agency for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT), whose primary goal is the coordination of the state’s efforts during disaster response and recovery. This coordination is conducted within the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee. Additionally, FDEM manages the State Watch Office; the 24-hour a day operation tasked with providing situational awareness to stakeholders statewide. After a disaster, FDEM conducts damage assessment surveys and advises the Governor of the State of Florida on whether to declare an emergency and seek federal relief funds. It is against this backdrop that FDEM strives to demonstrate its mission of, “Coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with our community stakeholders for a resilient Florida”, along with our vision of “Leading the Profession in building prepared and resilient communities”.

Position Overview and Responsibilities:

This position serves as the State Individual Assistance (IA) Officer responsible for administering disaster recovery programs to individuals and families following disasters. This position serves as the State of Florida’s primary manager and point of contact for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IA Programs and Small Business Administration (SBA) declarations. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Supervise the Individual Assistance Team, to include the Deputy IA Officer, IA Planner, Unmet Needs Coordinator, and Disaster Housing Coordinator. Developing and monitoring work plans, production goals and skills enhancement programs.
• Develop plans, processes, and procedures to document best practices, ensure quality control of service delivery, and enhance the Individual Assistance program.
• Analyze potential and actual impacts of disasters on local communities, individuals, and families, and make recommendations to executive leadership on the appropriate forms of assistance that may be available.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders in the local, state, federal, non-profit, and private sectors to plan for and deliver recovery assistance to survivors.
• Provide technical assistance to local governments, non-profits, and stakeholders regarding Individual Assistance programs and the damage assessment and declaration process.
• Identify training needs of local emergency services personnel and organizations; prepare and present various types of training and educational programs to other agencies and the general public.
• Assess and develop effective plans and procedures for emergency management and disaster recovery purposes.
• Provide leadership and coordinate to the efforts of county, state, federal, nonprofit, and private sector partners in the development of disaster recovery housing measures.
• Assist Volunteer Florida and the Florida VOAD with capacity building and Long-term Recovery, helping enable disaster case management at the local level.
• Attend conferences, meetings, workshops, and other engagements related to Individual Assistance and Disaster Recovery.
• Ensure team compliance with the Federal Funds Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) and relevant reporting requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

In response to disasters and during activations of the State Emergency Operations Center, this position serves in support of   the Human Services Branch Director. Following the transition to recovery and during Joint Field Office Operations, this position serves as IA Branch Director.

In response to emergency events, FDEM employees may be required to work irregular hours, to work more than 8 hours per day, to work extended periods (including weekends and holidays), to work at locations other than their official headquarters, and to perform duties in addition to those outlined in the employee’s position description. Employees must be able to deploy to emergency sites with limited advance notice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of FEMA Individual Assistance programs, to include the Individual and Household Program and Direct Housing
• Knowledge of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF)
• Knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command Structure (ICS)
• Strong demographic and population research and analysis skills
• Strong project management skills
• Organizational and time management skills
• Skills in writing, editing, and oral communications
• Ability to develop, maintain, and manage on-going relationships with private sector representatives.
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks under high stress situations.
• Ability to interact and communicate with high-level officials.
• Developing quality assurance measures, a plus
• Knowledge of social services programs and statewide community resources 

Minimum Qualifications:

• A minimum of four years’ experience in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Social Work or a related field. A post-secondary degree from an accredited institution in any of the before mentioned fields may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM) certification or have the ability and willingness to obtain within the first 12 months of employment.

Special Notes:

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

FDEM is committed to successfully recruiting and onboarding talented and skilled individuals into its workforce. FDEM appreciates the service and sacrifices made by veterans and their family members and recognizes the immeasurable value veterans bring to the workplace and is committed to increasing the number of veterans that serve in its workforce.

FDEM is committed to increasing recruitment and hiring of individuals with disabilities and improving employment outcomes. An individual with a disability is qualified if he or she satisfies the skills, experience, and other job-related requirements for a position and can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must contact the FDEM Human Resources Office at (850) 815-4177. FDEM requests applicants notify the Human Resources Office in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Successful completion of background screening will be required for this position.

The State of Florida and FDEM participate in E-Verify. This federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

In response to emergency events, FDEM employees may be required to work irregular hours, to work more than 8 hours per day, to work extended periods (including nights, weekends, and holidays), to work at locations other than their official headquarters, and to perform duties in addition to those outlined in the employee’s position description. Employees must be able to deploy to emergency sites with limited advance notice.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.