Senior Director, Disaster Mitigation and Response

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a dynamic non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding service opportunities to over 1,500 members (youth and young adults) each year, and does so with a skilled staff of approximately 150 employees across the U.S. ACE has a national reputation for providing professional development opportunities on a variety of conservation projects for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and numerous state and local land management partners, either with crew based work or with individually placed interns.  Job Title: Senior Director, Disaster Mitigation and Response Location: ACE currently has offices in Salt Lake City, Utah; Sacramento, CA; Ridgecrest, CA; Hurricane, UT; Flagstaff, AZ, and Asheville, NC. This position can also work remotely in the continental USA.  Department/Division:  Office of President Status: Regular Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)  Reports To: Chief of Partnership and Strategy Officer Schedule/Hours: Full-time, 40 hours/week (Monday – Friday, flexible hours but expected to be on duty during ACE Core Business Hours of 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern time to accommodate business needs in all US time zones) with some adjustment expected to accommodate specific projects and program needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be occasionally required. Travel: Yes, regional/national travel required to various project partner locations, conferences, and meetings, up to 20% Start Date: August 1, 2025 Grade: 6 Position Summary: The Senior Director, Disaster Mitigation & Response will lead ACE’s efforts to expand, strengthen, and elevate our disaster mitigation and response capacity. This strategic leader will focus on securing funding, building partnerships, ensuring operational excellence, and representing ACE nationally in the disaster resilience sector. This is a mission-critical leadership role at ACE, driving our impact on community resilience, reducing disaster-related losses, and positioning ACE as a trusted, scalable partner in disaster mitigation and response. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Program Leadership:

• Develop a growth roadmap for ACE’s mitigation and response capabilities
• Align ACE’s services with FEMA and state disaster mitigation priorities
• Manage ACE’s Disaster Response Registry listing on SAM.gov
• Serve as Lead for ACE /Insurance Disaster Response Initiatives

Funding Acquisition & Partnerships:

• Secure contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements from federal, state, and private funders for disaster mitigation and response projects
• Build partnerships with FEMA, state agencies, insurers, and NGOs
• Collaborate with ACE’s development team to diversify funding streams

Operational Oversight:

• Support program readiness with proper training, certifications, and logistics
• Support safe, effective deployment of ACE crews during disasters
• Monitor and report on project impacts and outcomes

External Engagement & Representation:

• Serve as ACE’s key representative at emergency management forums and conferences
• Present ACE’s impact and capabilities to partners and stakeholders
• Guide thought leadership efforts including publications and case studies
• ​Foster a culture and environment that positions ACE for success and ensures that ACE is the program of choice for partners, members and staff.
• Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by ACE.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and four years of related professional experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the Master’s degree (BA+5 years or 7 years related professional experience)
• Proven success in securing funding and contracts for disaster programs
• Strong network in FEMA, state emergency management, and the disaster resilience community
• Expertise in disaster frameworks (National Response Framework, ICS, Stafford Act)
• Excellent strategic, operational, training, and communication skills
• Commitment to ACE’s mission of public service through youth development and volunteerism.
• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• A deep and continuing interest in the welfare and professional development of ACE participants.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• 10+ years in disaster mitigation/response leadership preferred (FEMA/state agency/nonprofit)
• Insurance sector experience or nonprofit disaster workforce model understanding

Other Requirements:

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.
• Proficient in English.
• Ability to pass a federal criminal background check.
• Willing to abide by ACE Policy and Federal Drug Free workplace policies and laws. ACE reserves the right to drug test at any time.

Physical Demands, Work Environmental and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talks and hears. Manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch (all physical demands are required with or without reasonable accommodations).
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 10 lbs., occasionally moves up to 25 lbs.
• Environmental: Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel up to 20%.

Compensation: Annualized salary range of $90,000 – $105,000 (assuming 40 hours/week 52 weeks/year), depending on experience.

Medical/Health Benefits: ACE offers competitive medical and ancillary plans (health, mental health, dental, vision and other supplemental benefits). ACE Staff members are also eligible to participate in ACE’s 403b retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution.

Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time: As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to accrue up to 80 hours of paid vacation time annually during your first two years of continuous employment, then it increases to 120 hours annually. ACE observes 13 paid annual holidays (floating holiday flexibility). ACE provides 10 days (or 80 hours) of paid sick time annually.

Additional Benefits: Outdoor Perks – As an ACE staff member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 – 50% off retail prices on 100’s of established outdoor gear brands.

Phone Provided or Reimbursement Option: You have the option to select one of the following options: ACE work phone device/number provided or monthly phone reimbursement for personal device/number use.

To Apply: Please submit a resume, one-page cover letter and contact for three professional/academic references to the application link. Qualified applicants will be contacted by email to arrange an interview. Applicants must follow all application instructions in order to be considered for this opportunity. This position may close at any time.

ACE values an inclusive workforce – if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.