Senior Public Assistance Consultant

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Kentucky.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of and oversee a portfolio of FEMA Public Assistance projects until their closeout.

• Ensure the timely and defensible final completion of large, complex, and high-value obligated projects.

• Reconcile obligated costs against actual expenditures and process amendments and versions prior to project closeout.

• Provide support for the deobligation or adjustment of unspent or ineligible funds.

• Prepare, review, and authorize closeout requests and packages for both large and small projects, as well as RPA/Recipient-level closeouts.

• Address documentation, cost, and eligibility issues that hinder the closeout process.

• Prioritize the closeout pipeline based on risk and deadlines, driving projects to successful completion.

• Make and substantiate determinations regarding eligibility and cost reasonableness for complex closeout issues.

• Act as a subject-matter expert on closeout procedures, offering guidance and quality reviews to applicants and less-experienced consultants.

• Assist applicants with their closeout submissions via the FEMA Grants Portal.

• Lead and support responses to FEMA Requests for Information during the closeout phase.

• Maintain closeout trackers, status reports, and issue logs; communicate progress and risks to project leadership.

• Advise applicants on FEMA closeout requirements, documentation standards, deadlines, and PA policies.

• Help identify, document, and evaluate disaster-related damage and emergency response costs.

• Conduct or assist with site inspections and damage assessments.

• Support the preparation of DDDs, SOWs, and cost estimates.

• Assess eligibility in accordance with the Stafford Act, 2 CFR Part 200, FEMA PA policy, PAPPG, and relevant state regulations.

• Contribute to project formulation for emergency and permanent work across FEMA PA Categories A–G.

• Review and reconcile invoices, contracts, purchase orders, labor, equipment, materials, mutual aid, insurance documentation, and proof of payment.

• Assist with cost estimating and cost reasonableness evaluations.

• Review procurement and contracting documents.

• Monitor projects throughout the entire PA lifecycle.

• Coordinate the resolution of issues related to insurance, environmental and historic preservation, hazard mitigation, duplication of benefits, procurement, and other compliance matters.

• Lead or assist with appeals, Requests for Equitable Adjustment, and other project submissions.

• Participate in or facilitate meetings with applicants, FEMA, state emergency management agencies, engineers, contractors, and recovery stakeholders.

• Keep detailed records of communications, decisions, outstanding actions, and project status.

⛳️ Requirements

• Extensive, hands-on experience with FEMA Public Assistance closeout processes.

• Proven ability to independently guide projects through final reconciliation and closeout, including both large and small project closeouts, RPA/subrecipient closeouts, cost reconciliations, deobligations, and audit-ready closeout packages.

• Typically, 5+ years of experience in FEMA Public Assistance or disaster recovery, with a significant focus on project closeouts.

• Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment on complex eligibility and cost issues, manage competing priorities and deadlines, and mentor less-experienced staff.

• Bachelor's degree in emergency management, public administration, business, engineering, construction management, finance/accounting, or a related field is preferred.

• Additional relevant disaster recovery or FEMA PA experience may be considered in lieu of formal education, depending on the position.

• In-depth knowledge of FEMA Grants Portal, PAPPG, 2 CFR Part 200, project formulation, cost estimating, and procurement compliance.

• Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and organizational abilities.

• Comfortable working directly with governmental applicants and FEMA.

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

• Eligible and authorized to work in the United States.

• Must reside within the United States.

• Successful completion of company and applicable client background and reference checks is required.

• Willingness and ability to travel to various work sites as necessary.

• Willingness and ability to work extended hours in emergency response situations.

🏝️ Benefits

• Opportunities for deployment to disaster-affected areas, extended assignments, and travel may be necessary.

• Successful completion of company and applicable client background and reference checks is a condition of employment.

• Opportunity to work remotely from Kentucky, United States.