Damage Assessor / Construction Manager – Disaster Recovery

ICF Olson; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF in Los Angeles County is seeking a Damage Assessor / Construction Manager to support HUD CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT programs, managing housing rehab, reconstruction, and new construction inspections in a fast-paced disaster recovery environment.

The role requires field-based management, cost estimation, and environmental compliance, with extensive travel to project sites in CA, and a collaborative team approach to deliver resilient rebuilds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in CM, engineering, architecture, or related field.
• 3+ years in CDBG-DR construction management, inspections, and damage assessments.
• 5+ years experience may substitute for education.
• Proficiency with the latest Xactimate for damage assessments, scope development, and cost estimating.
• Knowledge of IRC 2024, IBC 2024, LA County/CA Building Code and resilient residential construction.
• Strong communication and ability to explain building codes and resolve issues.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• HQS/ NSPIRE Inspector certification preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide field-based construction management services and inspections.
• Estimate costs for qualifying damage and build scopes.
• Coordinate pre-bid walkthroughs and pre-construction meetings.
• Review damage assessments and repair cost estimates.
• Coordinate milestone inspections to verify scope completion.
• Create independent cost estimates and review change orders.
• Ensure code compliance with departments and stakeholders.
• Incorporate environmental requirements into scopes.
• Act as primary field contact during active build phase.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Skills

Construction Management

CDBG-DR

Xactimate

Building Codes

Cost Estimating

Communication

Project Management

Microsoft Office

HQs/NSPIRE Familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Engineering

Architecture

Tools

Xactimate

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. We encourage applications from individuals that are low income and/or Bot and Third-Party Applications. 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 ourEEO 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 [e-mail] 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 aboutworkplacediscriminationrights or our benefit offerings which are included in theTransparency 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 knowledge. 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 [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed. 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) Need help? We're here: [e-mail] About ICF ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.