Program Description: Regional Disaster Response Program (RDAP)  

Under the RDAP, Amentum will provide comprehensive solutions to build disaster management and disaster risk reduction capacity across 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) including but not limited to program management, technical assistance, training, and disaster and complex emergency response through leading-edge logistical solutions.   

Amentum efforts will include multiple objectives. The first is to lead and coordinate humanitarian assistance responses to complex emergencies and natural disasters across the region by maintaining capacity to analyze emergency impacts, scale, and immediate humanitarian needs while maintaining capacity to deploy first-class trained and operationally ready disaster response staff in each country, procuring emergency response commodities and services, capturing lessons learned and developing and disseminating information related to disaster events and the United State Government’s (USG) disaster risk reduction programing. The second objective is to build capacity of national emergency management systems and other local or regional entities to mitigate, prepare, and respond to disasters by analyzing capacities and applying country-level strategic planning and technically innovative training. The third objective is to deliver an advanced disaster assistance program through highly qualified technical assistance that applies tailored approaches and best practices to implement effective and appropriate response support through a continual improvement model that draws on evidence-based data to guide decisions and activities.    

Job Title: Integrated Fire Management Thematic Disaster Risk Management Specialist (TDRMS) 

The Integrated Fire Management Thematic Disaster Risk Management Specialist (TDRMS) will be part of an experienced cadre of thematic experts supporting training, technical assistance, and disaster response. The Integrated Fire Management TDRMS shall lead all fire management disaster response efforts, including training and technical assistance, emergency responses for fires across LAC and provide critical technical input and strategic leadership to inform a robust RDAP strategy, reporting and deliverable development (including but not limited to drafting workplans for thematic area of expertise), identify T&TA activities, design and deliver  technical assistance and trainings that integrate industry and programmatic best practices and lessons learned and actively support all programmatic activities requiring thematic expertise. This position is based in San Jose, Costa Rica but may also be based in the LAC region, as required by Amentum. The thematic DRMS shall report directly to the technical coordinator with a dotted line report to the RDAP Chief of Party. The TDRMS must demonstrate experience, including but not limited to, training, capacity building, disaster risk reduction, and disaster response. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide technical guidance to country-level DRMSs, host nations, and other relevant organizations on their thematic area of expertise.   

• Lead efforts to close DRMS’ capacity gaps through targeted support, expert guidance and capacity building in the integrated fire management area of expertise. This includes but is not limited to the development and implementation of appropriate and feasible technical assistance activities to fill capacity gaps. 

• Provide technical guidance and assess existing and required capabilities in the integrated fire management area at the LAC region-wide level.  Determine and implement priority interventions for the integrated fire management area in coordination with DRMSs, technical coordinator and training and curriculum design team. 

• Work with the training, exercise, and curriculum design unit to develop new or update existing training courses and/or exercises based on needs and gaps. 

• Develop relationships with other regional or global thematic experts to share best practices and lessons learned.  Identify most efficient approaches for sharing best practices and lessons learned. 

• Contribute, in coordination with the information officers, to development of impactful communications materials to disseminate the RDAP’s efforts, impacts, successes and lessons learned. 

• Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops within, and possibly outside, the region, as directed and approved by Amentum, to share technical expertise and stay apprised of the latest advances in their area of technical expertise. Identify cost effective approaches (ie. virtual attendance, etc.) to participate in events that are technically and programmatically relevant and necessary. 

• Actively participate in the preparation, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of the training and technical assistance and thematic plans. 

• Provide real-time technical expertise during disaster responses, as appropriate. 

• Coordinate with local universities and others to co-develop Minimum Standards for Emergency Managers and First Responders.  

• Support development of Partner Course Transfer Plan Protocol by developing criteria that guide decision-making on the terms and conditions of the course transfer with the receiving institution. 

• Actively participate in after action reviews and pause and reflect sessions as required by Amentum.  

• Coordinate with the training and curriculum development specialists in developing tools, providing technical inputs and integration course feedback into revised and improved versions of capacity building initiatives. Will also support the monitoring and testing of trainers for expanded training delivery.  

• Follows email maintenance requirements, communications, line reporting and timekeeping protocols, as established by Amentum, and abides by Amentum ethical code of conduct. Takes required trainings on time, as required by Amentum. 

• Must be willing to deploy to a disaster site to fulfill a variety of needs, including but not limited to, damage assessment and needs analysis, supervising the work of RDAP contractors, and reporting and oversight of relief operations.   

• Must be available after hours and on weekends to support emergency response priorities as directed by supervisor(s).   

• Carry out other duties and responsibilities as directed by supervisor.  

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; Master’s degree or higher is preferred. 

• Academic and/or on-the-job experience (five years minimum) in fields related to emergency and/or disaster risk management  

• Minimum 3 years of experience in the integrated fire management thematic area. Proven experience providing/supporting capacity building efforts through training and/or technical assistance.  

• Excellent knowledge of capacity building best practices and ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities; good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies. 

• Proven organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple activities, to plan effectively, and to communicate plans clearly. 

• Demonstrated experience providing guidance and support to counterparts, such as government agencies, is recommended. 

• Knowledge and understanding of applicable international standards, policies, practices, and key organizations in the thematic area. 

• Excellent writing skills in the native language and adequate writing skills in English. 

• General social, political, and geographic knowledge of LAC; 

• Ability to deploy on short notice for extended periods (up to 45 days) to anywhere in LAC, and possibly under austere living conditions. 

• Spanish proficiency Level 4 minimum required, 5 preferred; and English highly preferred.