FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers a wide range of career opportunities for individuals who are passionate about emergency management and serving their communities during times of crisis. With the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters and emergencies, the need for dedicated and skilled professionals in this field is more critical than ever. From FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. to its 10 regional offices nationwide, as well as individual communities with declared disasters or other needs, the agency requires employees stationed across the nation to effectively coordinate the government’s response to emergencies.
There are various types of positions available within FEMA, each catering to different skill sets and levels of commitment. Reservists, for example, are on-call disaster workforce members who respond to disasters as needed by the agency. These individuals are hired into 2-year appointments and can be renewed based on agency need. Reservists have the flexibility to maintain full-time jobs with other employers and deploy with FEMA when required, providing essential support to disaster-affected communities across the country.
Local Hires are residents of areas affected by disasters who assist in the recovery process of their communities. These employees are hired into 120-day appointments and play a crucial role in providing support and services to disaster survivors in their localities. FEMA’s full-time disaster workforce includes Incident Management (IM-CORE) and National Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) employees, who are responsible for disaster response and recovery in the field. IM-CORE employees are deployed to disaster-affected areas on temporary duty assignments, while IMAT members are part of regional or national teams that are the first responders after a disaster strikes.
Full-Time Disaster Support employees work in regional or headquarters offices and provide support to the disaster workforce through program management or support functions. These positions may require occasional travel and are hired into 2-to-4-year appointments that can be renewed based on agency need. Permanent Full-Time employees are hired through the Title 5 competitive hiring process and are responsible for managing resources, overseeing governance and strategy, and advancing disaster preparedness and readiness.
Whether you are looking for a full-time career or a flexible on-call position, FEMA offers a variety of employment opportunities for individuals who want to make a difference in their communities and help people prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. By joining FEMA’s team, you can play a vital role in keeping communities safe and prepared for any emergency. To learn more about career paths at FEMA and to find available opportunities, visit the Career Paths section on FEMA.gov and review job openings regularly on USAJobs.gov, LinkedIn, and other hiring platforms.
