Disaster Recovery Specialist

United Way of Southwest Virginia; Abingdon (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

United Way of Southwest Virginia in Abingdon, VA seeks a Disaster Recovery Specialist to guide households through the final stages of recovery and ensure no one falls through the gaps as resources wind down.

The role strengthens regional disaster capacity by documenting systems, building partnerships, and coordinating housing, utilities, and other services to help families move toward stability and long-term support. This is a full-time, exempt position based in the Southwest Virginia region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred with required experience in direct services and case management.
• Residency within UWSWVA service area; occasional travel required; not remote.
• Valid driver's license and automobile insurance required.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, organization, and prioritization skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage disaster recovery cases with assessments and individualized recovery plans.
• Coordinate resources with housing, utilities, transportation, food, financial assistance, and health services.
• Maintain confidential case documentation including referrals and outcomes.
• Identify gaps in services and communicate needs to leadership and partners.
• Build and maintain community partnerships to strengthen coordination and reduce duplication of services.
• Represent United Way in regional recovery and preparedness efforts and participate in LEPC meetings and community events.
• Support disaster preparedness via education, preparedness presentations, and volunteer engagement.
• Develop knowledge of case management, volunteer coordination, donations management, and other Disaster Division functions.
• Contribute to policy development, resource directories, and program evaluation for sustainability plans.

Skills

Can Do attitude

Integrity & confidentiality

Volunteer management

Budget & project planning

Communication

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Word

Excel

Access

PowerPoint

Adobe

Publisher

Job description

Position Title: Disaster Recovery Specialist

Location: Abingdon, VA

Salary Range: $45,000 - $50,000

Type: Full-time, exempt, grant-funded

Reports to: Community Resilience Director

United Way of Southwest Virginia is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for vacancies without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, or status as a veteran or other category protected under applicable state or municipal law. United Way of Southwest Virginia will reasonably accommodate the disabilities of qualified applicants to permit them to perform the essential functions of the subject position.

Purpose of the Position:

The Disaster Recovery Specialist is ultimately responsible for helping United Way of Southwest Virginia finish the recovery work already underway while building the capacity needed for the future. This position provides a consistent point of contact for disaster-impacted households during the final stages of recovery and ensures that individuals and families do not fall through the gaps as disaster-specific resources decline.

At the same time, the position strengthens United Way's long-term disaster capacity by developing relationships, documenting systems, identifying community needs, and building practical knowledge that can be activated when Southwest Virginia experiences its next disaster. The position is therefore both people-centered and systems-focused: helping individual families move forward while helping United Way build a sustainable, coordinated, and lasting disaster recovery capacity for the region.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Manage disaster recovery cases by conducting household assessments, developing individualized recovery and stabilization plans, maintaining regular follow-up, and guiding households toward resolution or appropriate transition to long-term resources.
• Coordinate resources and services by identifying and connecting disaster survivors with public, nonprofit, philanthropic, governmental, and community resources related to housing, home repair, utilities, transportation, food, financial assistance, health and human services, and other recovery needs.
• Maintain comprehensive case documentation by accurately and confidentially recording assessments, referrals, services, progress, outcomes, unmet needs, and case closure or transition information.
• Identify and address recovery needs by monitoring active cases, prioritizing households with significant or unresolved barriers, identifying gaps in available services, and communicating emerging community needs to Disaster Division leadership and community partners.
• Build and maintain community partnerships with local governments, emergency management agencies, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, volunteer organizations, and other community partners to strengthen disaster recovery coordination and reduce duplication of services.
• Represent United Way in regional recovery and preparedness efforts by participating in disaster recovery coordination meetings, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meetings, community events, and other appropriate regional planning and partnership activities.
• Support disaster preparedness and response through community education, preparedness presentations, resource fairs, volunteer engagement, disaster exercises, and participation in United Way's disaster response structure when activated.
• Support disaster operations and cross-training by developing working knowledge of case management, volunteer coordination, donations management, financial assistance, resource coordination, community outreach, and other Disaster Division functions to strengthen organizational readiness and preserve institutional knowledge.
• Strengthen disaster recovery systems by contributing to the development, documentation, and improvement of policies, procedures, case management practices, resource directories, operational systems, and lessons learned.
• Support program evaluation and resource development by providing accurate program data, case outcomes, success stories, community needs, and other information needed for grant reporting, fundraising, evaluation, and implementation of the Disaster Division Resource Development and Sustainability Plan.
• Provide exceptional service and represent the United Way brand by maintaining confidentiality, providing compassionate and professional service to disaster survivors and partners, participating in United Way activities, and promoting UWSWVA as a trusted disaster recovery and community impact organization.
• Demonstrate flexibility and teamwork by effectively managing changing priorities, responding to emerging disaster recovery needs, collaborating across departments, supporting organizational initiatives, and performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Values

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies

• Results-Oriented
• Mission-Focused
• Drives Revenue
• Trustworthy
• Relationship-Oriented
• Strategic Relationship Building
• Innovative
• Collaborator
• Effective & Engaging Communicator
• Approachable
• Results-Driven
• Embracing & Managing Change
• Caring, Inspiring, and Dynamic
• Brand-Steward
• Entrepreneurial & Innovative

Requirements of the Position:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge and Skills:

• "Can Do!" attitude and a heart for serving people in need.
• Strong commitment to maintaining integrity and confidentiality of donor information. Ability to assign, direct and coordinate the activity of volunteers and monitor progress on delegated work.
• Ability to manage and lead staff members to reach goals.
• Ability to build strong relationships among donors and key stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with other staff, volunteers, and community leaders while managing multiple priorities and tasks, achieving results, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to develop, implement and manage budgets and project plans.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and groups.
• Computer Proficiency and Experience: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Adobe, and Publisher.
• Knowledge of audiovisual production and event planning.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, organizational and prioritizing skills, and relationship-building skills.

Educational and/or Experience - Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university preferred, with required experience in direct services and case management.

Residency and Travel - Preference given to applicants who reside within the UWSWVA service area and be available to attend early morning, evening, and/or weekend meetings on a periodic basis and should be able to travel independently throughout Southwest Virginia. This is not a remote position.

Language Skills - Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills - Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra, accounting, and geometry.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations - Valid driver's license and automobile insurance required. Access to reliable, high-speed internet at home required.

Physical Demands - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. This job's specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment - The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.