Assistant Director of Disaster Response and Resiliency

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Director of Director of Disaster Response and Resiliency is responsible for directing and managing the organization’s Disaster Management program for all hazards. The assistant director will lead and oversee the organization’s mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts and service projects. The assistant director works closely with the Assistant Director of Programs to conduct project site visits and procure all materials and supplies to complete service projects. Reports directly to and works closely with the Executive Director to seek involvement in program design and execution, fundraising goals, volunteer/donor engagement, and other key strategic matters.

The assistant director ensures that priorities, personnel, and financial resources are aligned with the core mission. The assistant director cultivates a strong and transparent relationship with co-workers, volunteers, project site partners, and corporate and foundation partners. The assistant director influences stakeholders and works for and with others by communicating a shared vision, building relationships with integrity, and delivering results. Accepts all other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Focuses on operational plans within a 3-6 month time horizon. Significant responsibility to achieve broadly stated goals through volunteer efforts. Determines objectives, directs programs, develops strategies and procedures, manages human, financial, and physical resources, and functions with a high degree of autonomy. Requires knowledge of volunteer and project management. Manages a team consisting of both unskilled and skilled volunteers. Determines strategies for a program with city-wide impact.

FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT (40%)

• Accountable for achieving or exceeding the fundraising goal for grants contained in the current fiscal year budget by identifying funding sources, writing grant applications, and advancing HandsOn’s service model.
• Communicates with funders and writes timely reports (project status, impact, final) and collects

success stories in written testimonials, photographs, and/or video formats.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (39%)

• • Assumes full responsibility as project leader for days of service including advance project management, pre-project preparation, day-of volunteer management, and post-project support and evaluation.
    – In conjunction with senior leadership, manages all aspects of the organization’s Long Term Recovery

program to invest $1M for survivors of hurricane Ida. Position will communicate internally and externally with stakeholders as long-term recovery needs evolve. In consultation with the Executive Director, position will assume leadership and responsibility to meet emerging or unmet needs as identified.

• • Manages all aspects of the organization’s natural disaster management efforts – Preparedness through city-wide distribution of hurricane preparedness kits and participation in New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) active drills. – Response through standing up a physical or virtual volunteer center, donation center, warehouse, and/or public services such as debris removal or mucking and gutting homes through volunteer efforts. – Recovery and Mitigation through assisting the Executive Director to create a Disaster Resiliency Training Center.
    – Participates actively in the Greater New Orleans Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (GNO VOAD) to further its official formation and mission.
    – Participates actively in the Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (LA VOAD) to further its mission.
    – Manages all aspects of assigned grant-funded service projects
    – Reviews grants applications and creates timelines for project completion, including recruitment/placement of volunteers into grant-funded projects.
    – Identifies and conducts site visits for potential project sites. Completes required documentation.
    – Creates private and public volunteer registration links to service projects and promotes as directed.
    – Leads and manages volunteers for in-person, mobile, and virtual days of service.
    – Enters volunteer registration data into software from paper waivers/registration forms within 3 business days after projects.
    – Holds organization to the highest standards of program management to maintain its positive public standing and image that deepens the public’s understanding of service, HandsOn’s mission, and social change practices with the outcome of increased public support.

PERSONNEL (10%)

• • Supervises, manages, and evaluates assigned AmeriCorps members.
    – Actively participates in the hiring and orientation of AmeriCorps members.
    – Maintains positive and supportive workplace culture through team building, performance reviews, accountability metrics, milestones, and professional development.
    – Mentors and develops AmeriCorps members in a manner that emphasizes the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and sharing of information, resources, and best practices across the organization.
    – Implements and enforces solid personnel practices in accordance with organization policies and

applicable laws.

ADMINISTRATION (2%)

• Monitors progress toward the achievement of goals and objectives as contained in the organization’s strategic plan. Provides for periodic review and modification of strategic objectives to achieve the strategic plan outcomes.
• Prepares monthly progress reports on assigned duties, strategic plan, and associated metrics
• Ensures volunteer and impact data is completed and entered in software.
• Follows all organization, employee, and financial policies and procedures.
• Mitigates risk exposure by ensuring all safety protocols are followed by staff, volunteers, and project site partners.
• Actively contributes to the annual strategic planning process.
• Assists in the establishment of clearly defined goals and objectives, leading to a culture which is decisive, action-oriented, flexible, and poised to seize opportunities to advance service, quality, and performance.

