Flood Resilience Specialist

Position Summary

The Flood Resilience Specialist will play a crucial role in maintaining Philadelphia’s participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) program and increasing Philadelphia’s flood resilience through strengthening communication and outreach efforts.

This position will report to the Program Manager, Flood Resilience and Compliance Strategy. The primary objective of this role will be to serve as the coordinator of the CRS Program for the City of Philadelphia and to catalogue and maintain records of City services and actions that count towards CRS credits and ensure compliance with all CRS program requirements. In this capacity, the Flood Resilience Specialist will work closely with various City departments including, but not limited to, the Philadelphia Water Department, Office of Emergency Management, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the Department of Public Property, Department of Licenses and Inspections, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Flooding is Philadelphia's leading natural hazard and is expected to become more prevalent in the future, therefore, this position will also play a key role in communicating climate risk information and engaging with and connecting various stakeholders to vital resources related to flood insurance and flood risk. To effectively communicate about flood risk, this position will require the ability to take complex topics and distill them into information that community members understand and relate to. GIS mapping skills and data analysis & visualization will be helpful for fulfilling the CRS program duties and effectively communicating about flood risk and resilience. This position will also include providing programmatic support and working collaboratively with subject-matter experts, other Climate Resilience planning staff, and the City’s Flood Risk Management Task Force.

By fulfilling this role, the Specialist will contribute to achieving the sustainability goals outlined in the City’s Climate Resilience Plan, All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the Flood Risk Management Task Force (FRMTF) Strategic Plan. 

• This is a full-time, permanent position that reports to the Program Manager, Flood Resilience and Compliance Strategy within the Division of Climate Resilience in the Office of Sustainability.   

• This position is not remote or hybrid. City of Philadelphia staff are required to work in the office five days a week, reporting to 1515 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19102.   

Essential Functions

• Manage the City’s continued participation in the CRS Program ensuring the City of Philadelphia meets all requirements.
• Serve as the point of contact for the CRS Program official correspondence.
• Catalogue and maintain records of credited activities that maintain the City’s CRS classification.
• Assist and cooperate with FEMA and the City’s Floodplain Management subject matter experts during Community Assistance Visits (CAVs), Insurance Services Office (ISO) audits and reports, annual recertification, and 5-year verification cycle visits. 
• Implement and maintain records of annual CRS requirements, such as repetitive loss mailings and outreach logs.
• Assist the City’s Floodplain Management subject matter experts in monitoring national and state legislation and insurance updates for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (44CFR) and the CRS and monitor the availability of state and federal grants. 
• Develop accessible resources and communication materials for multiple channels and varying stakeholders and audiences.
• Coordinate and prepare educational programs, events, printed materials, website information, maps, and public outreach programs. 
• Perform related work as assigned.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Subject Matter Expertise – Familiarity with floodplain management, hazard mitigation, or climate resilience. Specialized knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS) is preferred but not required.
• Detail Oriented and Organized – Strong attention to detail and time management; able to maintain accurate records, track multiple projects, and ensure compliance with program requirements.
• Communication – Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical or policy information into clear, accessible language. Experience creating and sharing content through digital platforms, social media, and websites to engage the public and promote flood resilience programs is a plus.
• Collaboration and Relationship Management – Works well across departments and with external partners to achieve shared goals; builds trust and fosters teamwork in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Equity and Community Engagement – Demonstrated commitment to equitable engagement and understanding of how flood risk and climate impacts intersect with broader social and environmental justice issues.
• Technical Proficiency – Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related tools for documentation and tracking, as well as digital communication platforms. Experience with social media, website management, and online engagement to share resources and promote flood resilience programs is strongly preferred.
• Risk Communication – Demonstrated ability to work with technical information to understand and communicate about flood risk using data analysis and visualization. Familiarity with GIS or other mapping platforms is a plus and applicants with these skills will be prioritized.
• Professionalism and Representation – Demonstrates sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in representing the City during interactions with FEMA, ISO, and partner agencies; maintains accuracy and integrity in all official correspondence and documentation.

Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, urban planning, sustainability, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) credential (preferred)

Experience

• At least 2 years of full-time experience in flood mitigation, floodplain management, urban planning, stakeholder engagement, or community outreach.

We value diverse experiences and are open to flexible qualifications. If you are passionate about this role and meet some of the key criteria, we encourage you to apply. 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $75,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx