Head of Country Delegation, DPRK

• Work in a counterpart relationship with the leadership of the DPRK RCS to ensure the implementation of Federation activities in DPRK according to approved plans and budgets.
• Act as the IFRC’s primary communication link with the DPRK RCS and partner NS and as the most immediate knowledge centre for Federation members.
• Take responsibility for coordinating and stimulating support to DPRK RCS programming according to DPRK RCS strategic plan 2020 and the OCAC outcomes.
• Representation of the Federation’s international persona towards the authorities, the international community, UN system, local and international media and other key partners and actors in the humanitarian field.
• Provide assistance with the support of the Regional Office to DPRK RCS to develop effective advocacy, communications and external relations, and ensure that these build on and promote IFRC priorities.
• Proactively promote the Institutional and programme development of DPRK RCS by establishing a supportive working relationship in particular concerning IFRC policies, directions, plans, guidelines and other relevant matters to enable the DPRK RCS to optimise its effectiveness as a member of the IFRC.
• More specifically, the Head of Country Office will coordinate the IFRC country team’s relationship with intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental agencies in a coordinated and consistent manner, which will benefit DPRK Red Cross Society in strengthening its auxiliary role to the Government in the humanitarian field.
• Serve as the conduit for technical assistance in a variety of programme areas, such as disaster management, health and water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as in National Society development;
• Manage the resources channelled through the IFRC and ensure proper planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Manage the IFRC’s core administrative and management functions, including personnel, security, fixed assets, financial assets and other resources in accordance with existing regulations and procedures.
• Focus “right-sizing’ IFRC structure and avoid setting up unnecessary parallel structures to National Society ones.
• Ensure that Country Office planning and budgeting is carried out in a timely and appropriate fashion in accordance with Secretariat requirements, formats and standards; provide support to the DPRK RCS in these areas when relevant;
• Provide efficient and effective security management of the IFRC staff. Work closely together with the ICRC and the DPRK RCS (and other relevant organisations) in the establishment of a harmonised security approach. Seek expert advice from the DPRK RCS , the ICRC, the IFRC AP security delegate and the security coordinator of the AP region, and when necessary the IFRC Geneva security team, as well as other relevant institutions in the country.
• Facilitate the initiatives to raise funds in DPRK in support of Federation appeals and activities, and for National Society programmes, in close coordination with the Regional Office.
• Manage the front-line surge capacity whenever large disasters may overwhelm the capacity of the DPRK RCS to manage the operation fully. While acknowledging the need to develop DPRK RCS capacity before, during and after a disaster, ensure that the Federation has the systems in place to allow temporary systems separated from those used for cooperation in normal programming. This may involve the Federation taking a more operational role in explicit agreement with DPRK RCS for a specific period.
• Report to the Regional Director, Asia Pacific, to keep the region regularly informed on in-country developments and on the work of the Country Office.

REQUIREMENT:

Education

• Higher university degree in a relevant field

Experience

• 5 years’ experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation in the HQ and field
• Strategic planning, analysis in complex socio-political environment
• Senior management experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent
• Strategic leadership of complex teams including security management
• Top level representation, negotiation, communications, media
• Organisational development experience
• Preferred have knowledge of and experience with working in DPRK and/or Asia Pacific

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• Excellent stress management and team management skills
• Able to work in a restricted environment, positive character and problem solver with strong inter-personal skills and cultural sensitivities
• Languages - fluent in English, written and spoken. Knowledge of local languages is an asset
• Skills in coaching and developing staff

How to apply:

In order for us to assure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that applicants submit their applications together with a letter of motivation no later than 03.01.2022 on this link