Switzerland: Senior Officer, Reproductive and Maternal Health (RMH)

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 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 (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organisation established by and comprised of its 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, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services. The Programme Services Division is in turn organised in three Departments, each of them led by a Director. The department of Health consists of 3 teams, of which Health in Complex Settings is one. The Senior Officer, Reproductive and Maternal Health (RMH) serves as a member of the Health in Complex Settings team reporting to the Health in Complex Settings Team Leader. The Senior Officer, RMH supports the IFRC's programmatic vision for Health in Complex Settings and its translation into programmatic interventions, in close collaboration with Regional Offices, Cluster, Country offices by providing technical advice, support and coordination to the Federation's programmes in the areas covered by the Health in Complex Settings Team.

Job Purpose

1. Lead the development of policy and capacity for RMH within the Federation and National Societies.
2. Provide in-country and distance technical support to National Societies implementing RMH activities.
3. Support RMH partnerships and coordination of RMH activities within Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
4. Generate the evidence-base to scale up high quality RMH activities.
5. Strategically expand the IFRC's global role and explore global strategic initiatives and mobilise resources for scaled-up involvement in RMH.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Enable RCRC to be a global leading player in the reproductive and maternal health sector

• Represent the IFRC at relevant international fora, in publications, conferences and meeting and ensure that relevant advocacy themes are well presented and to the positioning of RCRC as a global leader in reproductive and maternal health in development, emergencies and in complex settings.
• Lead the development of global policies, strategies, guidelines and tools as well as the integration of these standards into the work of RCRC to ensure sound and sustainable reproductive and maternal health programmes.
• Support the “Shared Leadership in Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health” model with relevant partners.
• Work closely with the Communications and Partnerships Teams contributing to ensuring appropriate visibility, resource mobilization and public awareness of the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in the area of reproductive and maternal health.

Support national Societies in order to improve performance when addressing reproductive and maternal health issues**

• Lead the mapping of global programming, progress and best practices and priority needs of National Societies in reproductive health.
• Lead a professional dialogue with and expert support to technical staff and maintain a functioning network of delegates, NS staff and professionals.
• Act as technical reference point for the Secretariat, Regional/Cluster/Country Offices, National Societies and IFRC Health Delegates, in the area of RMH.
• To provide expert advice and guidance to RC/RC RMH training initiatives.
• Provide in-country and distance technical support to National Societies implementing RMH activities as a means of contributing towards achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant global health development targets.

Contribute to delivering quality in operations

• Under the direction of the Team Leader Health in Complex Settings, ensure that tools, guidelines and projects in the team are based on evidence, applicable international standards.
• Ensure that operational questions and challenges are addressed by operational research in partnership with different research institutions and other partners
• Work closely with the Community and Emergency Health team and WASH team to ensure RMH activities are directed towards areas of highest needs and most vulnerable or at-risk groups.
• Ensure that RC/RC programs to address RMH are based on evidence and best practices and where possible use a standard package of interventions.
• Serve as the reference point inn IFRC for RMH activities in emergencies, providing expert advice, training and guidance to Federation and National Society surge staff.

Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC team

• Be accountable to the team leader by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and the National Societies and open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.
• Support the Team Leader in strengthening financial standards in the team by providing regular reports on use of funds within the Health in Complex Settings Team, and ensuring budget needs are met and reported upon in a timely and efficient manner.

Education

Required:

• Professional Degree in a Health Science (MD or RN)
• Advanced post-graduate qualification in Reproductive Health

Experience

Required:

• At least 8 years working experience in a health profession in the humanitarian or development sector, including experience in Complex Settings
• Experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment
• Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or IFRC/ICRC

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

• Knowledge of addressing reproductive and maternal health issues in Complex Settings. Experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning, in both emergency and non-emergency contexts
• Programme and project management
• Results-oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in challenging or ambiguous situations
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and values

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 Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

Please apply on the organisation's website: Click Here