Closeout Specialist

IEM is looking for a Full Time- Closeout Specialist to work with our Hazard Mitigation Teams as well as state, local government, and federal agencies to ensure compliance with hazard mitigation program requirements.The Closeout Specialist provides subject-matter expertise in a wide range of duties directly related to subaward closeout activities of the HMA grant programs.

Primary Location:

• Live within the state of Louisiana.
• Work a Hybrid schedule from the office and a remote work location, office days will be based on client needs and could be up to 5 days a week.
• Preferred candidates will live a commutable distance to the GOHSEP office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Travel Requirements:

• This position may require travel to complete work assignments or attend meetings (approx. 25% of the time).

Essential Functions:

• Assist HMA Specialists and Technical specialists with upfront need assessment for project implementation through closeout.
• Provides direct support to assigned subrecipients in reconciling and accounting of eligible costs and gathering supporting documentation for their subawards to ensure that each subrecipient will have an audit quality closeout file.
• Provide technical assistance with audit defense
• Conduct reviews to improve practices, promote effectiveness and efficiency, and ensure compliance with laws, rules and regulations.
• Monitor the progress of each assigned subrecipient or subaward to ensure that all federal and state grant requirements are met and that files are closed within the approved Period of Performance (POP).
• Provide detailed daily, weekly and monthly reports to the client and IEM management regarding task work, deliverables and project status of assigned duties.
• Will be expected to exercise independent judgement in coordination and advice to subrecipients within the limits of applicable Federal and State statutes, regulations, policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience: Five (5) years of substantially continuous experience in FEMA's HMA programs: the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA); and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, formerly the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM); similar Federal or state mitigation or resilience programs; federally funded disaster recovery programs; or some combination thereof.
• Three (3) years of substantially continuous experience providing direct Grant and/or sub-grant closeouts which include compliance reviews (may be included within the 5-year requirement (bullet 1)).
• The ideal candidate must live within the state of Louisiana.
• Advance to Expert-level experience with grants management workflow software and documentation management systems at the Federal, State, or local level; training and experience with FEMA Disaster Systems, including Grants Portal, eGrants, EMMIE, NEMIS, and preferably FEMA GO.
• Ability to keep to project timelines and experience validating project implementation, and the expenditure of funds for federal grant/sub-grant.
• The ability to speak knowledgably and effectively about FEMA and HUD HMA programs.
• Effective listening and communication skills, including strong writing and speaking skills and public speaking experience.
• Possess knowledge on the technical aspects of HMA programs within the limits of applicable Federal and State statutes, regulations, policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachler's Degree in accounting, business, finance, engineering, architecture, construction management, or similar fields.
• Relevant professional licenses and certifications, such as Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).
• Ten years (10) years' experience performing closeout activities for FEMA HMA or PA programs.
• Previous experience providing subject-matter expertise in a wide range of duties directly related to grant closeout activities of the Stafford Act programs such as:



• Project Reconciliation
• Accounting
• Supporting documentation validation
• Project monitoring (QA/QC)
• Grant Management
• Applicant Briefings





• Experience with assessing, documenting, and addressing significant Economic, Environmental, Social, Health & Public Safety, Transportation, and Emergency Access impacts.
• Proficiency with SharePoint, MB3/EMGrants.
• Development of Clear and concise Request for Information (RFIs).

Additional Information:

• Office Locations: Often, these offices are either owned by the client we work with or by IEM. All candidates are expected to follow any rules and regulations of the office in which they are required to work for that project.
• Remote Locations: All remote work environments require the ability to maintain minimum Internet speeds of 25 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps download, as well as a ping rate of 100 ms or less during working hours, regardless of the type and number of devices using your Internet connection. You must also have account privileges and access to your Internet service provider account during working hours for the purposes of maintaining the Internet connection, if needed.

Benefits and more:

• Annual salary based on location and experience: $77,000-$110,000
• 10 paid holidays
• Vacation pay
• Sick pay
• 401 (K) plan with matching
• Company paid STD and LTD

Equal Employment Opportunity. All IEM employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment, if necessary, are made without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation. IEM is committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or employment process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io with specific details about the requested accommodation. All accommodation requests are reviewed case-by-case in compliance with applicable law.