About Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR)

The Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plays a vital role in supporting communities across all 254 Texas counties as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. As an integral part of the Texas A&M System’s Keeping Texas Prepared initiative and the National Extension Disaster Education Network, DAR is at the forefront of disaster education and community resilience.

Working with DAR means being part of a collaborative and mission-driven team dedicated to empowering Texans through credible, research-based information and hands-on assistance. Our specialists lead damage assessments, coordinate emergency animal sheltering, provide critical resources, and deliver educational workshops on disaster preparedness and recovery, all while partnering directly with local, state, and national agencies during times of need.

If you are passionate about public service, community education, and making a difference when Texans need it most, consider joining DAR. Together, we help individuals, families, and entire communities reduce risks, recover quickly, and build resilience for the future.

Position Information

The Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) Program Specialist, under general supervision, implements and plans educational programs and activities in assigned program areas. Supports and assists in the implementation of educational programs and activities in program areas for which other staff members have assigned leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Shares in the responsibility for Extension program development, information and data input, and organization maintenance.

Assists appropriate Extension program area committees in developing specific plans to reach annual and/or long-range goals.
Assumes leadership responsibility in implementing planned educational programs and activities in emergency management and disaster response/recovery/mitigation/preparedness.
Supports and assists in the implementation of educational programs and activities for which other staff members have assigned leadership responsibilities.
Uses a variety of appropriate educational methods, techniques, activities, and materials in conducting educational programs.
Identifies, recruits, and trains local volunteers enabling them to effectively perform their duties in committees, clubs, and organizations.
Works with and supports Extension-sponsored groups toward achieving increased participation and strengthening programs.
Uses appropriate evaluation techniques to determine the progress of program activities in reaching desired objectives and uses evaluation findings and target audience participant suggestions in making program revisions.
Maintains appropriate communications with county, district, state and administrative staffs to facilitate full understanding of the county program.

Specific Duties:

Leads educational outreach associated with individual, business, and community emergency preparedness, recovery, wildfire mitigation and resiliency.
Collaborates with other agencies within the Texas A&M University System with training efforts on responding to emergencies, identifying future sites for debris management and temporary housing, and other needs as identified.
Establishes status of County Animal Issue Committees and related plans to ensure each county served has functioning Animal Issues Committees and plans.
Inventories local VOAD/COAD and existing long-term recovery committees work in each county served and establishes and maintains working relationship with each.
Establishes and maintains animal supply point operations in support of local or state response efforts.
Coordinates with County Extension Agent Liaisons to maintain daily contact with local elected officials during recovery operations.
Serves as a surge force that deploys into the disaster theater for response as well as during recovery operations in support of Texas Division of Emergency Management. Such deployments will require overnight travel that may last several days or weeks at a time.
Completes preliminary damage assessments of agricultural operations and infrastructure.
Teams with Texas Division of Emergency Management and local jurisdictions/entities in completion of preliminary damage assessments (public assistance and individual assistance), development and submission of requests for public assistance.
Completes site inspections of Public Assistance Program Projects of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Conducts site inspections and other related duties associated with the General Land Office of Texas disaster recovery housing program.
Is required to serve multiple counties with extensive travel within assigned programming area, as well as other assigned locations.
Is willing to deploy to disaster areas for an undetermined amount of time in support of state or federal operations.
Is willing to work and travel nights and weekends.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.
No prior experience required.
Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and database applications.
Technical competence in appropriate subject matter and the ability to apply this knowledge to the solution of problems.
Understanding of the learning and development processes of youth and adults.
Knowledge of a variety of teaching methods to provide effective learning experiences.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, emergency management, community/urban planning, education or related discipline.
Bi-Lingual (Spanish) preferred.
Completion of Incident Command Systems Courses 100, 200, 300 and 400; and National Incident Management Systems Courses 700 and 800.
Current CDL License preferred but not required.

Other Requirements:

Must live within 50 miles of the assigned place of duty.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
12-15 days of annual paid holidays
Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

DAR (Disaster Assessment and Recovery) Program Specialist, Disaster District 11

Job Details

Full Job Description