Description
Job Purpose
CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a crisis response organization that brings immediate aid and recovery to underserved communities across the globe. Our mission is simple: save lives and strengthen communities impacted by or vulnerable to crisis. Wherever the crisis is and whenever people are in need, we are there. CORE's ability to impact communities is directly emboldened by each member of our staff and leadership.
We are seeking experienced and mission-driven Response Team Leads to join our emergency response roster for limited-term deployments within the United States. This role leads CORE's response operations on the ground while serving as a key relationship builder - cultivating and managing institutional partnerships with emergency management agencies, VOAD networks, local governments, and community-based organizations. The Team Lead oversees site functions and programmatic teams (such as distribution, home repair, community hubs, or resource navigation), executes CORE's response strategy, and helps position CORE for funding and partnership opportunities across the domestic disaster landscape.
The Team Lead acts as CORE's primary field leader and external representative, responsible for coordination, safety, quality control, and effective communication across all functions. They serve as the primary point of contact for government agencies, VOAD and coalition partners, local implementing partners, support agencies, and internal leadership throughout the response. This position requires exceptional leadership and relationship-building skills, decisiveness, and the ability to adapt under rapidly evolving conditions.
Roster work is available on an as-needed basis (it is not full-time or continuous).
Roster members may be activated based on needs arising from emergencies and must be prepared for rapid deployment, sometimes on short notice, for durations ranging from 2 to 10 weeks.
Main Responsibilities
Institutional Partnerships and Relationship Building
- Serve as CORE's primary relationship holder with government emergency management agencies at the federal, state, and local levels (FEMA, state EMAs, county/municipal emergency management), building trust and positioning CORE as a go-to response partner.
- Develop and sustain active membership and engagement with VOAD networks (National VOAD and relevant State VOADs) and other disaster coalitions, representing CORE in member meetings, committees, and working groups.
- Cultivate partnerships with local governments, community-based organizations, faith-based networks, long-term recovery groups, and other implementing partners to expand CORE's reach and access.
- Establish CORE's presence and credibility in new response geographies by proactively connecting with local and regional stakeholders ahead of and during deployments.
- Represent CORE in EMA-led coordination structures, ESF (Emergency Support Function) briefings, and multi-agency coordination calls.
Funding and Business Development
- Identify, track, and pursue funding opportunities relevant to US disaster response, including government grants, foundation funding, and private donor opportunities.
- Build relationships with institutional donors and funders active in the domestic disaster space, positioning CORE for both rapid-response and longer-term recovery funding.
- Support the development of concept notes, proposals, and letters of intent in coordination with CORE's Development and Partnerships teams.
- Monitor the funding landscape and flag emerging opportunities tied to declared disasters, anticipatory action, and recovery programming.
Project Leadership and Implementation
- Oversee the planning, execution, and real-time adjustment of emergency response programs, including but not limited to tarping, home repair, debris removal, WASH, case management, relief distributions, infrastructure repair, and community engagement.
- Lead rapid and ongoing needs assessments to inform program strategy and prioritize interventions.
- Ensure program activities are grounded in contextual analysis, community feedback, and operational feasibility.
Deployment and Operational Oversight
- Serve as CORE's senior-most representative in the field, providing strategic and operational leadership across all scopes of work.
- Ensure quality, safety, and accountability standards are upheld across all response activities.
- Represent CORE in coordination meetings with government agencies, humanitarian actors, and local partners.
- Ensure compliance with internal protocols, donor requirements, and humanitarian standards.
Interdepartmental Coordination
- Facilitate coordination between field operations and HQ departments including Communications, Partnerships, Development, Finance, and Logistics.
- Ensure timely flow of accurate data, narrative updates, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
Team Supervision and Training
- Supervise and support field-based staff, roster members, and volunteers across programmatic and operational roles.
- Lead onboarding, mentoring, and just-in-time training for incoming team members.
- Support the adaptation and dissemination of SOPs, assessment tools, and training materials specific to the deployment context.
- Promote a culture of safety, inclusivity, and continuous learning among field teams.
Administrative and Reporting Duties
- Ensure accurate tracking of project outputs, deliverables, and key performance indicators.
- Contribute to donor and HQ reporting, including situation reports, lessons learned, and end-of-deployment summaries.
- Support documentation of program impact, gaps, and recommendations to inform transition to recovery and long-term programming.
Scope and Travel
- Supervises: Program Managers, Program Coordinators, Roster members, local hires, and/or volunteers assigned to specific projects
- Travel nationwide to U.S.-based emergencies as assigned
- Called upon with short notice for deployments of 2-12 weeks as needed
Requirements
- Relevant experience in emergency response, humanitarian aid, community development, or related fields.
- A bachelor's degree is welcomed but not required-equivalent experience, including lived or professional experience in disaster-affected communities or crisis settings, is strongly valued.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage projects, and work across diverse communities and partners during emergency or high-pressure situations.
- Commitment to CORE's mission and a strong understanding of the challenges faced by underserved or crisis-impacted populations.
- Proven experience in US emergency operations or volunteer management.
- Excellent communication and coordination abilities, with experience working across multiple departments and teams.
- Flexibility to deploy to various locations in response to disasters and humanitarian crises.
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in US emergency response, humanitarian aid, or related program implementation.
- Prior experience leading teams or managing response projects in humanitarian contexts.
- Familiarity with construction, distribution, CVA, or other sectoral experience is a plus.
- Valid Driver's License and clean driving history
- Spanish or other secondary language proficiency preferred