IEM Readiness Corps

The IEM Readiness Corps provides a standing force of dedicated professionals prepared to augment governmental and humanitarian efforts before, during, and after disasters.  

Seasonal Hiring for 2026 Hurricane Season – If you are interested and able to deploy for this year's Hurricane Season apply here. If you are looking to join the Corps more generally for future opportunities, then apply for requisition 170.  

Guided by IEM’s mission of creating a safer, more resilient world, positions within this cadre enable the flexibility necessary to respond quickly to crises. Upon activation, Corps members may collaborate with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to coordinate operations, planning, logistics, and financial or administrative tasks. They may also serve as backfill support or assume leadership roles in Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) or field deployments, managing operations for some of the most significant crises. IEM Readiness Corps members will be responsible for rapidly addressing emerging challenges. They must demonstrate the capacity to communicate concisely, work efficiently under pressure, and maintain readiness for shifting operational needs. It is anticipated that Corps members of the IEM Readiness Corps will serve on an on-call basis and retain the right to accept or decline an engagement. 

Join the IEM Readiness Corps if you seek a dynamic, on-call opportunity to deploy rapidly to support our Nation and its communities. 

Our team thrives on successfully executing missions under critical conditions and making a difference where it matters most. The Corps aspires to strengthen disaster preparedness, protect lives, and support communities in times of greatest need by uniting a diverse pool of professionals under a consistent operational framework. Corps members should embody adaptability, expertise, and a commitment to excellence in service of this mission. 

Primary Location: 

• Live anywhere that meets remote work requirements in the United States including Puerto Rico.  

• Work will take place either in the field, in an office environment, or remote from a personal location and will depend on the need of the project.  

• Schedule may include work on weekends or more than 40 hours per week.  

• Assignments could last 1-6 months with potential for extension. 

 

Travel Requirements: 

• Once hired you will travel (deploy) across the United States including Puerto Rico as needed. 

• Daily travel and other expenses are reimbursable in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations or DoD Regulations. 

 

Essential Functions: 

• Serve in a response capacity in a state or local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or Joint Field Office (JFO). 

• Collaborate with federal, state, and local government agencies (and occasionally nonprofit organizations) to support disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery initiatives, including liaising between onsite field operations and EOC staff, preparing concise situation reports, contributing to or refining plans, and meeting with community leaders to address urgent needs. 

• Perform rapid needs assessments in affected communities to identify critical priorities. Coordinate the allocation of resources and logistics (e.g., personnel, supplies, and equipment) to meet those needs and serve in functional roles within response teams to fill gaps in staffing. Ensure compliance with all operational protocols and maintain the integrity of efforts through effective chain-of-command communication and reporting. 

• Support human services missions such as emergency sheltering, mass care for displaced populations, and related humanitarian assistance operations. Apply cultural sensitivity and strong interpersonal communication skills to manage operations or direct assistance programs, ensuring services are delivered effectively and respectfully to diverse, often underserved populations. 

• Leverage specialized technical skills or expertise (e.g., hazardous materials handling, communicable disease surveillance, grant writing and documentation, debris removal coordination, mass care management) to augment the operation’s capabilities. May be called upon to serve as a subject matter expert in a specific field, providing training or guidance to other team members or partner agencies, and could be embedded within a Joint Field Office (JFO) or local EOC to support specific technical needs. 

•  Adapt to various roles and organizational structures as the situation demands, including operating outside the primary skill area or comfort zone. Manage stakeholder relations by addressing needs in real time; when in leadership positions, delegate tasks appropriately, monitor team progress, and escalate critical issues through the proper chain of command. The ability to remain flexible and step into different roles or leadership levels helps ensure mission success in fluid environments. 

• Contribute to continuous improvement processes during and after each deployment. Participate in after-action reviews, debriefings, and feedback sessions to capture lessons learned. Help document best practices and implement improvements so that the Corps maintains a consistent standard of excellence and is even better prepared for the next assignment. 

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Ability to work and deploy out this coming Hurricane Season- Year 2026  

• Degree: High school diploma or equivalent. 

• Experience: One (1) year or more of direct experience in disaster response, emergency management, or a closely related field. Examples include responding to hurricanes, wildfires, or other emergencies, working in humanitarian or shelter operations, or military experience in contingency operations. 

• Willingness and ability to deploy on short notice (often within 24–72 hours of being notified) and to remain on assignment away from home for a minimum of 30 consecutive days at a time (or longer, if needed). 

• Experience with EOC operations at the state and/or local level working in functional ICS positions such as but not limited to: Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Finance/Administration Section Chief, Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer, Resource Unit Leader. Situation Unit Leader, Communications Unit Leader, Staging Area Manager, Assistant PIO, Deputy Operations Section Chief  

• Current Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training. 

• Active Type 3 or higher qualification(s) through a recognized incident management qualification or credentialing program. Recognized systems may include: FEMA National Qualification System (NQS), state All-Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) programs, NWCG qualification systems, or equivalent professionally managed qualification frameworks utilizing position task books, documented operational experience, and formal qualification review processes. 

• Personnel with completed Position Task Books (PTBs), documented operational experience, or current incident management qualifications in Command, General Staff, Unit Leader, Technical Specialist, or Support positions. 

• Ability to meet and maintain all physical and medical standards necessary for deployment. Corps members must be able to sustain the rigors of fieldwork without compromising their health or the safety of the mission. 

• Proficiency with standard office and communication software (e.g., Microsoft Office suite, email, video conferencing tools) to effectively report and coordinate remotely when necessary. 

• This position requires the initial use of your own computer and smart mobile device with reliable internet access. All necessary software and access credentials as well as a stipend will be provided. This is a requirement to ensure all orientation can be completed and mission alerts for activation can be received.  

• Familiarity with disaster management frameworks, terminology, and relevant legislation (e.g., Stafford Act, National Response Framework). An understanding of basic emergency planning principles and incident command structures is expected. 

• Ability to successfully pass any required background checks. Must be willing to obtain and maintain security clearances or credentials if the client or assignment requires them. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Professional Registration or Certification including Project Management 

 

Additional Information: 

• Office Locations: Often, these offices are either owned by the client we work with or by IEM. All candidates are expected to follow any rules and regulations of the office in which they are required to work for that project. 

• Remote Locations: All remote work environments require the ability to maintain minimum Internet speeds of 25 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps download, as well as a ping rate of 100 ms or less during working hours, regardless of the type and number of devices using your Internet connection. You must also have account privileges and access to your Internet service provider account during working hours for the purposes of maintaining the Internet connection, if needed.  

• Situational Awareness: During site assessments, conditions may be austere including prolonged exposure to excessive heat and cold, prolonged sun exposure and no electricity, heat or air conditioning. Other potential risks include air quality issues, standing water, mosquitos, snakes, debris and other potential exposures. 

• Physical Requirements: Site assessments may require extensive walking and standing for long periods of time; working in small spaces, tunnels and ditches; climbing ladders.  

 

Compensation: 

• Competitive rates for each deployment are tied to the member’s skills, credentials, and the scope of engagement responsibilities and change on each deployment. 

• Hourly Non Deployment rate for admin work hours: $25.00 Hour 

• Travel and other eligible expenses incurred during deployments are reimbursed following Federal Travel Regulations or applicable contract guidelines. 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity: All IEM employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment, if necessary, are made without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. 

 

Reasonable Accommodation: IEM is committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or employment process, please email IEMhumanresources@iem.com with specific details about the requested accommodation. All accommodation requests are reviewed case-by-case in compliance with applicable law.