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Disaster Response Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

IT Disaster Recovery Manager

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

$120K - $135K/yr

The IT Disaster Recovery Manager is responsible for developing, governing, and continuously ... Partner with Security Operations and Incident Response teams to support cyber recovery planning.

Ability to work in inclement weather and to respond to accidents, and emergency/disaster response, etc. during/after normal work hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Work Conditions: * 90 ...

Ability to work in inclement weather and to respond to accidents, and emergency/disaster response, etc. during/after normal work hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Work Conditions: * 90 ...

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Disaster Response information

See Virginia salary details

$12

$20

$28

How much do disaster response jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for disaster response in Virginia is $20.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.16 and $22.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is disaster response?

Disaster response refers to the coordinated efforts and actions taken immediately following a disaster to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety, and meet the basic needs of affected communities. This phase includes activities such as search and rescue, providing emergency shelter, distributing food and water, and offering medical care. Disaster response is carried out by a range of organizations, including government agencies, humanitarian groups, and emergency services. The goal is to stabilize the situation quickly and lay the groundwork for recovery.

What are disaster response jobs?

Disaster response jobs focus on providing emergency relief after a natural or human-made disaster. In this role, you may be asked to take action shortly after a disaster occurs, help with planning and preparation before disasters strike, and help with management during a crisis. The jobs themselves take a variety of forms, from working on the ground to rescue people and pass out supplies to managing communications or raising public awareness about threats. State and federal governments provide many disaster response jobs, but many non-profit and humanitarian organizations also respond to disasters. These roles are not the same as firefighters or police. While both help with disasters, disaster response jobs focus on events like earthquakes, major wildfires, or outbreaks of disease.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in disaster response, and why are they important?

To thrive in Disaster Response, you need a solid background in emergency management, risk assessment, and crisis intervention, often supported by relevant degrees or certifications such as FEMA training or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentials. Familiarity with incident command systems, GIS mapping tools, and emergency communication platforms is typically required. Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork skills help responders manage high-pressure situations and coordinate effectively with diverse agencies. These abilities are crucial for ensuring rapid, organized, and effective responses to emergencies, minimizing harm and aiding affected communities.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in disaster response, and how can they be managed?

Disaster response professionals often face unpredictable and rapidly changing situations, which can include logistical hurdles, communication breakdowns, and emotional stress. Managing these challenges requires strong adaptability, clear protocols, and effective teamwork. Regular training, mental health support, and reliable communication systems are essential to maintaining resilience and performance in high-pressure environments. Building strong relationships with local agencies and community members also helps streamline coordination and resource allocation during emergencies.

What is the difference between Disaster Response vs Emergency Medical Technician?

AspectDisaster ResponseEmergency Medical Technician
Required CredentialsDisaster response training, certifications in emergency management, first aid, and sometimes specialized coursesEMT certification, CPR, first aid
Work EnvironmentField operations during disasters, including natural and man-made events, often in challenging conditionsPre-hospital emergency care, ambulances, hospitals
Employer & IndustryGovernment agencies, NGOs, emergency management firmsAmbulance services, hospitals, clinics

Disaster Response involves coordinating and providing aid during large-scale emergencies, often requiring specialized training and working in challenging environments. Emergency Medical Technicians focus on providing immediate medical care in emergency settings, primarily within healthcare and ambulance services. While both roles respond to emergencies, Disaster Response covers broader disaster management activities, whereas EMTs specialize in medical treatment.

Do disaster response workers get paid?

Disaster response workers are typically paid for their work, especially if they are employed by government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. Compensation varies based on the role, experience, and organization, and may include hourly wages, salaries, or stipends. Many disaster response roles also require specialized training and certifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Disaster Response jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Disaster Response jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Disaster Response jobs in Virginia?

For Disaster Response jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Disaster Response jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Disaster Response job openings:

Infographic showing various Disaster Response job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,539 per year, or $20.5 per hour.

Disaster Response Planning - Reservist (On Call)

ICF

Reston, VA

Part-time

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

ICF is seeking experienced emergency management professionals to join our Disaster Response Planning Section Reservist Cadre. This is an On-Call position supporting disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience missions across the United States. Assignments are activated based on project and disaster operational needs and may involve deployments to Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), Joint Field Offices (JFOs), Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), client sites, field locations, or remote environments. Deployment opportunities are not guaranteed and may vary in duration, location, and frequency.

Reservists are typically activated for disaster events, emergency exercises, planning projects, and surge support requirements. Candidates should be prepared to deploy with limited notice, work flexible schedules that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays, and support incident operations in dynamic and fast-paced environments.

