Help Disaster Teams from Home as a Disaster Action Team Dispatcher

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Your local Red Cross responds to an average of two home fires per day. To ensure we are supporting our community it is crucial that we have volunteers supporting our efforts by dispatching and coordinating our volunteer teams. This role can be performed from anywhere a volunteer has access to a computer, internet connection, and phone.

The Duty Officer is the on-call operations lead for the Kern & Eastern Sierras Chapter and ensures a timely and appropriate response to emergencies that occur with the region. The Duty Officer receives the initial request for assistance from first response agencies and individuals that have experienced a disaster; coordinates the mobilization and deployment of initial responders to the disaster scene; and provides ongoing technical assistance and deployment of additional support resources as needed.

Job Duties:
Receive and screen calls, evaluate response needs, and deploy appropriate Red Cross responders
Provide technical support for responders including: Performing an initial assessment and verification of the disaster
Serving as a liaison between the Disaster Action Team (DAT) responders and other support teams
Providing guidance to DAT about questions related to specific assistance that may be provided to clients
Identifying temporary lodging for disaster clients.
Maintains regular communication with deployed responders
Accurately completes incident reporting and sends out response notifications using regional systems in a timely manner.
Contacting the Manager On Call for technical assistance and guidance for incidents that are non-routine or may trigger an extended need for service delivery (i.e. opening a congregate shelter or service center)

Qualifications:
Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Strong written, listening, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to learn and implement Red Cross service delivery policies, procedures, and services.
Ability to work effectively as part of the team.
Ability to adapt to change, negotiate compromise, seek clarity, be flexible, and manage ambiguity.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks simultaneously.
Ability to work for extended periods of time under stressful conditions.
Ability to effectively work with diverse cultures including their own and others. Ability to use basic computer programs (Word, Excel), email, Exchange.
Ability to treat clients and workforce with patience and compassion.

Time Commitment:
Minimum two, six-hour shifts per week for a period of at least one year.

Apply at redcross.org/volunteertoday

The mission of the American Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. As Duty Officer, you will be primary contact for initiating disaster responses in our Kern & Eastern Sierras Chapter. You will be coordinating a workforce of dedicated responders, and supported by our Disaster Cycle Services team and subject matter experts. This role is the first step to helping victims of disaster on their road to recovery.