Head of Emergency Operations

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 189 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies “Strategy 2020” recognizes the changing demography of the world, the increasing impact of climate change, unplanned urbanization, high levels of violence in society, involuntary migration pressures, new and emerging diseases, environmental degradation and the insecurity of access to water, food and natural resources as underlying causes of vulnerability. These trends are likely to result in different patterns of vulnerability as they interact in the future. Furthermore an already emerging pattern of increased small to medium scale disasters will require realignment of preparedness, response and recovery capacities of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In order to meet these challenges Strategy 2020 has three strategic aims, to: Aim 1- Save lives, protect livelihoods and prepare for and recover from disasters and crises. Aim 2- Enable safer and healthy living. Aim 3- Promote social inclusion and culture of non-violence. To achieve these ambitious aims the International Federation will seek to build strong National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, pursue humanitarian diplomacy to prevent and reduce vulnerability and function effectively as the International Federation. The Programme Services Division of the International Federation Secretariat has the lead responsibility to deliver on Aim 1 of Strategy 2020 while providing substantive support to achieve Aims 2 and 3. The Disaster and Crisis Management Department coordinated and mobilises IFRC wide existing capacities to support National Societies to respond to disasters, crises and conflicts. The Disaster and Crisis Management Department is tasked with increasing and improving organisational preparedness for response at all levels of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent in order to save lives and livelihoods and support emergency response and post disaster recovery, while paving the way towards sustainable development (LRRD). This will require the development and maintenance of operational procedures and systems to support disaster operations, as well as a wide range of technical advisory capacity, surge capacity and information management, while ensuring that a learning and accountability culture is formed.

Job Purpose

As a member of the Disaster and Crisis Management team, the Head of Emergency Operations will develop and strengthen the organisation’s work in promoting a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management through the provision of timely and high quality technical advice, the development and maintenance of operational procedures and systems to support disaster operations, support for the development of appropriate tools and guidance materials, and effective representation and liaison with humanitarian partners. The Disaster and Crisis Management team strives to support the effective decentralisation of operations coordination and management functions.
Specifically, the HEOp will be ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 48 hours to provide first-phase strategic leadership and coordination in major Federation-led emergency field operations. In “peace time” the function contributes to the development of the IFRC wide global disaster response system working closely with DM contacts in each of the five Zones, keeping up to date with developments and best practice in the broader humanitarian sector, as well as providing coaching and technical advice to members of the roster of "developing" HEOps.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Operational strategic leadership and coordination:

1. Upon deployment, and as tasked through terms of reference, assume responsibility for leading the operation on behalf of the affected country/Zone, ensuring appropriate links with IFRC structure.
2. Where tasked, lead analysis of the political, military, social, economic and humanitarian context for the operation.
3. Develop and communicate a clear vision and a strategy for the emergency response with clear, measurable objectives, ensuring that this is appropriate to the humanitarian needs, makes optimal use of RC/RC capacities and is properly aligned with the strategies of other actors and the UN clusters.
4. Ensure that the response strategy is forward-looking, integrates early recovery, shelter, cash-based programming, etc and seeks opportunities to strengthen the capacity and reputation of the host NS.
5. Seek to secure the buy-in, compliance and coordination of all Movement actors by ensuring that they are assigned clear and appropriate roles and responsibilities wherever possible.
6. Ensure that adequate Movement Coordination frameworks are in place as required by the operation.
7. Manage all senior internal and key external relationships, notably with the host NS, country and Zone offices, PNS, ICRC, donors, host government, the UN, other INGOs and the media in the assigned operation.
8. Direct and support the operations manager (normally the FACT Team Leader or Ops Manager) in developing and implementing a plan of action to deliver on the response strategy, in particular by helping to secure the necessary resources and negotiating humanitarian access.
9. Define the required Support Services for the operation to ensure that appropriate HR, Admin and Finance systems are in place and resourced.
10. Ensure that the progress of the operation is routinely monitored against the key deliverables and milestones articulated in the response strategy and plan, and that personal workplans reflect these and are used to ensure individual and collective accountability.
11. Work with Resource Mobilisation to liase with donors and ensure that appropriate systems are in place and are monitored properly.
12. Ensure the smooth handover of the operation to a Head of Operations for the medium to long term. This should be effected as soon as feasible and not later than three months after deployment.

Support to the IFRC global disaster response system:

1. Keep up to date with developments and best practice in disaster management and maintain regular contact with key DM staff in Zones and Regions to gain a good understanding of the local operating contexts and existing capacities in disaster prone countries and regions.
2. Learn from and contribute to DCM resources and external networks in order to improve DM policy and practice and ensure that this is applied to Federation-led operations and shared with NS.
3. Lead on the development of HEOps SOPs relating to the work of the pool (operational and peace-time tasking) including modalities for cost recovery.
4. Provision of coaching and on-the-job training to members of the roster of "developing" HEOps (D-HEOps)
5. Development of SOPs relating to the development and management of the D-HEOps roster.
6. Assume coaching responsibility for an agreed number of D-HEOps and seek opportunities to provide on-the-job training during operational deployments.
7. Contribute to the development and delivery of DM training courses with a specific focus on the global disaster response tools.
8. Participate in operational real time evaluations or management response exercises when tasked.
9. Support the strengthening of the IFRC response systems through direct support to trainings and simulations, such as ERU, FACT, RDRT and Field School (availability permitting)

Education

1. WORC or equivalent Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge
2. Relevant university degree or equivalent knowledge
3. Training in advanced disaster management skills
4. IFRC Stay Safe basic and management security management courses

Experience

1. Demonstrated experience of successfully leading and coordinating large-scale humanitarian emergency response operations in a variety of contexts, preferably with the RC/RC Movement
2. Knowledge and experience of RC/RC National Societies
3. Experience of working with, or alongside, non-RC/RC humanitarian organisations in emergency situations.
4. Experience of successful institutional fundraising and managing donor relations.
5. Sound knowledge of, and commitment to, a holistic approach to disaster management, with a particular understanding of recovery, shelter and cash-based programming.
6. Knowledge and experience of IFRC global disaster response DM tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, etc)
7. Experience of working with UN Humanitarian Coordination Teams and clusters. would be preferred
8. Experience of leading and supporting multi-disciplinary and geographically remote teams in insecure and challenging situations is a preference.

Knowledge, skills and languages

1. Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically and under pressure, without access to complete information.
2. Excellent political, diplomatic, communication and negotiating skills.
3. Proven skills in strategic and operational planning, budgeting and reporting.
4. Fluently spoken and written English
5. Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
6. Other languages preferred.

Competencies and values

Respect fo Diversity

Integrity

Professionalism

Accountability

Communication

Collaboration and Teamwork

Judgement and Decision Making

National Society and Customer Relations

Creativity & Innovation

Building Trust

Managing Staff Performance

Managing Staff Development

Strategic Orientation

Building Alliances

Leadership

Empowering Others

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via the following link:

http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/