Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Organization

iMMAP Inc. is an international nonprofit organization that provides Information Management (IM), analysis, and geoinformatics services to its partners—humanitarian and development organizations—helping them make informed decisions that ultimately deliver high-quality, targeted assistance to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

iMMAP supports humanitarian actors to solve operational and strategic challenges. Their pioneering approach facilitates informed and effective emergency preparedness, humanitarian response, and development aid activities by enabling evidence-based decision-making for UN agencies, humanitarian cluster/sector leads, national and international NGOs, and government operations.

iMMAP’s mission is to support global humanitarian and development efforts by delivering timely, relevant, and actionable information that drives informed decisions. We enable local stakeholders to take ownership of crisis response, fostering resilience and sustainable outcomes.

iMMAP envisions a world where everyone benefits from access to timely, relevant, reliable information and analysis that enables them to transform their lives.

Background

iMMAP is a global leader in information management, geospatial analytics, and data-driven decision support for humanitarian action and disaster risk management. As iMMAP expands its strategic engagement in disaster risk management (DRM), the organization seeks a senior technical specialist to provide leadership, coordination, and strategic direction across its DRM portfolio, partnerships, technical resources, and institutional engagement.

The DRM Specialist will serve as iMMAP’s principal focal point for disaster risk management, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy while strengthening engagement with national and regional disaster management stakeholders, donors, and technical partners.

The DRM Specialist will lead the development, coordination, and implementation of iMMAP’s global DRM strategy and related geospatial initiatives. The position will serve as the organization’s primary technical and strategic focal point for disaster risk management, supporting program development, partnership engagement, technical innovation, emergency preparedness, and operational delivery.

The role will ensure that iMMAP’s geospatial capabilities, information management expertise, and technical resources effectively support national disaster management authorities (NDMAs), regional disaster management organizations, humanitarian partners, and donors.

important Notice

This position will be open for 15 days. Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and DRM Coordination

• Serve as iMMAP’s global focal point for Disaster Risk Management.
• Lead the implementation of iMMAP’s DRM strategic vision and contribute to organizational planning and priorities.
• Coordinate DRM-related workstreams across headquarters, regional teams (if/where applicable), projects and country offices.
• Ensure alignment of DRM activities with iMMAP’s broader humanitarian, development, and strategic objectives.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on DRM programming, preparedness, response, recovery, resilience, and anticipatory action initiatives.
• Represent iMMAP in relevant global, regional, and national DRM forums, technical working groups, and coordination mechanisms.

2. Geospatial Strategy and Technical Innovation

• Lead the development and rollout of iMMAP’s geospatial strategy for disaster risk management.
• Promote the adoption and integration of innovative geospatial technologies, analytics, and information management approaches across DRM programs.
• Oversee the deployment and utilization of geospatial systems, platforms, and tools supporting DRM objectives, including the iMMAP Humanitarian Spatial Data Centre and related initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen risk analysis, hazard monitoring, vulnerability mapping, preparedness planning, and decision-support capabilities.
• Support the development of standards, methodologies, and technical guidance related to DRM geospatial applications.

3. Management of Technical Resources Supporting NDMAs

• Provide technical oversight and coordination of iMMAP GIS and DRM specialists supporting National Disaster Management Authorities.
• Ensure quality, consistency, and effectiveness of technical support delivered to national counterparts.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and capacity strengthening among DRM and geospatial personnel.
• Support workforce planning and resource allocation related to DRM programming and technical assistance.

4. Institutional Engagement with Disaster Management Authorities

• Serve as the primary organizational focal point for relationships with National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMAs).
• Establish, strengthen, and maintain strategic engagement with regional disaster management organizations, including:
• AHA Centre
• CDEMA
• SHOC
• Other relevant regional and international DRM institutions
• Promote iMMAP’s technical capabilities and support collaborative initiatives with government and regional stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for long-term institutional partnerships and capacity-building initiatives.

5. Partnerships and External Relations

• Identify, establish, and maintain strategic partnerships relevant to DRM, geospatial analytics, resilience, preparedness, and emergency response.
• Engage with UN agencies, international organizations, research institutions, regional bodies, NGOs, and private-sector partners.
• Develop collaborative opportunities that enhance iMMAP’s technical leadership and operational impact within the DRM sector.
• Represent iMMAP in technical conferences, workshops, and sector-specific events.

6. Donor Engagement and Resource Mobilization

• Engage proactively with institutional donors and funding mechanisms supporting DRM, resilience, preparedness, anticipatory action, and disaster response initiatives.
• Monitor emerging donor priorities, funding trends, and strategic opportunities within the DRM sector.
• Support donor relationship management and contribute to strategic positioning efforts.
• Participate in donor meetings, technical presentations, and proposal discussions as required.

7. Business Development and Program Design

• Work closely with the Business Development Director and technical teams to identify and pursue DRM-related funding opportunities.
• Contribute to the design of innovative DRM programs, projects, and service offerings.
• Support proposal development, concept note preparation, technical writing, and project design processes.
• Provide technical inputs to project budgets, implementation approaches, staffing plans, and partnership strategies.
• Ensure proposed interventions align with iMMAP’s technical strengths and strategic objectives.

8. Capacity Development and Emergency Response Support

• Design and facilitate technical training programs related to disaster risk management, geospatial analysis, information management, preparedness, and emergency coordination.
• Support the development of training materials, guidance documents, and operational tools.
• Maintain readiness to deploy in support of disaster response operations when required.
• Participate in surge mechanisms and emergency deployments, including potential UNDAC missions and other international response frameworks.
• Provide technical support during emergencies to government counterparts, humanitarian actors, and iMMAP operational teams.

Requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or equivalent) in Disaster Risk Management, Geography, Geospatial Sciences, Emergency Management, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk management, emergency management, humanitarian response, GIS, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working with National Disaster Management Authorities and government institutions.
• Significant experience applying GIS, geospatial analysis, information management, and spatial data systems to DRM programming.
• Experience engaging with regional disaster management organizations and international coordination mechanisms.
• Proven experience in partnership development, donor engagement, and business development.
• Experience facilitating technical training and capacity-building programs.
• Previous deployment experience in emergency response operations is highly desirable.

Technical Competencies

• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and DRM programming.
• GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial information systems.
• Risk analysis, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience programming.
• Information management and spatial data infrastructure development.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership management.
• Program design and proposal development.
• Training facilitation and capacity strengthening.

Guiding Principle

Personnel is expected to conduct itself in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and iMMAP’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all Countries.

iMMAP has zero-tolerance for sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, human trafficking, child abuse and exploitation. Any violations of these principles and policies will be treated as serious misconduct.

iMMAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background.