CDBG-DR Policy Lead & Disaster Recovery Expert

Michael Baker International; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k Retirement Plan

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Life, AD&D, disability

Professional development

Generous paid time off

Commuter benefits

Wellness benefits

Job summary

Tidal Basin, a Michael Baker company, seeks a CDBG-DR Policy Subject Matter Expert to guide policy, regulatory interpretation, and program design across federal, state, tribal, and local governments. The role emphasizes auditable controls, client advisory, and cross-functional collaboration in disaster recovery and community development.

The successful candidate will have a decade of relevant experience, strong technical writing, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a consulting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, planning, public policy, law, business, housing, or a related field.
• At least ten years of grants, housing, community development, or public-sector program experience, including seven years in CDBG-DR, CDBG-MIT, or comparable HUD disaster recovery work.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex federal requirements and produce clear, defensible technical writing.
• Ability to communicate professionally, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and produce accurate, well-organized work.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and the ability to learn client and company systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of Action Plans, substantial amendments, program policies, procedures, manuals, forms, tools, and implementation guidance.
• Interpret applicable Federal Register notices, HUD guidance, waivers, alternative requirements, grant agreements, 2 CFR Part 200, 24 CFR 570, and federal cross-cutting requirements.
• Translate regulatory requirements into practical and auditable operating controls for housing, infrastructure, mitigation, economic revitalization, planning, and public service programs.
• Advise client executives and program leadership on policy options, eligibility, risk, consistency, and defensibility of program decisions.
• Review complex eligibility, national objective, duplication of benefits, income, award, and compliance determinations.
• Develop issue papers, decision memoranda, policy interpretations, waiver requests, and responses to HUD inquiries.
• Support program startup, organizational design, implementation planning, and change management for new grants and allocations.
• Lead policy quality reviews and ensure consistency across procedures, systems, training, correspondence, and public-facing guidance.
• Support HUD monitoring, audits, technical assistance engagements, findings responses, corrective action plans, and closeout.
• Design and deliver training for client staff, contractors, subrecipients, and implementation teams.
• Mentor policy specialists and coordinate work across legal, environmental, financial, construction, housing, technology, and compliance functions.
• Support proposals, client presentations, capture strategy, and thought leadership related to disaster recovery and community development.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned to meet project, client, and organizational needs.

Skills

Policy expertise

Regulatory interpretation

Public-sector program experience

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, planning, public policy, law, business, housing, or related field

Master's degree, JD, AICP, PMP, or comparable credential

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Tidal Basin, a Michael Baker company, seeks a CDBG-DR Policy Subject Matter Expert to guide policy, regulatory interpretation, and program design across federal, state, tribal, and local governments. The role emphasizes auditable controls, client advisory, and cross-functional collaboration in disaster recovery and community development.

The successful candidate will have a decade of relevant experience, strong technical writing, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a consulting