Deputy Project Manager

IEM is seeking a Full-Time Deputy Project Manager, to support FEMA Public Assistance recovery programs across Puerto Rico. This role supports the Project Manager in overseeing daily operations, team performance, project deadlines, client reporting, and coordination with COR3, subrecipients, FEMA, and internal teams.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, project management, client communication, strategic thinking, and FEMA Public Assistance experience.

Primary Location:

• Live within a commutable distance to Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
• Work in an Office Environment with a team.

Travel Requirements:

• This position may require travel to complete work assignments or attend meetings as needed by the client within the mainland and Puerto Rico.

Essential Functions:

• Support the Project Manager in leading daily execution of the FEMA Public Assistance workstream, taking ownership of priorities and stepping in to lead when needed.
• Coordinate staff assignments, task tracking, schedules, deliverables, and reporting across active projects, keeping work moving without constant direction.
• Prepare executive reports, dashboards, briefings, and client-facing updates that turn complex information into clear, decision-ready messages.
• Lead and support assigned staff through coaching, training, workload coordination, and performance oversight, building accountability and a collaborative team culture.
• Maintain organized project records, tracking systems, and quality control processes, setting a high standard for accuracy and follow-through.
• Monitor risks, dependencies, deadlines, and resource needs, using sound judgment to raise issues early with practical solutions.
• Provide technical support on FEMA PA eligibility, scoping, cost review, amendments, reimbursement, and closeout activities, explaining policy in plain, actionable terms for the team and the client.
• Review project documentation for compliance with FEMA policy, COR3 guidance, procurement standards, and audit readiness requirements.
• Support responses to RFIs, time extensions, scope changes, cost alignment requests, and other grant management actions with attention to detail and defensibility.
• Serve as a trusted liaison with COR3, FEMA, Subrecipients, municipalities, agencies, and other stakeholders, building strong relationships through responsive and professional communication.
• Assist with contract administration, invoicing support, and staffing needs, anticipating client needs and finding opportunities to add value.
• Stay calm, organized, and solution-focused under pressure in a fast-paced, high-visibility recovery environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience: Three (3) years of experience in disaster recovery, grants management, project management, public administration, construction management, infrastructure recovery, or a related field.
• Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Emergency Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Bilingual: Ability to read, write, and speak English and Spanish.
• Experience working with FEMA PA, municipalities, state agencies, private non-profits, or disaster recovery applicants/subrecipients.
• Strong understanding of FEMA PA project lifecycle, including eligibility, scope development, cost documentation, RFIs, amendments, reimbursement, procurement, and closeout.
• Experience managing staff, deadlines, client deliverables, and multiple concurrent assignments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success managing or supporting complex, high-value, multi-workstream programs with responsibility for scope, schedule, risk, staffing, deliverables, and stakeholder coordination.
• Experience leading teams of 10+ technical staff
• Proven experience in project controls and execution management, including schedule development, milestone tracking, issue/risk logs, dependency management, resource allocation, and performance reporting.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment while managing multiple deadlines, client priorities, and concurrent recovery initiatives.
• Strong executive communication skills, with experience translating technical project issues into clear recommendations, decision-ready updates, and action-oriented reporting for senior leadership.
• Experience leading teams or coordinating staff in a matrixed environment, including assigning work, monitoring progress, reinforcing quality expectations, and escalating issues when needed.
• PMP, CDBG-DR, FEMA EMI, Six Sigma, emergency management, grants management, or related certifications preferred.
• Experience using Grants Portal, PR DRS, Excel, SharePoint, Smartsheet, Power BI, Microsoft Planner, or other project tracking platforms.

Benefits and more:

• 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 IEMhumanresources@iem.com with specific details about the requested accommodation. All accommodation requests are reviewed case-by-case in compliance with applicable law.