Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Intern

Description

This is an unpaid internship.

The International Rescue Committee of Baltimore is a non-profit, non-sectarian refugee resettlement agency dedicated to working together with legally admitted refugees to assist them in rebuilding lives and reuniting families in the greater Baltimore area. A committed staff of professionals and volunteers provide essential resettlement services to refugee families including basic necessities, education, employment, social services and advocacy.

PURPOSE: The primary duty of the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Intern is to provide technical and administrative assistance with the research, design, and implementation of emergency response and preparedness procedures for the International Rescue Committee in Maryland-- offices located in the Baltimore Resettlement Center (BRC).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review existing emergency preparedness guidelines, models, practices and lessons learned from several sources, including recommendations for EPR for refugee families and appropriate list of items for emergency kit.
• Design disaster preparedness exercises -- including tabletop simulations (employees talk through their responses) and full-action drills (employees carry out their responses)-- for natural (i.e. hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), pandemic, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills) disaster situations (based on previously completed risk assessment/analysis) .
• Liaison with counterparts within IRC’s national resettlement system as well as local partners to share information on models and tools related to EPR.
• Identify essential personnel and define key roles for emergency response including development of structural mapping of key partnerships and communications protocols.
• Collect and document essential information that will provide quick, procedural guidance to all employees and partner agencies.
• Coordinate responsibilities/communication with all partner agencies within the BRC/SWRC and the local and state health departments, fire departments, police and emergency response agencies to ensure personal safety and sustained operations through and after a disruption to normal business operations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate or graduate student (preferred) in a related field (e.g., emergency and or disaster preparedness, life safety, security, emergency management, public health, homeland security, etc,).
• Demonstrated interest and experience in public health and vulnerable populations, especially displaced/immigrant/refugee populations
• Effective interpersonal, organizational, analytical and writing skills -- a high degree of self-direction and administrative skill to coordinate activities within and between the two IRC offices and the surrounding public and private entities (health department, social service agencies) that will serve as resources or give direction during emergencies.
• Interest and flexibility in working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural setting

TIME COMMITMENT: 15-20 hours per week, during business hours, Mondays through Fridays, between 10:00am-5:00pm (in the Fall and Spring).  Summer interns are required to intern at least 25 hours or more per week.

Reports to:          Program Manager-Health

Position:               Unpaid Internship

Updated:             3/19/12

Please apply using our online system.  You can also prioritize your application by sending your resume, cover letter, and contact info for 2 references directly to kafiya.ismail@rescue.org with the following information listed in the cover letter:

-internship(s) for which you wish to be considered (please provide a ranking of desired internships if you wish to be considered for multiple opportunities) 

-projected start/end date (noting that we have a 3-month minimum for our internships)

-days and number of hours of availability during the work week (for example: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-5pm)

-whether or not you would have access to a car in which you would be willing to drive with the refugees and asylees we serve to access social services

We look forward to reviewing your application!

IRC leading the way from harm to home. 

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
 IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.