Volunteer work has been essential in supporting people impacted by climate disasters. In contexts like these, functional leadership can become the foundation of an effective and safer work environment. The objective of this text was to identify the competencies required for volunteer leaders in climate emergency contexts through a literature review and interviews. The behaviors described will be applied to train volunteer leaders in climate disaster contexts in Brazil. A set of 20 competencies was identified. The first behavior was goal management, described as the ability to develop and distribute goals among team members, offering support and encouragement to achieve them. The second was providing feedback. Effective feedback emphasizes positive performance while offering constructive guidance for improvement. Feedback should focus on behaviors, be timely, and highlight contributions to team success. The third was described as Consequential Listening. Leaders should acknowledge and incorporate team members' ideas, fostering engagement and motivation. Recognizing contributions publicly strengthens team cohesion. The data also outlines three categories of crisis management. During Establishing a Crisis Management Structure, Leaders must follow protocols, gather reliable information, make decisions despite uncertainties, and respond swiftly to demands. The Interaction with Partners and Institutions appeared like essential for resource allocation and effective communication. At least, Engaging with the Public demands for the Leader to provide clear, accurate, and empathetic communication to manage public expectations and reduce panic. Practical recommendations also were included like Identifying and utilizing reliable information sources, establishing clear communication channels and protocols, recognizing team members' efforts to maintain morale and adapting strategies based on evolving situations. The process of identifying competencies and developing training actions for leaders will be detailed in the work.