Switzerland: Manager Operations Coordination

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 & Operations Division is in turn organised in three Departments, each of them led by a Director. The department of Disaster & Crisis (Prevention Response & Recovery) consists of five teams, of which Operations Coordination is a central one. The Manager, Operations Coordination works closely with other teams within the department (Emergency Operations Center; Cash Transfer Programming; Risk & Vulnerability; Migration & Displacement) and beyond (Health & Care; Logistics, Procurement & Supply Chain; Movement Coordination; Security; support services) to ensure a collaborative approach to agreeing emergency operation strategies with regional and country counterparts, as well as operational and programmatic quality and accountability. The Manager, Operations Coordination also oversees the global results on two of the IFRC 2016-2020 Areas of Focus, namely Shelter and Livelihoods and Basic Needs, while significantly contributing to the Strategies for Implementation of Strengthening National Societies (through NS preparedness), and Ensuring Effective International Disaster Management (through the strategic use of the IFRC global disaster response tools).

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Director, Disaster & Crisis, the Manager, Operations Coordination supports the IFRC network to ensure speedy, high quality, coherent and well-coordinated operations. The Manager, Operations Coordination oversees a team which delivers against the key headquarters roles of operational and programmatic quality and accountability (incl. risk management, standard setting and implementation, development and application of tools and procedures, mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues etc), thought leadership and knowledge sharing across relevant technical areas (in support of NSs, Regional and country office roles for management of operations and programmes), global representation and policy positioning. The Manager, Operations Coordination ensures a continuum approach to operations and programmes that supports and strengthens community preparedness, response, recovery and resilience across all areas of focus in the 2016-2020 Plan.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provide global coordination for operations:

•Maintain an overview of all operations worldwide, analyse trends and propose adaptations in IFRC preparedness, response and recovery approaches;

•Strive at all times for increased anticipation, and speedy, high quality, coherent and well-coordinated operations.

•Identify risks and challenges to the on-going operations, raise with regional counterparts, and provide advice as relevant to the Director and IFRC Senior Management Team on mitigation strategies;

•Ensure the implementation of the IFRC Secretariat Emergency Response Framework, which describes clear roles and responsibilities across all levels of the IFRC secretariat, to support timely, predictable and accountable emergency response decision making, and revolves around the following main concepts:

• Regional Offices bear the overall accountability for emergency response situations;
• The degree of engagement of the different IFRC Secretariat levels (Country Offices/Country Cluster Support Teams – Regional Offices - Headquarters) varies according to the disaster and crisis categorisation;
• Task Forces set up at all three levels ensure appropriate coordination during the initial phase of an emergency response;

•Liaise with IFRC Disaster & Crisis heads in the regions and with other Geneva divisional departments to ensure appropriate linkages and synergies in the IFRC's interventions;

•Promote and support NS and Regional and country office understanding and use of the IFRC Principles and Rules for RCRC Humanitarian Assistance;

•Support efforts to strengthen Movement Coordination and Cooperation through the further alignment of operational strategies.

Provide strategic direction and leadership in ensuring operational and programmatic coherence, quality and accountability:

•Contribute to the overall strategic vision and planning for the IFRC in collaboration with other departments and divisions – with a particular focus on strengthening NS capacities for developing and implementing effective operations and programmes – through the support of IFRC regional and country offices

•Provide high level policy, strategic and technical advice to Regional Offices and National Societies and collaborate with other teams and departments on issues across the preparedness, response, recovery, development programming continuum – with a focus on strengthening community resilience;

•Promote and support NSs and Regional and country offices use of Sphere standards and other relevant technical guidance;

•Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as protection, gender and inclusion, community engagement and accountability, movement coordination, and security, into IFRC operations and programmes;

•Support efforts to strengthen Movement Coordination and Cooperation through the further alignment of tools and approaches;

•Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of operations and programmes and the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning;

•Actively participate in IFRC’s knowledge networks and use and promote the use of the Movement Reference Centres and other Movement “shared leadership” initiatives;

•Support capacity and knowledge building of Regional Offices and National Societies.

Representation and policy positioning:

•Provide quality advice and support to the Governing Board and IFRC Senior Management Team on all matters related to IFRC operations and programmes;

•Build solid relationships with key global and regional partners, and promote preparedness thinking and strengthened emphasis on resilience in responding to disasters and crises;

•Represent the IFRC, as requested by the supervisor, and advocate for IFRC 's role with regards to the development/humanitarian nexus, and the localisation agenda;

•Support partnership building and resource mobilization for the department; •Ensure quality of reporting to partners and donors supporting the IFRC in Disaster & Crisis, from a substantive perspective.

Be a role model in leading and managing an effective, high quality team, fit for purpose:

•Define clear roles, accountabilities and activities, and assign them across the team members on an on-going basis while improving efficiencies within available resources;

•Plan, manage and monitor the use of available resources (people, budgets, etc.) of the team in order to deliver the agreed activities for area of responsibility;

•Ensure timely and adequate reporting against plans, including timely and articulate progress reports;

•Ensure the integrity of financial and administrative operations as well as the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures for operations and programmes issues related to the portfolio;

•Participate in internal control mechanisms for adherence to IFRC rules and regulations in contracts, assets, procurement, recruitment, etc., as required;

•Foster a customer service-oriented culture that values accountability for results, proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance;

•Create a working environment that ensures staff growth, motivation and satisfaction. Education

Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) - Required

Experience

Required:

•At least 10 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on management and supervisory experience in a multicultural environment

•Experience in working in a membership organisation in roles that include member capacity development, the development of organisational policies and procedures, and high-level representation.

•Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.

Preferred:

•Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC. Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

•Knowledge of organisational and management methodologies, techniques and interventions in order to create environment of sector excellences.

•Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.

•Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.

•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 Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development Comments

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