Public Assistance Director

Michael Baker International; Linthicum (MD); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Baker International, via Tidal Basin Government Consulting, seeks a Public Assistance Director to lead FEMA PA programs for SLTT clients. You will provide senior-level guidance, oversee complex disaster recovery engagements, and build high‑performing teams across multiple projects.

You will advise senior clients, coordinate with FEMA and state/local partners, ensure compliance, and travel as needed to disaster sites and client locations.

Qualifications

• Ten (10)+ years directly supporting FEMA Public Assistance programs.
• Ten (10)+ years of management and leadership experience.
• Experience managing complex disaster recovery projects.
• Experience defending eligibility and funding positions with FEMA.
• Experience advising SLTT leadership and FEMA.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, multi-stakeholder programs.
• Strong executive-level communication and written skills.
• Willingness to travel 25%–50% as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for FEMA Public Assistance programs and disaster recovery engagements.
• Lead PA project teams including managers, technical specialists, grant staff, and PMs.
• Set project priorities, staffing, performance expectations, and delivery standards.
• Guide complex PA eligibility, documentation, procurement, cost reasonableness, and compliance matters.
• Oversee development of PA projects, reimbursement requests, and grant management activities.
• Engage with senior government officials and FEMA representatives; manage client relationships.
• Mentor staff; ensure documentation quality and adherence to requirements.
• Travel to client and disaster-affected locations as needed.

Job description

What We're Looking For:

Tidal Basin Government Consulting, a Michael Baker International Company, is seeking a Public Assistance Director to join the team. The Public Assistance (PA) Director provides senior-level leadership, technical expertise, and program oversight for disaster recovery programs supporting State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government clients. The Director is responsible for leading Public Assistance engagements, managing project teams, providing strategic guidance to clients, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex disaster recovery programs.

This position serves as a senior advisor to clients and project leadership on FEMA Public Assistance policies, regulations, eligibility requirements, grant management, and recovery strategies. The PA Director provides leadership throughout the disaster recovery lifecycle and is responsible for building and managing high-performing teams capable of supporting multiple projects and client priorities.

The position requires significant experience managing FEMA Public Assistance programs, strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to effectively engage with senior government officials, FEMA representatives, project stakeholders, and internal leadership.

What You'll Do:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for FEMA Public Assistance programs and disaster recovery engagements.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor to SLTT clients on Public Assistance program requirements, policies, procedures, and recovery strategies.
• Lead and manage PA project teams, including managers, technical specialists, grant management professionals, and other project personnel.
• Establish project priorities, staffing requirements, performance expectations, and delivery standards.
• Provide guidance on complex PA eligibility, documentation, procurement, cost reasonableness, insurance, environmental and historic preservation (EHP), and compliance matters.
• Oversee development and review of Public Assistance projects, supporting documentation, reimbursement requests, and grant management activities.
• Support clients throughout the FEMA PA lifecycle, including damage identification, project formulation, obligation, reimbursement, closeout, appeals, and audits.
• Identify programmatic risks and develop strategies to address issues that may affect eligibility, funding, compliance, schedules, or recovery objectives.
• Coordinate with FEMA, state emergency management agencies, local governments, tribal and territorial entities, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior client leadership and government officials.
• Monitor project performance, staffing, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and contractual requirements.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to project managers and technical staff.
• Ensure project teams maintain appropriate documentation, quality standards, and compliance with federal, state, and client requirements.
• Participate in client meetings, executive briefings, recovery strategy sessions, and other senior-level engagements.
• Support development of scopes of work, staffing plans, technical approaches, proposals, and other materials associated with PA opportunities.
• Assist organizational leadership in identifying emerging client needs and opportunities to expand disaster recovery support services.
• Travel to client and disaster-affected locations as required.
• Perform other duties consistent with senior program leadership responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly leads and manages project managers, technical specialists, grant management professionals, and other project personnel.
• Establishes staffing requirements, performance expectations, and delivery standards.
• Provides leadership, coaching, mentoring, and professional development to staff.
• Supports workforce planning, recruiting, mobilization, and talent development efforts.
• Oversees multidisciplinary project teams supporting disaster recovery operations.

What You Need to Succeed:

• Ten (10)+ years of progressively responsible experience directly supporting, administering, or leading FEMA Public Assistance programs.
• Ten (10)+ years of management and leadership experience, including direct supervision of professional staff and project teams.
• Significant experience managing complex disaster recovery projects and programs.
• Experience developing and defending eligibility and funding positions with FEMA.
• Demonstrated experience advising SLTT leadership and working directly with FEMA.
• Proven ability to resolve complex programmatic issues and lead large-scale disaster recovery operations.
• Experience working with senior government officials, FEMA representatives, and disaster recovery stakeholders.

Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university preferred.
• Relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of FEMA Public Assistance programs and disaster recovery operations.
• Expert knowledge of FEMA PA policy and regulations, PAPPG, eligibility, project formulation, procurement requirements, insurance review, environmental and historic preservation (EHP), appeals, audits, closeout, and compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of the disaster recovery lifecycle and challenges facing SLTT governments following federally declared disasters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large or complex programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong leadership, staff development, mentoring, and people-management skills.
• Ability to provide strategic guidance and translate complex federal requirements into practical recommendations for clients.
• Strong executive-level verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with government officials, clients, FEMA representatives, and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and effectively address complex or sensitive client and program issues.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25% to 50%, depending on project and client needs.
• Ability to adapt to changing project priorities and disaster response and recovery requirements.

Licenses/Registrations

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Additional certifications in emergency management, grants management, project management, disaster recovery, or related disciplines are a plus.
• Valid driver's license may be required based on travel requirements.

Compensation:

The approximate compensation range for this position is$141,880-$204,242 per year. This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

THIS POSTING IS FOR A CURRENT VACANCY AND MICHAEL BAKER INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 12/15/2026.