What kind of work does a DHS FEMA Surge Capacity Force volunteer perform? The Department of Homeland Security FEMA SCF provides support to disaster survivors by helping them navigate the available programs and register for Federal disaster assistance. However, you could be asked to work in program areas such as: Logistics, Public Assistance (debris monitoring), Individual Assistance (aid to survivors), Disaster Survivor Assistance (outreach to the public about available disaster assistance programs), Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, External Affairs, Acquisition, and Planning. The SCF program will collect additional information on your individual and professional skillsets to potentially fill roles across all of FEMA’s disaster programs on an as needed basis.

What kind of work does a FEMA detail perform? Same as above. FEMA and DHS FEMA SCF work hand in hand on the same projects.

What kind of work does a Small Business Administration/Office of Disaster Assistance volunteer perform? The SBA/ODA helps homeowners, renters, and businesses throughout the U.S. affected by disasters in recover and rebuild their lives. There are a variety of positions to be filled examples as follows: Construction Analysts (Loss Verifiers), Information Technology Specialist, Administrative and Program Support Assistants, Loan Processing/Credit Analysis/Mortgage Underwriting, Document Preparation/Legal Review/ Loan Closings, Human Resources, and Call Center Disaster Recovery Specialist (DRS).

In addition - Current IRS Managers may be asked to take on a Leadership or Management role overseeing other volunteers normally from the parent (IRS) agency.

Note: These are just examples based on prior recovery efforts and is not meant to be all inclusive. The nature of the work depends on the crisis and requirements to complete the assigned mission.

Conditions of employment

• Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
• Current IRS employee on a Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Appointment
• Approval from your Manager.

Specialty skillsets may be needed for the some specific positions. This is not a learning opportunity, volunteers will only be considered for those specialty postions based on the skills they already possess.

You must submit a copy of the FEMA SBA Approval Form signed by you management team. Please upload the signed form in the FEMA SBA Approval Form slot in the documents submittal section before the closing date of the announcement or you will not be considered. If federal agencies are called on to detail employees to FEMA or SBA, you will need to confirm you still have approval from your management team prior to accepting a deployment request or volunteer detail.    

You must be a current IRS employee in good standing with the Agency. You must have competed your probationary (typically 1 year from your appointment date) period. You must have a Fully Successful or better rating on your yearly appraisal. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR MOST RECENT YEARLY EVALUATION PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AT TIME OF APPLICATION or you will not be considered. 

BILINGUAL POSITIONS: There may be a request for bilingual speaking employees based on the needs of FEMA and SBA. You will be asked during the application process if you can communicate effectively in an additional language other then English. Please only indicate an additional language skill if you are proficient in that language.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF ALL POSITIONS: To be an eligible volunteer, you must possess a valid government-issued travel card. Note: This team has no approval ability for government travel cards, that is between you and your management. You must have management permission and be in good standing with the IRS. Please be sure to read the complete vacancy posting for additional information. Specific qualifications needed will be determined based on the needs identified in collaboration with DHS FEMA SCF, FEMA and SBA ODA. 

FEMA and DHS FEMA SCF Field Deployed: Conditions will be challenging. Living conditions are often austere during deployments and include, but are not limited to, no running water, no electricity, sleeping in tents or other non-conventional forms of housing (e.g., ships) and weather extremes. In the aftermath of a disaster, housing is often in low supply, and limited hotel space is needed for disaster survivors. This is something not everyone can do, it can be very taxing working long hours in rough environments.  

FEMA and DHS FEMA SCF, other professional skills: The Surge Capacity Force will provide specialty training areas based on carefully identified needs during the critical response period when the Surge Capacity Force is activated. Volunteers should be prepared to serve within their specialty and inform their FEMA mentor of any special qualifications they have that might come in handy. Examples include: Logistics, Public Assistance (debris monitoring), Individual Assistance (aid to survivors), Disaster Survivor Assistance (outreach to the public about available disaster assistance programs), Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, External Affairs, Acquisition, and Planning.

SBA/ODA Field Deployed: As above, the SBA may deploy staff to forward areas directly impacted and conditional can be challenging.

SBA/ODA other professional skills: Examples of skills to fill specific positions in areas such as Loss Verifiers, Information Technology Specialist (Multiple Types),  Program Support Assistants, Loan Processing/Credit Analysis/Mortgage Underwriting, Legal Review (legal assistant/paralegal/attorney), Human Resources, Customer Service Representative (field) and Call Center Disaster Recovery Specialist (Call Center)

Telework: Depending on the specific emergency and mission requirements, volunteers may remain in POD. That will be determined based on the needs of the recovery efforts at the time. 

Non-disaster zone detail: Details may be offer in non-disaster zones in local commuting areas or zones not impacted. 

Note: The above are samples based on needs in recent history, requirements and needs can change based on circumstances.

Please only indicate areas of expertise and types of tasks that you are ready, able and willing to do. Living under these primitive conditions in a disaster zone is not for everyone, they can be both physically and mentally demanding. These types of volunteers are not sent on search and rescue operations, that is left to first responders with proper training and experience.    

-The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-timework; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.
-To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application includes your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents which include your most recent evaluation and a the FEMA SBA Approval Form signed by you manager. Your application will be processed verifying you meet the basic requirements as listed in this posting. Be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications any of the technical positions; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a not being referred for technical positions as needed.

Employees that pass through the required verifications will be invited to take online FEMA EMI basic courses. These Independent Study courses are free of charge, there are 5 prerequisite classes that take approximately 12 hours in total. In order to be placed into a "ready to deploy" status for FEMA SCF, you must take these courses and receive a passing grade on the associated tests. You should wait until you are informed to take these classes. Employees that are certified eligible to become volunteers may use IRS time to take these course. They are to be treated the same as any other IRS training. Note: The tests may be retaken if needed and the course materials may be downloaded and reviewed prior to taking a test. Only after you have completed the basic course will you be invited to create/update a profile in DTS which DHS FEMA SCF uses for deployment requests. SBA ODA does not require these FEMA basic courses.

Please note: Depending on the nature of a mission, timing may dictate changes is processes or requirements. For example, during the 2017 project, DHS FEMA SCF waved the online prerequisite classes as their was an immediate need for people to deploy.  

There is no Rating and Ranking process. ALL selections will be determined by DHS FEMA SCF, FEMA and/or SBA ODA Staffing Personnel in collaboration of IRS Personnel. Referral is based on the mission requirements and may be governed by a specific MOU or IAA between IRS, DHS, FEMA and SBA. Again, this is a potential volunteer opportunity if called upon to serve our nation in times of national disasters.  

Applicants will be reviewed and processed on an as need basis or after the announcement closes.

IF you are offered a detail, you will need to reconfirm with your management team that you still have approval to deploy. More details will be provided at time of deployment orders which can be accepted or declined at the time. Please make decisions and get approvals as quickly as possible if a deployment order is issued.

NOTE: "Deployment Orders"  are actually a request.