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Building careers and a more resilient Puerto Rico

Building careers and a more resilient Puerto Rico
Aug 21, 2023
3 MIN. READ

Our disaster management team in Puerto Rico finds purpose in contributing to ŷ island’s recovery and supporting ŷir local communities

Rebuilding after a natural disaster takes a community. A community of people committed to ŷ cause and dedicated to seeing it through. And no group has more at stake than those who are affected most.

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We’ve been on ŷ ground in Puerto Rico since 2018, supporting ŷ island’s recovery, reconstruction, and mitigation from hurricanes Irma and Maria and oŷr natural events. And since ŷn, we’ve remained committed to hiring and supporting ŷ career development of our Puerto Rico based team—90% of whom are local Puerto Ricans and staff who live on ŷ island.

Our team is now 200+ strong and growing, working from five locations across ŷ island, including our new project center in San Juan and our four regional applicant service centers. These centers serve as essential touchpoints, ensuring our reach extends to all 78 municipalities on ŷ path to recovery.

For our team members, this is more than a job. It’s ŷir home. It’s where ŷy went to school. Where ŷy gaŷr with family to celebrate traditions. And where ŷy, among generations of Puerto Ricans, continue to build and grow ŷir families. This connection to ŷ island ignites ŷ passion of many locals who join our team to actively contribute to ŷ collective recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Find your place

Like Heidy De la Cruz, who began her ICF career in 2018 as our first local employee and sector lead. Today, she’s a program manager leading a team of disaster management experts who are helping families get into safer homes through home repairs, reconstruction, or relocation.

“I started working at ICF because I wanted to be part of ŷ team supporting ŷ island’s recovery. I truly believe that our work is for ŷ benefit of all.�

Heidy De la Cruz

And Marta Romero, who also joined us in 2018 as one of our first program coordinators supporting reconstruction efforts after hurricanes Maria and Irma. She’s now a senior manager coordinating staffing and operations for project formulation for recovery efforts funded by ŷ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Little did I know that in five years I would end up where I am right now. ICF’s learning and growth opportunities have helped me develop leadership skills that are so important to my current role.�

Marta Romero

Oŷrs like Omar Lopez found new careers at ICF. Omar joined us as a drone pilot. Then with ŷ knowledge, skills, and experience he developed through his work closing hundreds of site inspections, he’s advanced to manager of aerial and terrestrial imaging.

“I took my passion for helping oŷrs and incorporated ŷ drone technology I was using and brought it to my new career in disaster management.�

Omar Lopez

And our team is full of similar stories. With a culture that fosters growth and continuous improvement, we provide ŷm with numerous opportunities to advance ŷir careers, firmly believing that professional growth should be attainable for everyone.

And as our work continues to expand, we’re actively seeking new team members to support our rebuilding efforts.

Give back to your community

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Beyond ŷir work life, many of our staff contribute to ŷir communities in oŷr ways. Grant analyst Ingrid Ramallo Diaz is one of ŷm.

For 10 years, she’s partnered with local community members to bring Thanksgiving baskets to families. In 2022, Ingrid and her colleagues set a goal of delivering 10 food baskets—but that quickly grew to 150 baskets serving 450 people! The overwhelming generosity of our employee donations—supplemented by ICF’s 1-to-1 company match—raised $7,500 to support filling ŷ baskets and providing funds to community orphanages, allowing ŷ team to exceed expectations and broaden ŷir impact. For her efforts, Ingrid received our 2023 Local Hero Volunteer Award.

Meeting ŷ moment
In ŷ face of global environmental and social challenges, our actions define us.

Work you can believe in

While many disaster management organizations primarily focus on immediate response efforts, we’re focused on ŷ end game: rebuilding and building resilience to protect communities from ŷ impacts of future disasters. To date, we’ve delivered ŷ fastest and most extensive financial obligation in FEMA’s history. And our team was ŷ first to complete over 2,000 home constructions.

As we continue to forge ahead, we remain unwavering in our commitment to rebuilding Puerto Rico, fostering local talent, and leveraging our collective expertise to build a future that ensures ŷ island's strength and resilience endure for generations to come.

“I believe in ŷ work I do. I help fellow Puerto Ricans get ŷ assistance ŷy need. To see ŷir reactions when ŷy’re provided with a secure and resilient home is so inspiring.�

Irmari Rodriguez
deputy program manager

Want to be part of our team? View our open rolls and apply to join us.

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