About On-Call Employment with ICF
Due to the seasonal or project-specific nature of our disaster and emergency management work, ICF hires professionals as "On-Call" employees. On-Call employees are scheduled for work as it becomes available, with the freedom to accept or decline assignments. Individuals may work on concurrent projects outside of their ICF assignments, provided there is no conflict of interest.


Key Responsibilities - What you will be doing
Serve in Planning Section leadership or unit-level roles supporting disaster response, recovery, preparedness, and resilience operations.
Support Incident Action Planning (IAP) development, operational planning cycles, contingency planning, transition planning, and demobilization planning.
Collect, evaluate, analyze, and disseminate incident information to support operational decision-making.
Maintain situational awareness and contribute to the development of a common operating picture.
Develop situation reports, dashboards, briefings, executive summaries, planning products, and operational documentation.
Coordinate information flow among incident leadership, operations, logistics, finance, and external stakeholders.
Support resource tracking, accountability, status reporting, and resource management activities.
Maintain incident documentation, records management processes, and official operational files.
Participate in planning meetings, operational briefings, after-action activities, and other incident management functions.
Support Incident Management Teams (IMTs), Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), disaster recovery operations, exercises, and emergency management initiatives.
Assist communities and clients in preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and resilience efforts

Please attach a reverse chronological, bullet-point concise resume (1 to 3 pages) addressing minimum and preferred qualifications, including job title, employer, dates of employment. Since attention to detail is a critical skill for EOC planners, consider this your first assignment. Separate list of completed coursework/trainings and deployments may be requested.

Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must possess qualifications commonly applicable across FEMA Planning Section Chief and Planning Section Unit Leader positions.
3+ years of professional experience in emergency management, disaster response, preparedness, public sector government, military or related fields.
2+ years of professional experience actual response in incident management, emergency operations, or emergency planning functions.
2+ years of professional experience gathering, organizing, analyzing, and communicating operational information and data.
2+ years of professional experience producing reports, plans, briefings, documentation, or decision-support products.
Completion of FEMA/NIMS ICS courses: 100, 200, 700, 800.
Must have a valid U.S. driver's license and successfully pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check.
Must be willing and able to travel, both flight and vehicle, with short notice; inclusive of deployment nationally, hours including evenings and weekends in rapidly changing operational environments.

Preferred Qualifications (these will set candidates apart)
Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Public Administration, Urban Planning, GIS, Public Policy, Business Administration, Environmental Sciences, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience working within an Emergency Operations Center or similar environment.
Experience in supporting planning processes, including action, strategic, preparedness or contingency planning.
Experience working with federal, state, tribal territorial or local government partners.
Completion of FEMA/NIMS ICS courses: 300, 400.
Planning Section Chief level role: Deployment experience in the PSC role and ICS Training, including E/G/L 0191 and E/L 0962, Type 1-3 experience.

Professional Qualifications (bring these with you day one)
Excellent time management and prioritization skills, with the ability to balance multiple concurrent projects and short-turn deliverables.
Proactive, collaborative, team-oriented approach; seeks input early and communicates risks/issues quickly.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Proven track record of supporting a team and accomplishing successful business results.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and integrity and ethics.
Team player with the demonstrated ability to build organizational capability, motivate teaming partners/staff to ensure high levels of engagement, and work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project Management Software).

Why Join ICF?
At ICF, our work helps communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from some of their most challenging moments. As a Disaster Response Planning Section Reservist, you'll have the opportunity to contribute your expertise on meaningful projects that support federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local governments as they navigate complex emergencies and disaster recovery efforts.

Whether developing incident action and contingency plans, supporting situational awareness, tracking critical resources, documenting response operations, or coordinating recovery transitions, your work will directly contribute to informed decision-making and successful mission outcomes. You'll collaborate with experienced emergency management professionals, gain exposure to large-scale response and recovery operations, and play a key role in helping communities build resilience for the future.


#oncallresponse
#Indeed


Bot and Third-Party Applications

Please note that this application must be submitted directly by the applicant for consideration.Failure to do so may result in the application being excluded for consideration.Applicants needing an accommodation for disability or religious purposes in connection with the application process should contactCandidateaccommodation@icf.comfor assistance.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we're not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer.Together, our employees are empowered to share theirexpertiseand collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read ourEEOpolicy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals withsincerely heldreligious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To requestan accommodation,please emailCandidateaccommodation@icf.comand we will be happy toassist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extentrequiredto provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Read more aboutworkplacediscriminationrightsor our benefit offerings which are included in theTransparency in (Benefits) CoverageAct.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate orassistwith responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is notpermitted. This policy is in place tomaintainthe integrity and authenticity of the interview process.

However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodationthat involves the use of AI. Ifsuch anaccommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance atcandidateaccommodation@icf.com. Weare dedicated to providingthe necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.


Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is:

$67,355.00 - $114,503.00Nationwide Remote Office (US99)