Public Assistance Reservist

Gouras & Associates is a grants management and disaster recovery consulting firm. We serve as advocates for local governments, municipalities, and eligible private nonprofit organizations — helping our clients navigate, document, and maximize their recovery funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program and HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program following a federally declared disaster.

Unlike firms that work on behalf of FEMA, our role is to represent the interests of the applicant — the local government or nonprofit — throughout the recovery process, from initial damage assessment through final closeout and appeals.

This is an On-Call / Reservist position. There is no immediate opening. We are building a roster of qualified disaster recovery professionals who can be engaged on short notice when our clients activate following a disaster declaration. On-call team members are offered assignments as work becomes available and are free to accept or decline based on availability. Assignments typically involve multi-week deployments and require travel to client offices and disaster-affected sites.

FEMA Public Assistance (PA) is a federal grant program, authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, that provides funding to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments — as well as certain private nonprofits — to repair, restore, rebuild, or replace public infrastructure and facilities damaged by a declared disaster.

The Public Assistance Specialist supports the client’s recovery effort by working under the direction of a Senior Specialist or Project Manager to develop documentation, track project status, and help ensure the client receives every dollar of funding they are eligible for. This role is well-suited to professionals with solid foundational PA experience who are ready to take on more client-facing responsibility.

•      Support development and documentation of Project Worksheets (PWs), including scope of work, cost estimates, and supporting evidence of damage.

•      Assist with applying PA program requirements (Stafford Act, 44 CFR, PAPPG) to identify eligible costs and scope items.

•      Gather, organize, and review supporting documentation (invoices, contracts, photos, force account records) for completeness and compliance.

•      Track project status, deadlines, and outstanding action items in Gouras & Associates’ project tracking system.

•      Assist in responding to Requests for Information (RFIs) and preparing materials for appeals under senior staff direction.

•      Communicate with client staff to collect information, provide status updates, and answer routine program questions.

•      Participate in site visits and damage assessments alongside senior staff.

•      Flag potential issues, inconsistencies, or risks to the assigned Senior Specialist or Project Manager.

•      Travel to client offices and disaster-affected sites as required, often with limited advance notice.

•      2 years of experience working in FEMA Public Assistance or a closely related disaster recovery program (applicant, state, or FEMA-side experience considered).

•      Hands-on experience supporting the development or documentation of FEMA Project Worksheets.

•      Basic working knowledge of the Stafford Act, 44 CFR Part 206, and the PAPPG.

•      Must be willing and able to travel (air and vehicle) for multi-week assignments with minimal notice.

•      Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check.

•      Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, for cost documentation and tracking.

•      High attention to detail and accuracy in technical documentation under tight deadlines.

•      Strong organizational skills, able to manage multiple tasks and shifting priorities.

•      Clear written and verbal communication skills.

•      Willingness to learn from senior staff and take direction while building toward greater client-facing responsibility.

•      Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-changing post-disaster environments.

•      Cultural awareness and sensitivity to the needs of the communities our clients serve.

•      Bachelor’s degree in public administration, emergency management, construction, engineering, finance, or a related field.

•      Exposure to HUD CDBG-DR or CDBG-MIT programs.

•      Exposure to FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (404/406).

•      Background in construction, cost estimating, or capital projects.

•      Progress toward FEMA Public Assistance certifications.

Hourly rate: Final rate is based on experience, certifications, and client assignment.