COAD Coordinator in Westminster, Vermont at Southeastern Vermont Community Action Inc

SEVCA’s mission is to empower and partner with individuals and communities to alleviate the hardships of poverty, provide opportunities to thrive, and eliminate root causes of poverty in southeastern Vermont. Our core values serve as the foundation for how we work with our communities and each other:

• Respect & Kindness: We treat everyone with dignity and compassion
• Accountability: We do what we say we will do
• Equity & Justice: We strive for fairness and celebrate diversity
• Learning & Growth: We embrace change and invest in growth
• Collaboration: We work together – across SEVCA and with our community
• Service Excellence: We put people and community first

Position Summary

The Regional COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) Coordinator is a part-time position that addresses a critical gap in the region's disaster management infrastructure. While Windham and Windsor Counties have strong acute emergency response capacity, limited resources currently exist for community preparedness before disasters and sustained, equitable recovery afterward. Working at half-time capacity, the Regional COAD Coordinator focuses on building the foundational relationships, communication structures, and coordination frameworks needed to connect state, regional, and local partners to lay the groundwork for a more resilient and coordinated Windham County based regional response over time.

Primary Responsibilities

• Bridge Partners: Develop and maintain working relationships with a defined network of regional stakeholders, including regional planning commissions, emergency management agencies, economic development organizations, and human service providers. Serve as a consistent point of contact that keeps core partners informed and connected before, during, and after disaster events, prioritizing depth of relationship over breadth of reach.
• Organize Community Capacity: Identify and map existing community networks, relationships, and assets that can be mobilized for disaster response and recovery. Prioritize building trust with key connectors and organizations rather than attempting to engage all community sectors simultaneously.
• Define Roles: Work with partner organizations to clarify responsibilities and establish basic coordination structures before a disaster occurs. Focus initial efforts on documenting a shared framework of partner roles and activation protocols that can be built up over time.
• Strengthen Communication: Establish and maintain reliable communication channels that link state-level emergency management with regional partners and municipalities. Ensure that critical information reaches the right people at the right time, and that local needs and gaps are surfaced and communicated upward to state-level partners.
• Focus on Equity: Ensure that the perspectives of people most in need during disasters (including low-income households, elderly residents, and people with disabilities) are actively incorporated in planning and coordination efforts through direct engagement with individuals. Work to include organizations that serve these communities are active partners in preparedness and recovery work.

Job Standards/Accountability

The Regional COAD Coordinator will be evaluated on outcomes that reflect steady, realistic progress in building the regional coordination network over time. Given the part-time nature of this role, success is measured by the quality and consistency of foundational work rather than the breadth of the network at any given moment. Key indicators include:

1. a defined and documented core partner network with evidence of active engagement across sectors; a basic regional coordination framework, including partner roles and activation protocols, that is in place and understood by key partners;
2. communication channels between state, regional, and local levels that are established and functional;
3. and a working map of existing community networks, volunteer groups and assets that can be drawn upon for response and recovery.

Equity is a consistent measure across all areas, with particular attention to whether vulnerable populations are represented in planning and whether connections to organizations serving those communities are maintained.

Progress will be assessed through partner feedback, documentation of planning products, and structured reflection following any disaster activation.

Working Conditions

This is a hybrid position that may spend a fair amount of time traveling within Windham and Windsor counties. It is not fully remote. The expectation is that some work will be performed at one of SEVCA’s locations, as well as in the community, and some may be performed remotely. This position relies heavily on the use of a computer and phone as well as other typical office equipment. Environmental factors will vary from those usually found in an office to a range of conditions that cannot be predicted in the community. The ability to physically navigate these various environments is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience working collaboratively with others across organizational or sector boundaries, in any professional, volunteer, or community context
• Ability to build and sustain working relationships with a variety of people and organizations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Skill in facilitating or participating in meetings and group planning processes
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and follow through with limited supervision
• Basic familiarity with nonprofit, government, or community-based organizations in Vermont or a similar rural setting
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and comfort with virtual meeting platforms
• Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation

Preferred

• Experience with or knowledge of emergency management, disaster preparedness, or disaster recovery
• Familiarity with Windham and Windsor Counties and their organizational landscape
• Community organizing, outreach, or human services experience, particularly with low-income or vulnerable populations
• Experience with COAD, VOAD, or similar coordination networks

SEVCA is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to recruit a broad pool of candidates for open positions, and to hire and promote qualified individuals whose personal experiences, characteristics, and talents reasonably reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our equal employment opportunities apply to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We encourage applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities. Qualifications for positions are determined by the duties and responsibilities of the position itself.

Applications accepted through July 24, 2026