disaster management jobs

disaster management jobs

Exploring Career Opportunities in Disaster Management: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Introduction to Disaster Management Careers

Potential avenues for internships, funding, fellowships, and employment to develop human resources in disaster management are described. The guide is intended for two distinct users facing different stages in the career development process: (1) Secondary education students and individuals considering changing occupations, and (2) College undergraduates, graduate students, and experienced professionals looking for advanced education programs, research, and employment in the field. Upon completion, the guide can supplement an individual’s research in the world of disaster management and lead the user to more meaningful profession choices. Such professionals aid in saving lives, protecting critical infrastructure, achieving rapid recovery and community resiliency, and preventing future disasters from occurring. After reading this guide, a reader will be able to: describe major functional areas within disaster management and the types of professional positions available; articulate the necessary educational background, work experience, skills, and competencies required to enter these positions; discuss the recognized certifications and shared field experience necessary to advance within the field; and access a listing of federal government job categories and disaster management-related professional resources for personal development. No prior knowledge of disaster management is assumed, as this guide is designed to introduce all persons to this growing occupational field. Upon completion, readers will be able to recognize what a professional in this field does and how to become such a professional.

Disaster management draws upon a myriad of fields, which in turn attract from diverse academic disciplines, including medical health care, engineering, psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, politics and policy formation, and computer science. Users who are interested in disaster management or the response to a particular type of disaster may want to consult other subject guides on the topic of interest. These other guides explore aspects of disaster management in greater depth. The present guide is intended as a broad overview of the field. The guide is therefore structured around federal government job series definitions (the primary method the federal government classifies and categorizes positions) and can assist in deciding those federal jobs in which users might be interested. Additionally, relevant professional associations and undergraduate and graduate academic institutions with programs in disaster management, as well as open and distance learning programs, are listed.

This guide aims to explore the numerous career opportunities within the dynamic discipline of disaster management. In this guide, a disaster refers to a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. The goal of disaster management, which includes prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery phases, is to ensure that when a disaster strikes, society can minimize human and property losses, ensure rapid recovery, and mitigate the impact in a growingly dangerous and complex disaster environment. Individuals seeking careers in disaster management can play a myriad of professional roles during these phases.

2. Educational and Skill Requirements for Disaster Management Jobs

Most professional opportunities in the field of disaster management require a four-year or more advanced degree. A degree in disaster management is one way to establish a foundation of competence and knowledge in root sector-related principles and practices. There are a growing number of programs which allow students to receive degrees in this field, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Specializations may be available in fields such as disaster management and administration, environmental hazards, community service and civic engagement, or others. Students who major in another area and have a strong interest in disaster management should also be sure to include disaster management classes or experience in their academic programs. Special projects and theses focused on disaster management can also provide students with expertise in a specific niche.

Educational Requirements

In our guide to exploring career opportunities in disaster management, we have described the professional opportunities that are available in this field. This guide includes information on some of the various organizational types that offer disaster management-related job opportunities and professional requirements such as educational backgrounds and skill sets in general. Here, we discuss the academic qualifications and skill sets required for seeking a career in disaster management. A degree in disaster management is one way to establish a foundation of competence and knowledge in root sector-related principles and practices. However, the field of disaster management also seeks expertise from other related fields, such as engineering, psychology, journalism, and international relations. The comprehensive nature of the profession provides many opportunities for people with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.

Introduction

3. Types of Disaster Management Roles and Responsibilities

The dynamics of disaster management, even within the same organization, are different at various levels of administration and operational management. The organization of disaster management at the district and local level is different from that with the organization at the national and international level. The role of the volunteers or local guides is different from that of the police or army units in disaster management. Each institutional role in disaster management has a unique set of authorities, responsibilities, and capabilities.

Direct preparedness roles are designed to directly and actively respond to disaster-related events. Partially contributing roles have impacts towards the response and recovery phase of disasters but are only engaged indirectly and on an ad-hoc basis. Preparedness keep cool options are those roles, the rationale of which is not obvious in timing, but which ought to be on standby for immediate implementation in a disaster situation. Preparedness on-the-ball options can start their preparation in advance of the emergency, although they may expand their preparation in the event of an impending disaster. Proactive impacting on resilience roles take action in advance of a disaster, but their programs are not necessarily disaster-specific. Key support roles have a function to perform but in a secondary yet vital position.

4. Career Paths and Growth Opportunities in the Field

Opportunities to enter the field are varied and students or professionals seeking career opportunities in disaster management should draw upon their personal interests and strengths in order to match potential jobs for which they are suited. Those studying in graduating from Geography, Engineering, Environmental Studies, the Social Sciences, the Humanities, Business, Public Health, and Information and Communication Technologies among others will find that there are specialist areas within the disaster management field for which they are well qualified. Residents of small island developing states, Africa or the Middle East should also seek opportunities for study and practice amongst organizations working in precarious regions prone to suffer the greatest impact of disasters.

Career paths exist in many forms and can depend upon many factors. The field of disaster management is no different in this regard. Those interested in seeking career opportunities in the field of disaster management must do so with the understanding that the field is diverse and multi-disciplinary. Therefore, the list of potential opportunities for entry into this field is vast, and arguably, almost any individual in any field could find a way to work in disaster management. With the increasing emphasis on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, the need for competent and dedicated professionals will only continue to grow.

5. Key Organizations and Resources for Disaster Management Professionals

Throughout the world, hundreds of organizations exist that provide a wide range of services to communities relating to managing/disaster mitigation. Key organizations for professionals who are trained or work in the field of disaster management are also listed. These include: the International Association of Emergency Managers, the International Rescue Committee, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Their services consist of training, coordination of supplies or resources, disaster-related services, and more. There are also resources specific to disaster support, compensation, and literature. These resources are available to the public, especially those who are trained in the field and currently pursuing employment or accreditation.

The following is a list of some of the key organizations that provide services/resources for individuals or communities in disaster management: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Services for NGOs, and DisasterReady. These organizations provide a wide range of information relating to disaster preparedness, response management, and different types of hazards. In addition, there are a number of educational institutions that specialize in disaster preparedness, and they are listed here: the Dillard University’s Center for the Study of New Orleans and the Gulf South, and the Center for Disaster Preparedness at New York State University.