Resilience Planner and Strategist - Dewberry

Dewberry is seeking a Resilience Planner and Strategist to join our multi-disciplinary and action-oriented team (open to multiple locations, with preference for offices located within Denver). This position will support the Resilience Solutions Group at the intersection of planning, policy, and technical analysis in hazard mitigation, emergency management, natural hazard risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. Related areas of technical focus for this position include but are not limited to strategy and innovations, policy development, stakeholder engagement, outreach, and communications product development. In addition, this role will include research, project scope development, and task management. This role will primarily work with FEMA Headquarters and FEMA Regions with some state and community-level work. Existing areas of focus include leveraging Mitigation Planning Technical Assistance, making RiskMAP data and products more useful and used by communities, and convening communities with FEMA.

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 50 locations and 2,000 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

Dewberry’s Resilience Solutions is an innovative group that thrives on tackling the most intriguing resilience challenges across our nation. Our mission is to create safer and better communities for everyone to live in. We achieve this by embodying “Dewberry at Work” values and applying our expertise in engineering, planning, GIS, earth sciences, data analytics, and other technical disciplines. Our team assists federal, state, and local clients throughout the nation.

Dewberry offers a comprehensive and very competitive package of insurance programs to regular full-time employees and their eligible dependents the first of the month following their date of hire. The insurance package includes: medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life. Additional insurances, at no cost to the employee: life (employee only), accidental death and dismemberment, business travel and accident, and short- and long-term disability are also provided. Employees pay a share of Dewberry’s premium expenses (on a pre-tax basis) for medical and dental insurance plans.

Dewberry offers a wide range of other employee benefits, including: 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, 529 College Savings Plans, Travel Assistance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Spending Accounts and Supplemental Life Insurance for employee, spouse, and children.

Positions within our officer program are also eligible for an annual bonus and stipend.  Both vary based on level within the program and bonuses are dependent upon company performance.

In addition, a host of discounted purchase programs are available to all employees.

Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.

In the role of a Resilience Planning and Strategy Specialist, there are multiple work areas that may be initiated for support. Key areas and responsibilities are outlined below. 

• Develop scopes of work, schedules, and budgets for projects to increase climate resilience and hazard mitigation within federal, state, and local government agencies.
• Conceive of project steps and then lead a team in supporting your work, including building their skillsets and supporting staff growth.
• Lead a diverse array of related projects within the Resilience Solutions Group to acquire supplementary technical, programmatic, and project management knowledge/skills.
• Facilitate client meetings to identify complex problems and strategies to address them as well as set priorities.
• Lead the facilitation of collaborative meetings and one-on-one discussions with partners, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Develop conceptual frameworks to test with key stakeholders using design thinking and user-centered design principles.
• Research, analyze, and develop effective hazard mitigation policy and design solutions for local, state, and federal clients.
• Identify subject matter experts to support efforts, where needed.
• Develop and conduct public outreach for community resilience efforts, both virtual and in-person.
• Employ a mix of written, visual, and verbal communication techniques to craft compelling narratives and explain complex technical topics to various audiences.
• Support the execution of technical studies and analytical processes with an eye towards ensuring products are useful and used.
• Review and summarize data and results to draw insights and present compelling findings.
• Prepare plans, studies, reports, guides, and other technical documents.
• Apply principles of social equity with a focus on climate and environmental justice to technical and strategic work.
• Keep informed of new federal policies and programs.

Skills & Required Experience

• 6+ years of experience leading tasks or projects for natural hazard resilience work.
• Bachelor’s in Planning, Policy Analysis, Environmental Science, Sustainability, or another related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Familiarity with FEMA policies and programs, such as RiskMAP, National Flood Insurance Program, and Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work with clients and stakeholders to inform decision-support products, program, and policy design.
• Demonstrated ability to develop scopes of work based on client need and align scope to budget and staff. 
• Enthusiastic about mentoring and developing staff based on areas of interest and project needs.
• Versatile skillset to seamlessly lead any/all components of resilience planning work.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in written and visual formats technical information related to natural hazards and resilience in projects, presentations, and papers.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate effective, productive community outreach and engagement meetings with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience researching, planning, and developing operational and tactical plans, policies, procedures, and guidance to promote resilience and mitigation.
• Ability to synthesize, analyze, and organize a large volume of complex information into a clear and coherent description.
• Ability to be self-motivated and function both independently and in a collaborative team environment.
• Well-developed time management skills, especially the ability to complete high-quality, detail-oriented deliverables on tight timelines amid competing deadlines within a diverse work group.
• Ability to perform an expanded array of tasks and continue to broaden experience and familiarization with methods, practices, and programs applicable to the department.
• Ability to exercise initiative, resourcefulness, and tact in obtaining and analyzing information related to resilience planning.
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with coworkers, clients, and our clients’ stakeholders.

Optional (Nice to Have)

• Experience with project management or business development.
• Experience managing people or teams.
• Knowledge and ability to use the following computer applications: Tableau, Power BI, ArcMap/ArcPro, ArcGIS Online, Adobe InDesign, and other data processing, visualization, and design tools.
• Certified Floodplain Manager or AICP.

Work Environment

• Work environment responsibilities may occasionally require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines.
• Occasionally, will be required to lift/carry up to 25 lbs.
• Computers, telephones, copiers, and printers are all used to perform tasks.
• Work is typically performed within an office, although field/site visits may be occasionally required.
• Works under the supervision of higher-level staff. Work is often reviewed for accuracy by senior staff.

This posting is anticipated to close on November 9th, 2024.

The projected salary range for this position is $83,000-$107,000 annually in our Denver, CO office. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.

Must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record and ability to pass a driving record background check.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employees. So if you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.

The projected salary range for this position is $83,000-$107,000 annually in our Denver, CO office