Civil Engineer

Civil Engineer

The incumbent serves as a technical authority with responsibility for advising, developing, analyzing and evaluating the technical, practical and economic feasibility of built environment policies, procedures, guidance, regulations, standards, strategies, techniques, and other information to minimize the loss of life, reduce the risk of property damage and mission disruption from natural hazards (earthquake, flood, wind, tornado, wildfire, tsunami, and others).

MAJOR DUTIES
Serves as an agency resource with considerable knowledge of natural hazard mitigation
measures, consensus standards ana model building code methods, processes and
techniques to reduce damage to the built environment. Supports development and
analysis of the Agency's technical policies on such matters, as needed. Provides
technical expertise and timely response on these issues to FEMA Headquarters staff,
FEMA Regional Office staff, FEMA disaster operations, other federal agencies, the
engineering and scientific community, the building industry, design professionals, state
and local community officials and the general public.
Works with others to identify gaps in knowledge and needs and then determines and
performs problem-focused studies as needed to gain new knowledge and inform natural
hazard resistant design and construction practices. Once gaps and needs are
determined, supports tile development of Agency policy and priorities as required to
promote the formulation of a plan of action, with supporting justification and budget.
Works to identify and leverage funding sources, and the implementation of the plan of
action. Ensures that all assigned study and knowledge development activities are
carried out are in conformance with Agency policy and directives, are closely
coordinated within other FEMA components and other federal agencies, State and local
communities, and the building design and construction communities.
Has considerable knowledge on the economic analysis of various mitigation strategies
and techniques. Develops or supports development of Agency policy on related matters
to effectively carry out economic evaluation of mitigation projects.
Provides technical support to FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and other
FEMAfunded
training contracts in the development of technical training materials for
such training initiatives as the-National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program
(NETAP), the Fundamentals of Building Science (Multi-Hazard Mitigation Design
Concepts) course, the Retrofitting Floodprone Buildings Course, the Residential Coastal
Construction course, the Independent Study Courses and the creation of new courses,
tools and techniques for delivering training at EMI and in the field. Ensures that training
materials developed for EMI are technically correct, meet curriculum standards and
represent the state-of-the-art in the area of natural hazards mitigation. In addition,
ensures that materials are consistent with FEMA's regulation, policies and guidance
related to natural hazard mitigation.
Supports disaster operations by responding to building science needs of FIMA Incident
Reporting System, Joint Field Offices, lMAT teams, the Emergency Response Teams
and long term recovery offices as assigned.
Supports disaster operations as a member of the Building Science Branch's Mitigation
Assessment Team (MAT).
Acts as an official point of contact for various organizations interested in natural hazards
mitigation, state of the art building sciences and disaster-resistant building codes and
standards. Ensures that the Agency's positions are effectively represented, and
conducts complex architectural and engineering analyses of proposed changes to
determine their impact.
With minimal supervision, prepares timely responses to a variety of correspondence
and inquiries, often involving complex and sensitive issues, by members of Congress,
Office of Management and Budget, the General Accounting Office, and various private
sector constituency groups. Careful research and review of regulation, policy, and
guidance may be required as well as discussion and coordination with other FIMA and
FEMA Headquarters and Regional Offices.
Applies extensive knowledge in natural hazard mitigation by preparing highly technical
papers expressing the Agency's position on building science and building code and
consensus standard critical issues. When approved, represents FEMA by presenting
such papers at technical and policy conferences, seminars and forums attended by
members of the building and mitigation communities, State and local representatives,
other federal agencies, and Congressional representatives.
In their capacity as an expert on natural hazard mitigation, will act in an official
contractual capacity in the development of new and revised technical publications and
products on natural hazard mitigation. Ensures such publications and products are
technically correct, represent state-of the-.art, and are consistent with Agency policy.
Performs other duties as assigned.
 

QUALIFICATIONS

Expert knowledge of architectural and engineering theory, principles, methods, and
practices; structural and architectural techniques; and building design and construction
methods for multi-hazard mitigation applications.
Extensive knowledge and experience to apply architectural design and standard
construction concepts to develop innovative approaches or techniques to solve
problems in all areas of the program.
Considerable knowledge of building codes, the process for their creation and adoption,
and their application in mitigating the effects of natural hazards.
Extensive knowledge of the effects of natural hazards on buildings, building materials
and other development.
Expertise in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of project evaluation, analysis
and management and formulating and presenting conclusions and recommendations.
Demonstrated skills used to translate highly technical and scientific data into clear
and concise guidance and other reports, presentations, and speeches.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing. Ability to proficient apply
instructional skills and has a thorough understanding of applicable instructional
techniques and technologies in the area of knowledge transfer focusing on natural
hazard mitigation.