FINANCE (2%)

• Prepares an expense budget for each service project for approval by the Executive Director.
• Ensures revenues and expenses are aligned with organization’s fiscal targets.
• Completes purchases of project supplies and materials.
• Completes monthly credit card expense reports within established guidelines.
• Completes monthly personal reimbursement or travel expense reports as needed.

COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS (5%)

• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with key individuals and professional organizations in both the public and private sectors, on local, state, and national levels
• Forges partnerships at the intersection of community organizations, business, government, and philanthropic sectors.
• Represents the organization professionally and responsibly at all appropriate public functions, including making effective public presentations.
• Creates partnerships with key organizations and individuals in New Orleans diverse neighborhoods.

BOARD SUPPORT (5%)

• Assists in the preparation of monthly board reports in close consultation with the Executive Director.
• Assists as directed to support board committees: Executive, Finance, Governance, and Resource Development.
• Assists in planning and executing Board fundraisers and other resource development plans.

QUALIFICATIONS

• One to three years of professional experience. A year of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or similar service program may be substituted.
• Evidence of successful civic, faith-based, or university leadership roles and program implementation.
• Knowledge of and experience in event planning or project management best practices.
• Experience in leading and recruiting volunteers or other nonpaid personnel.
• Experience with or ability and willingness to learn fundraising, grant writing, managing earned-income programs, donor solicitation, securing sponsorships, organizing special events, and/or conducting annual campaigns.
• Demonstrated success in marketing, public relations, and community outreach is helpful.
• Experience in building authentic relationships with multiple sectors and diverse population
• Influencing others with ability to inspire a shared vision and convey the organization’s future to all stakeholders.
• Commitment to public service and passion for the mission and vision of HandsOn New Orleans.
• Transparent and high-integrity leadership. Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision. Ability to accomplish goals by working with and through other people.
• Flexibility is essential and clear understanding that this position may require more than 40 hours per week, including some nights and weekends. Ability to work in high stress environment during disaster response with emotional intelligence
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to practice accountability and deliver results on-time/on-budget.
• Self-directed learning with a diligent and energetic work ethic.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• • Undergraduate degree is preferred. A high-school degree or GED may be substituted with three to five years of professional experience.
    – Certification in disaster management FEMA EMI ICS IS 100,200, 700 and 800 preferred but may be completed on-the-job.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job listed.
    – Must be able to communicate and exchange information on telephone and to individuals in person throughout the day.
    – Must be able to see and detect computer screen and subsequent reporting/paperwork.
    – Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
    – Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.
    – Needs to move about inside the office to access files, office machinery, etc. throughout the day
    – Position may require working outside the office at a partner project site that may be indoor or outdoor. Ability to stand up to eight hours. Ability to work outside in weather conditions including light or intermittent rain or heat
    – Position may work remotely as directed by the organization or health officials. When

working remotely, constant communication is expected via email and/or on-line meetings.

• • Position may involve bending, moving, lifting, and carrying tools, supplies, or material weighing between 10 to 100 pounds.
    – Needs to abide by organization practices that may require wearing personal protective equipment
    – Ability to safely operate and drive organization vehicle fleet, currently a 2008 GMC Sierra truck and 2012 Mitsubishi Fuso 18’ box truck. The latter will require the successful candidate to obtain a Louisiana Class D driver’s license with training course fees paid for by the organization.

DISCLAIMER

The above description of responsibilities does not CONSTITUTE a contract of employment, nor should it be considered all-inclusive. Management has the right to alter duties and projects that require special assistance. Position may be responsible for performing other duties as assigned.

Incumbent must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. Final employment offers are contingent upon a Final Candidate’s successful completion of a

Background Verification, and a determination by the organization that the information derived from the Background Verification does not disqualify the individual. In addition, a Financial History Check and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check may be required.

ABOUT

HandsOn New Orleans is a local affiliate of the Points of Light Global Network, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The mission of HandsOn New Orleans is to engage, empower, and transform our community through volunteer service. Since 2005, the organization has recruited over 125,000 volunteers serving 723,380 hours with $29,000,000 in community savings through volunteer labor and supplies.

The organization achieves its mission with 200+ collaborative community partnerships and a suite of synergistic programs. HandsOn leverages its core strengths of volunteer engagement, design and execution of high-impact community revitalization projects, and disaster response services to strengthen families and transform neighborhoods in the seven-parish metro area.

The organization envisions a socially just community with happy, healthy, prosperous people, and outcomes promote educational equity in the public school system, improve access to community services and resources, foster healthy lifestyles, sustain the natural and built environment, and assist residents on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.