Disaster Preparedness Coordinator

Description

SEVCA’s mission is to empower and partner with individuals and communities to alleviate the hardships of poverty, provide opportunities to thrive, and eliminate root causes of poverty in southeastern Vermont. Our core values serve as the foundation for how we work with our communities and each other:

• Respect & Kindness: We treat everyone with dignity and compassion
• Accountability: We do what we say we will do
• Equity & Justice: We strive for fairness and celebrate diversity
• Learning & Growth: We embrace change and invest in growth
• Collaboration: We work together – across SEVCA and with our community
• Service Excellence: We put people and community first

The Regional COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) Coordinator is a part-time position that addresses a critical gap in the region's disaster management infrastructure. While Windham and Windsor Counties have strong acute emergency response capacity, limited resources currently exist for community preparedness before disasters and sustained, equitable recovery afterward. Working at half-time capacity, the Regional COAD Coordinator focuses on building the foundational relationships, communication structures, and coordination frameworks needed to connect state, regional, and local partners to lay the groundwork for a more resilient and coordinated Windham County based regional response over time.

• Bridge Partners: Develop and maintain working relationships with a defined network of regional stakeholders, including regional planning commissions, emergency management agencies, economic development organizations, and human service providers. Serve as a consistent point of contact that keeps core partners informed and connected before, during, and after disaster events, prioritizing depth of relationship over breadth of reach.
• Organize Community Capacity: Identify and map existing community networks, relationships, and assets that can be mobilized for disaster response and recovery. Prioritize building trust with key connectors and organizations rather than attempting to engage all community sectors simultaneously.
• Define Roles: Work with partner organizations to clarify responsibilities and establish basic coordination structures before a disaster occurs. Focus initial efforts on documenting a shared framework of partner roles and activation protocols that can be built up over time.
• Strengthen Communication: Establish and maintain reliable communication channels that link state-level emergency management with regional partners and municipalities. Ensure that critical information reaches the right people at the right time, and that local needs and gaps are surfaced and communicated upward to state-level partners.
• Focus on Equity: Ensure that the perspectives of people most in need during disasters (including low‑income households, elderly residents, and people with disabilities) are actively incorporated in planning and coordination efforts through direct engagement with individuals. Work to include organizations that serve these communities are active partners in preparedness and recovery work.

The Regional COAD Coordinator will be evaluated on outcomes that reflect steady, realistic progress in building the regional coordination network over time. Given the part‑time nature of this role, success is measured by the quality and consistency of foundational work rather than the breadth of the network at any given moment. Key indicators include:

Equity is a consistent measure across all areas, with particular attention to whether vulnerable populations are represented in planning and whether connections to…