Job Description Summary

The Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) Agent, 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.

• 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 as 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 Texas Animal Health Commission.

• Serves as a liaison between local landowners/livestock producers and Texas A&M Forest during wildfire suppression operations.

• Coordinates with Extension Agent Liaisons to maintain daily contact with local elected officials during recovery operations.

• Is 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 request for public assistance and subsequent submission of reimbursement documentation through the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

• 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.

• Assists veteran outreach efforts of Combined Arms to enhance veteran awareness of Combined Arms services and 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.

Qualifications 

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.

• No prior experience required.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree emergency management, community/urban planning, agriculture or related discipline.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• 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 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bi-Lingual (Spanish) preferred. 

• Completion of Incident Command Systems Courses 100, 200, 300 and 400; and National Incident Management Systems Courses 700 and 800. 

Preferred Licenses and Certifications:

• Current CDL License preferred but not required.

Other Requirements:

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