Switzerland: Senior Officer, Health Security and Risk Management

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) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. We are a membership organisation established by and comprised of our member National Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), we form the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. We work 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 and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides a central capacity to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organised in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services.
Our Programme Services Division is in turn organised in three Departments, each of them led by a Director. We have organised the Health and Care Department in three teams, of which Community and Emergency Health (CEH) is one. You will join the CEH team, reporting to the Team Leader.
You will contribute to the IFRC's programmatic vision for health and its translation into programmatic interventions. You will work in close collaboration with our Regional Offices by providing technical assistance, expert advice, support and coordination to the Federation's programmes in the areas of public health throughout the resilience continuum (in emergency, recovery and development contexts).
Our goal is to ensure that all our programmes benefit men and women equally, according to their different needs and with their equal input and participation at all levels within the organisation. We are an international and multi-cultural work environment, where diversity is valued and promoted.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, Health Security and Risk Management, will: • Plan, coordinate and supervise an epidemic and pandemic preparedness program across the organisation; • Lead IFRC’s policy development of an all-of-society, all-hazard approach to epidemic and pandemic risk mitigation; • Be accountable for knowledge development and evidence-based practice in health risk management; • Lead the development of a global strategy for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response for Red Cross movement including the integration of national and global surge capacities. • Lead the building a multisectoral framework for health risk management in the IFRC. This framework will enable risk analysis as part of resilient communities and health systems with an emphasis on prevention and mitigation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the development of a global strategy for epidemic and pandemic response and preparedness; this includes developing a strategic response and preparedness guidelines and plans for improving the quality of health outcomes through better management of epidemics and pandemics • Monitor actively the programs and projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential challenges and take timely decisions to resolve issues for timely resolution. • Be an inspiration for a stronger capacity building of community and National Society preparedness including key areas for early detection, early action, social behaviour change and organisational capacity across the movement. • Systematically incorporate risk analysis into health emergency management, working closely with clinical and public health response teams. • Lead continuous planning, evaluation, coordination and supervision of the community-based surveillance and the use of data in epidemics and health emergencies • Consult and collaborate with CBRN preparedness initiatives to promote alignment of approaches. • Engage the IFRC Climate Centre to link forecast based financing to public health. • Establish necessary links with the ‘One Health" initiative for engagement with environmental and animal health sectors in epidemic and pandemics preparedness.• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with health sector government counterparts, various partners/allies/donors/academia through effective networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and promote collaboration and alliances to achieve program goals on children rights and social justice/equity. • Collaborate with disaster risk reduction, volunteer management and organisational development teams in support of improved management of health emergencies. • Engage in emergency preparedness initiatives, program development and contingency planning and to respond to emergencies in-country or where designated. Delivering quality in programmes and operations • Represent the organisation in relevant inter-agency and internal coordination bodies. • Create a project ecosystem that involves all parts of our Movement, key government officials, NGO partners and donors. • Carry out broad consultations on policies, strategies, smart practices and approaches to global health security and related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results, and lead IFRC’s policy development in the area. • Use program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) efficiently, complying with organisational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and industry standards. • Author policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and consideration. • Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable health programs/projects Contribute to build an effective, high quality IFRC Health team • Provide regular progress reports on results towards objectives and risk analysis. • Produce key program/project reports for donors and other partners to keep them informed program progress. • Be flexible in the definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources • Cultivate a co-creative environment with colleagues and an open and co-operative view to the actors in the external environment. • Support the team in strengthening financial performance by producing regular reports on budget needs and progress towards objectives.

Education

Required:

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in public health, global/international health, health education, epidemiology or other health related sciences.
• Postgraduate training in Public Health, Epidemiology or Information Technology.

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in public health planning and management, with expertise in health systems strengthening at national and decentralised levels, and relevant areas of international health emergency/humanitarian preparedness.
• Experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment, with demonstrated professional credibility in the sector.
• Experience working in an RC/RC National Society and Federation/ICRC.
• Experience in community-based programming in a developing context.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

• Knowledge of public health and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning, both in emergencies, unstable settings and development.
• Programme and project management.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unusual and ambiguous situations.
• Ability to develop innovative applications of technology and systems that address public health priorities by analysing how information is organised and used and evaluating how this work contributes to project goals
• Skilled in Health Information Systems and Surveillance
• Strong skills in operational research, scientific writing and research methodologies
• 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 Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development Comments

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