Damage Assessor / Construction Manager – Disaster Recovery

ICF Olson; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a Damage Assessor / Construction Manager to support Los Angeles County disaster recovery efforts. You will perform field inspections, develop cost estimates, and manage housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new construction activities under HUD CDBG-DR/CDBG-MIT programs.

The role requires California residency with LA County access, strong knowledge of building codes (IRC/IBC 2024), Xactimate proficiency, and ability to coordinate with builders, homeowners, and local

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in CDBG-DR construction management, inspections, and damage assessments.
• Proficiency with the latest Xactimate version for damage assessments and cost estimating.
• Knowledge of IRC 2024, IBC 2024, Los Angeles County and California Building Code, and resilient residential construction.

Responsibilities

• Provide field-based construction management and inspections.
• Estimate costs and environmental requirements.
• Coordinate with builders, homeowners, and authorities.
• Perform milestone inspections and manage scopes.
• Prepare independent cost estimates and review change orders.
• Ensure code compliance and site environmental requirements.
• Travel to project sites and field offices in LA County.

Skills

Xactimate proficiency

Construction management

Inspection & damage assessment

Cost estimating

Communication skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Join the ICF team and make a difference! Our growing Disaster Management Division makes BIG things happen every day. ICF’s Disaster Management Division works with government agencies and communities to design and implement policies and programs to promote increased resilience to disasters and to support long-term housing, economic impacts, and infrastructure recovery after disaster strikes. ICF is seeking a Damage Assessor / Construction Manager to assist Los Angeles County with managing federal disaster recovery grant programs and carrying out strategic, high-impact activities to rebuild housing, strengthen communities, and mitigate future disaster risks. The right candidate will have construction experience with federally funded programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and/or Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) allocations, as well as an understanding of other federal disaster recovery programs and applicable cross-cutting requirements. You will be responsible for providing field-based construction management services, performing inspections and assessments for qualifying damage, and managing housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new construction activities once projects move into construction. This position requires flexibility, critical thinking, and the ability to adjust to an ever-changing environment. Only candidates who reside in California and can reasonably access or support work within Los Angeles County will be considered.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work as part of a team providing expert services to support disaster recovery efforts, focusing on residential construction inspections, assessments, cost estimating, and environmental requirements (lead-based paint, asbestos, mold, Section 106 compliance).
• Perform site inspections to estimate the cost of qualifying damage and construction work to be included in the scope of the project.
• Conduct pre-bid walkthroughs and pre-construction meetings with builders and homeowners for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and replacement housing projects.
• Review and analyze damage assessments, inspection reports for previous repairs, and estimated cost of repair reports.
• Coordinate and conduct milestone inspections during active construction projects to verify completion of work against approved scopes.
• Create independent cost estimates, review builder change orders, and ensure compliance with quality standards and cost reasonableness policies.
• Coordinate with building departments, municipalities, and stakeholders to ensure all inspection requirements and local code compliance.
• Incorporate site-specific environmental requirements into scopes of work and construction activities.
• Manage construction activities and serve as the primary field point of contact for construction progress monitoring once projects transition into the active build phase.
• Other tasks, as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field (preferred).
• 3+ years of experience in CDBG-DR construction management, conducting inspections, and damage assessments.
• 5+ years of relevant experience may substitute for education requirements.
• Proficiency with the latest Xactimate version for damage assessments, scope development, and cost estimating (required).
• Knowledge of IRC 2024, IBC 2024, Los Angeles County and California Building Code, and resilient residential construction practices.
• Strong oral communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to explain building codes, inspection findings, program policies, and resolve construction-related issues between multiple parties.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Housing Quality Standards (HQS)/ NSPIRE Inspector certification preferred but not required.

Other Job Details:

Position is based in LA County, CA with extensive travel to project sites, and field offices. Full-time position.

This job is a Section 3 eligible job opportunity.

We encourage applications from individuals that are low income and/or.

Applicants needing an accommodation for disability or religious purposes in connection with the application process should contact [e-mail] for assistance.

Working at ICF ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO policy. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please email [e-mail] and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Read more about workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act. Candidate AI Usage Policy At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and competencies. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pay Range

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: $81,147.00 - $137,949.00 California Remote Office (CA99)

Learn more at icf.com.