Organizational context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network established by and comprised of member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The IFRC is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional, country cluster teams and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the Movement; and expanding engagement with partners.

On 31 December 2019, Wuhan city in China reported cases of pneumonic disease of unknown origin, which was later confirmed to be caused by a new coronavirus. The disease caused by this new coronavirus, COVID-19, has since spread world-wide, including to Myanmar. In response to the massive humanitarian needs wrought by the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, IFRC has scaled up its Global Emergency Appeal, initially launched on 31 January 2020, with some portion of the Appeal operation allocated to meet the needs of people affected by COVID-19 in Myanmar.

In view of the scaled-up IFRC-supported operation, the capacity of IFRC Country Office for Myanmar to support the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in coordinating the COVID-19 is being bolstered. The IFRC has already incorporated Rapid Response Personnel (RRP) comprising existing staff of Participating National Societies but as the RRP prepare to return to their usual roles over the coming weeks, there is a need to ensure smooth transition to medium-term personnel. It is in this context that the Myanmar Country Office is seeking an Operations Manager.

The Operations Manager will provide leadership to personnel responsible for the COVID-19 response operation and ensure that these positions are coordinated in supporting MRCS in delivering it core services in accordance with its mandate. The incumbent will also be responsible for membership coordination and Movement coordination on COVID-19 and new emergency operations aspects. In addition, the Operations Manager will ensure participation of IFRC – together with MRCS – in coordination platforms established by the Government of Myanmar and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT).

Job purpose

Reporting to the Head of Country Office in Yangon, the Operations Manager provides technical leadership to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of IFRC-supported COVID-19 response as well as other new emergency operations in Myanmar.

Job duties and responsibilities

  • · Negotiate, plan and mobilize IFRC resources in support of the National Society in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response.
  • · Ensure that IFRC technical leads work closely with the managers of MRCS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.
  • · Along MRCS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of IFRC-supported emergency operations. Includes supporting the National Society to enhance its position vis-à-vis national and international coordination mechanisms.
  • · Guide IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the structures, capacity and performance of the National Society. Entails analyzing and understanding its current strengths and weaknesses and ensuring provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crises.
  • · Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions with relevant counterparts in the National Society.
  • · Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools.
  • · Assist the National Society, IFRC membership and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
  • · Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution so that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
  • · Work with the IFRC Asia Pacific Disaster and Crisis Unit (DCU) and Health Unit to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the National Society for emergency response.
  • · Support the National Society in setting up the structures needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.
  • · Support the National Society in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions.
  • · Together with the National Society, the Head of Country Office and the Programme Coordinator, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.
  • · Support the National Society in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.
  • · Work with the IFRC Asia Pacific PMER Unit and the National Society to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
  • · Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Head of Country Office and the HR departments and/or surge desk of the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO).
  • · Ensure sound financial management is applied to all IFRC-supported operations within the National Society, including ensuring that budgets are monitored, problems are identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
  • · Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.

Duties applicable to all staff

  1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
  2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
  3. Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

  • University degree, or equivalent qualifying experience, in relevant area
  • Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT. FACT, ERU, RDRT training

Experience

  • At least 5 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff
  • Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially population movements
  • Work experience with RC/RC
  • Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
  • Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context

Knowledge and Skills

  • Effective team and project management skills
  • Good analytical skills and solution-oriented
  • Good mentoring and capacity development skills
  • Ability to work well in a multicultural team
  • Excellent stress management skills
  • Demonstrated accountability

Languages

  • Fluently spoken and written English
  • Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies

  • Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
  • Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
  • Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you