DEPT OF EMERGENCY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR), Phoenix, AZ

Salary: $22.8671 - $32.4840 per hour (DOE) 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: January 9, 2026

Responsible for assessing, managing, and reporting regional disaster program/project status to the Public Assistance Branch Manager. Responsible for managing personnel and assets assigned to Public Assistance projects within their designated region. This position implements the PA program for both State and federal declared disasters within their designated region to assist local communities in the recovery from the effects of disasters and emergencies. Conducts high-level communications and interactions with stakeholders and coordinates with other State and federal agencies within their assigned region. In necessary cases, will provide support including the creation of disaster declarations, amendments, and terminations. Actively participates in promoting a continuous improvement workplace culture, through the use of teamwork, root cause problem solving, standard operating procedures, and review of performance metrics.

Responsibilities include:
• Reports regional team activities and disaster events to the Assistant Branch Manager. Supervises assigned staff in the execution of State and federal policies and procedures. Represents DEMA/EM Public Assistance within their assigned region, and partners with stakeholders to expedite grant activities. Interpret policies and procedures and communicate with stakeholders regarding policy, eligibility, process, and expectations.
• Provides the first-line of PA programmatic expertise within their assigned region, including review of EPC activities by stakeholders. Arranges and monitors logistics of project assignments with assigned staff for the region. Provides programmatic guidance to internal staff and applicants for grant-specific programs. Coordinates deployments of technical teams to disaster areas.
• Provides regional project administration including; review of projects submitted to State from Applicants, verification of electronic files are updated, and ensures peer reviews are completed. Monitors movement and status of projects, and moves projects requiring State action forward. Monitors, tracks, and ensures PW trackers are updated. Monitors status of new and in-progress Requests For Information.
• Reviews and provides recommendations on: project worksheets, final inspection reports, case management logs, and documents for field use. Coordinates with Public Assistance leadership on external narratives and outgoing advisories. Hosts regular staff meetings to train teams and update on programmatic changes.
• Acts as a liaison between DEMA Public Assistance and FEMA Public Assistance, DEMA/EM management, County Boards of Supervisors, Mayors, County and City managers, and heads of taxing districts regarding the disaster recovery grant program, requirements for eligible activities, and provides technical disaster assistance and technical briefings for disaster declarations.
• Instructs FEMA Recovery courses to stakeholders and conducts other agency training as needed. Recommends changes to branch SOPs, division policy, and Title 8. Attends agency required training for specific SEOC positions and performs duties as assigned through internal agency policy.

Knowledge of:
• Engineering and construction fundamentals
• Construction cost estimating for disaster recovery operations
• Public Assistance recovery program processes and procedures
• Advanced knowledge of federal disaster recovery regulations (2 CFR, 44 CFR, Stafford Act, FEMA policy) and Arizona statutes and administrative code
• Extensive experience with Grants Portal / Grants Manager
• Federal and state audit requirements
• Financial and resource management

Skilled in:
• Evaluating situations, analyzing problems, and making timely decisions
• Providing technical guidance and expertise to all levels of government and external partners
• Management and leadership experience
• Skilled in planning the use of labor and resources
• Strong verbal and written communication in cross-functional environments
• Proficient use of personal computers, including formal correspondence and spreadsheet development
• Experience with Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and Grants Portal / Grants Manager
• Experience supervising regional teams and prioritizing goals in evolving environments building

Ability to:
• Provide direction to supervised staff while adhering to established policies
• Make critical decisions in complex, high-pressure environments
• Identify issues requiring executive-level decision-making
• Manage time effectively across multiple projects and disaster response priorities
• Anticipate and respond to internal staff and external customer needs
• Listen effectively, act on communicated information, and maintain strong working relationships with coworkers and senior officials
• Understand challenges and limitations specific to natural and man-made disasters
• Maintain accurate records and reports, and provide feedback or recommendations on policy and procedural improvements
• Provide 24/7 response and no-notice recall to the State or Alternate Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and/or Joint Field Office (JFO) during disaster or exercise activations

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described. The preferred candidate will possess a associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field, or equivalent work experience, is preferred, including an engineering degree or three or more years of construction or general contracting experience. Three or more years of experience in the Public Assistance program is preferred. Three or more years of experience in personnel management and project logistics is preferred. Experience using Grants Portal / Grants Manager is preferred.

Special Job Requirements:
• This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid Arizona state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
• In State travel required.
• Individual is required to pass a criminal background investigation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Eligible DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@azdema.gov.
DEMA is a smoke-free work environment.
ADA/EEO Employer
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Employer