Public Assistance Director

What We're Looking For:

The Public Assistance (PA) Director provides senior-level leadership, technical expertise, and program oversight for disaster recovery programs supporting State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government clients. The Director is responsible for leading Public Assistance engagements, managing project teams, providing strategic guidance to clients, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex disaster recovery programs.

This position serves as a senior advisor to clients and project leadership on FEMA Public Assistance policies, regulations, eligibility requirements, grant management, and recovery strategies. The PA Director provides leadership throughout the disaster recovery lifecycle and is responsible for building and managing high-performing teams capable of supporting multiple projects and client priorities.

The position requires significant experience managing FEMA Public Assistance programs, strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to effectively engage with senior government officials, FEMA representatives, project stakeholders, and internal leadership.
 

What You'll Do:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for FEMA Public Assistance programs and disaster recovery engagements.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to SLTT clients on Public Assistance program requirements, policies, procedures, and recovery strategies.
• Lead and manage PA project teams, including managers, technical specialists, grant management professionals, and other project personnel.
• Establish project priorities, staffing requirements, performance expectations, and delivery standards.
• Provide guidance on complex PA eligibility, documentation, procurement, cost reasonableness, insurance, environmental and historic preservation (EHP), and compliance matters.
• Oversee development and review of Public Assistance projects, supporting documentation, reimbursement requests, and grant management activities.
• Support clients throughout the FEMA PA lifecycle, including damage identification, project formulation, obligation, reimbursement, closeout, appeals, and audits.
• Identify programmatic risks and develop strategies to address issues that may affect eligibility, funding, compliance, schedules, or recovery objectives.
• Coordinate with FEMA, state emergency management agencies, local governments, tribal and territorial entities, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior client leadership and government officials.
• Monitor project performance, staffing, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and contractual requirements.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to project managers and technical staff.
• Ensure project teams maintain appropriate documentation, quality standards, and compliance with federal, state, and client requirements.
• Participate in client meetings, executive briefings, recovery strategy sessions, and other senior-level engagements.
• Support development of scopes of work, staffing plans, technical approaches, proposals, and other materials associated with PA opportunities.
• Assist organizational leadership in identifying emerging client needs and opportunities to expand disaster recovery support services.
• Travel to client and disaster-affected locations as required.
• Perform other duties consistent with senior program leadership responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly leads and manages project managers, technical specialists, grant management professionals, and other project personnel.
• Establishes staffing requirements, performance expectations, and delivery standards.
• Provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, and professional development to staff.
• Supports workforce planning, recruiting, mobilization, and talent development efforts.
• Oversees multidisciplinary project teams supporting disaster recovery operations.
   

What You Need to Succeed:

• Ten (10)+ years of progressively responsible experience directly supporting, administering, or leading FEMA Public Assistance programs.
• Ten (10)+ years of management and leadership experience, including direct supervision of professional staff and project teams.
• Significant experience managing complex disaster recovery projects and programs.
• Experience developing and defending eligibility and funding positions with FEMA.
• Demonstrated experience advising SLTT leadership and working directly with FEMA.
• Proven ability to resolve complex programmatic issues and lead large-scale disaster recovery operations.
• Experience working with senior government officials, FEMA representatives, and disaster recovery stakeholders.

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university preferred.
• Relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of FEMA Public Assistance programs and disaster recovery operations.
• Expert knowledge of FEMA PA policy and regulations, PAPPG, eligibility, project formulation, procurement requirements, insurance review, environmental and historic preservation (EHP), appeals, audits, closeout, and compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of the disaster recovery lifecycle and challenges facing SLTT governments following federally declared disasters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large or complex programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong leadership, staff development, mentoring, and people-management skills.
• Ability to provide strategic guidance and translate complex federal requirements into practical recommendations for clients.
• Strong executive-level verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with government officials, clients, FEMA representatives, and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and effectively address complex or sensitive client and program issues.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% to 50%, depending on project and client needs.
• Ability to adapt to changing project priorities and disaster response and recovery requirements.

Licenses/Registrations

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Additional certifications in emergency management, grants management, project management, disaster recovery, or related disciplines are a plus.
• Valid driver's license may be required based on travel requirements.
   

Compensation:  

 

The approximate compensation range for this position is $141,880-$204,242 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

Why Choose Us:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off
• Commuter and wellness benefits

THIS POSTING IS FOR A CURRENT VACANCY AND MICHAEL BAKER INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 12/15/2026.

Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management, has been solving some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges for more than 85 years with a legacy of expertise, experience, innovation and integrity.

Based in Pittsburgh and with over 100 offices nationwide, we partner with clients on everything from roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit, and airports, to water treatment plants, arctic oil pipelines, environmental restoration and specialized overseas construction. We serve as a trusted adviser to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable and more prosperous.

We provide visionary leadership in facilitating transformational change for our clients. Our work delivers differentiating innovations and dedicated experts who challenge the status quo and share a world of diverse experience and an impassioned entrepreneurial spirit. We deliver quality of life.

We Make a Difference.

Michael Baker International is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Michael Baker International provides equal employment opportunity for all persons, in all facets of employment. Michael Baker International maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified and all will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.

EEO is the Law. Applicants to and employees of Michael Baker International are protected under Federal law from discrimination.

*It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

*There is no current application deadline. Michael Baker will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or no longer needed.