Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organisation established by and comprised of 190 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation 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 Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation 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 RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services. The Programme & Operations Division is in turn organised in three Departments, each of them led by a Director – Health & Care, Supply Chain Management and Disaster & Crisis.
The Emergency Operations Centre team is placed within the Disaster & Crisis Department has a main responsibility of coordinating the resources applied in Emergency Operations supported by the IFRC. This includes financial resources (Disaster Relief Emergency Fund) short-term human resources and assets (Surge Capacity) and Data (Information Management). The team designs rules and procedures for strategic and tactical use of these resources and support the application at operational level upon request from National Societies. The Surge Capacity function is responsible for managing the portfolio of tools and mechanism that helps coordinate the deployment of individual experts (Rapid Response Personnel) and Emergency Response Units (Field Hospitals, Base Camps, Water Plants etc.) from one National Society to another.
Job Purpose:
Support the IFRC network with the maintenance and development of the local-to-global IFRC Emergency Response system through maintenance and development of effective regional and global surge capacity. Specifically, the global surge senior officer is responsible for the coordination of timely deployment of global surge resources and the development and implementation of surge systems and procedures, policy and guidance, coordination and networking, learning and human resource development.
Job duties and responsibilities:
Support IFRC leadership in Global Surge.
Coordination of the deployment of emergency response resources.
· Maintain effective centralized coordination services for the HEOps, Rapid response, ERU and global response tools including the management of alert and deployments, briefing and debriefing, and with appropriate technical advice on transition, hand-over, exit and reporting of global response tools.
Provide or facilitate timely and appropriate technical support to global surge personnel when deployed.**
Maintain an overview of IFRC-wide global response capacity and guide NS and IFRC structures in developing international response capacity meeting global requirements.
Support regions with the identification, deployment, and performance management of Secretariat and NS staff and experts for surge assignments - including liaison with country offices and other parts of the Movement as required in coordination with HR.
In collaboration with Department and Division colleagues, support or facilitate operational reviews and evaluations of global surge deployments and ensure that lessons learnt from each deployment are captured and that they inform the continuous improvement (effectiveness and relevance) of global surge capacity systems and tools.
Work closely with the technical sector functions (health, water and sanitation, shelter, livelihoods), the programming functions (DRR, relief, cash transfer) and the support functions (logistics, IT/telecoms, HR, Legal, Finance, administration, communications) to ensure consistent and well-coordinated Federation Secretariat technical support to IFRC surge capacity tools and training.
Representating and sustaining a global Disaster Risk Management network
Management of Global Surge Capacity Programming
Support the Global Surge lead in managing an effective, high quality team, fit for purpose
Build and maintain trust-relationships with key stakeholders (NS and IFRC structures) involved in fast-paced emergency response decision-making.
Be available to deploy internationally for up to 1 months each year.
Education:
Required:
University degree in relevant area or equivalent experience required
Technical training in the disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
Training in the RC/RC global disaster response tools (Rapid Response, ERU, HEOps) - preferred
**
Experience: **
Required:
Minimum of 8 years experience in disaster and crisis management
Field experience in coordinating and managing major disaster response operations
Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
Experience in strategy development, developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance and in establishing and maintaining networks
Experience in working within the RC/RC Movement - preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
Required:
This vacancy is archived.