Disaster Response Volunteer

Open Call for Disaster Response Volunteers!

About Americares:

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches 85 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies, and emergency aid. Americares is one of the world’s leading nonprofit providers of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.

Americares Values:

We create global community, treating people as they want to be treated.

We respond effectively and responsibly, putting plans into practice.

We embed ethics and equity in our work and workplace.

We are better together; partnership is at our core.

We ask and listen, to create sustainable solutions for a healthier tomorrow.

We commit to quality, growing and improving to ensure individuals and communities thrive.

About the Americares Global Roster:

Americares maintains a Global Roster, which is comprised of experienced professionals all over the world who can be available for short-term emergency deployments. Roster members are generally deployed after an initial rapid assessment is conducted by Americares core staff, but on occasion we may ask roster members to deploy immediately. Roster members can decline deployments if they are not available at the time of request. Acceptance to the Global Roster does not guarantee deployment but does qualify members to respond with us on a future response if their qualifications supplement the objectives of the intervention.

Selected candidates will have a minimum of 3 years of experience and will be required to complete a series of short online training courses on general safety and security and other topics. Periodic training will be offered to all candidates on relevant topics. After training and onboarding are complete, roster members are considered eligible to deploy.

Deployments can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on the needs of the response. Roster members are not compensated for time spent on training or other requirements. Competitive deployment compensation will be offered based on the candidate’s skills and experience if a member is requested to deploy.

Volunteer Positions Available

Please note that this is not an open recruitment cycle for the Global Roster, but rather an overview of the positions we typically recruit for once per year. By submitting an application here, you will be contacted with one (1) year for recruitment when a recruitment cycle opens that aligns with your experience and competencies.

Allied Health Professional

The allied health professional’s primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system – this includes Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Medical / Nursing Assistant, Radiology Technician, Laboratory Technician, Midwife (non-nurse), Community Health Worker, Optometrist, Dentist, or Dietician. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation.

Clinic Coordinator

Americares is looking to establish health clinics in response to disaster. The Clinic Coordinator will report to the Team Lead and oversee the management of the clinic.

Clinic Lead

The Clinic Lead will manage all medical team members during the deployment timeframe that provide quality care for the affected population according to internationally acceptable standards. The Clinic Lead will be prepared to manage the emergency project and liaise with local counterparts to ensure a successful operation. While the duties of the Clinic Lead are primarily managerial in nature, as a licensed physician, it is possible that she/he will provide direct care in the field. In such case, any care provided during deployment with Americares will be within the Scope of Practice of her/his professional, clinical duties and practice at her/his regular place of work.

Health Assessment Officer

A physician or nurse who will act as Technical Advisor and assist the Team Lead with needs assessment based on current and projected public health needs; oversee the set-up of the clinic site and inventory.

Logistics

The Logistics Officer will work closely with members of the Emergency Response team to provide program support for the Americares Emergency Response Team. The Logistics Officer will be responsible for information collection and data management of supplies and equipment, program reporting and deployment accountability measures, conducting research and analysis, and performing a range of other tasks to support Emergency Response operations.

MHPSS

Under the supervision of the Medical Lead, the Emergency Response Mental Health and Psycho-social Services Officer position will implement a mental health component to emergency response programming in disaster settings. The Officer will work closely with program team members to assess mental health needs in the community while also meeting the needs of internal staff members during deployment.

Nurse

Americares is seeking Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to provide quality emergency care for the affected population according to internationally acceptable standards. Practitioners should be experienced in areas such as initial trauma care on a mass scale, basic wound, fracture, and first aid management, emergency pediatric and obstetric care and/or mental health. Any care provided by the nurse during deployment with Americares will be within the Scope of Practice of her/his professional, clinical duties and practice at her/his regular place of work.

Operations

Under the supervision of the Deputy Team Lead, the Operations Officer positions will support the procurement and fleet management aspects of the emergency response project.

Pharmacy

Under the supervision of the Clinic Lead, the Pharmacist for the Global Roster will work with the Logistics team and Medical team on the ground to manage and maintain the medical supply for Americares’ emergency response projects. Any care or pharmaceutical services provided by the pharmacist during deployment with Americares will be within the Scope of Practice of her/his professional, clinical duties and practice at her/his regular place of work.

Provider

Providers include physicians such as general practitioners, emergency care, primary care, OB/GYNs, and pediatricians to provide quality acute and emergency chronic care for the affected population according to internationally acceptable standards. Practitioners should be experienced in areas such as initial trauma care on a mass scale, basic wound, fracture and first aid management, emergency pediatric and obstetric care and/or mental health. Any care provided by the physician during deployment with Americares will be within the Scope of Practice of her/his professional, clinical duties and practice at her/his regular place of work.

Response Officer

As assigned by the Team Lead, represent Americares in relevant coordinationmeetings. Assist the Team Lead to answer questions, gain approvals from HQ, finalize paperwork needs, and update trackers. Visit Americares existing partners and ensure prepositioning assessments are carried out and facilitate administrative needs, establish ongoing communication/coordination with partners, and direct them to additional Americares resources as part of their preparation planning. Support the Team Lead with procurement processes, supply and equipment tracking and paperwork completion. Build relationships among current partners and key stakeholders and identify new potential partnerships, if applicable. Provide support with partner communications, coordinate meetings, taking notes of partner needs and next steps. Act as point person for partners for questions around GIK and procurement, partnership agreements, and other response needs. Liaise with the Team Lead to answer questions, gain approvals, finalize drafts, and meet any other needs of the response. Ensure expenses are reported in a timely manner.

Safety & Security Officer

The Safety & Security Officer will be located at the EMT camp site to provide oversight of the camp.

WASH

Under the supervision of the Operations Lead, the WASH Officer position will organize water, sanitation and hygiene efforts in the aftermath of a disaster. Americares is looking for an experienced professional to ensure WASH standards are met in the EMT-1 field site.

Americares complies with the EEOC: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws

Americares is committed to ensuring safe and accountable workplaces and programs. Our code of conduct, organizational values, and policies and procedures help to safeguard the welfare of everyone working for and participating in Americares programs. Americares is committed to the prevention of all types of abuse, discrimination, harassment, and exploitation. Employment with Americares will be subject to appropriate screening, reference, credentials, and background checks. By applying to our organization, job applicants confirm their understanding of and consent to our procedures during recruitment, and to adhering to our values and commitment to safe and accountable workplaces and programs as an employee.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of Americares. At any point in the recruitment process, we may request additional information to confirm qualifications. Any misrepresentation of qualifications in any stage of the process will prevent the applicant from moving forward in the process.

If you have a specific request or need assistance to fully participate in the application or recruitment process, please email us at talentcenter@americares.org.