Switzerland: Team Leader, Global Networks and Operations Practice

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 (DCPRR) consists of 2 teams, of which Programme & Operations and Global Network Practise is one. The Team Leader works closely with the Team Leader, Emergency Operations and Information Management, as well as other divisional teams (Health, Logistics, Movement Coordination, Security) to ensure a collaborative approach to agreeing emergency operation strategies with regional and country counterparts, operational quality and accountability, institutional and hazard risk mapping and analysis, and the strategic use of the IFRC global disaster response tools.

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the DCPRR Director, the Team Leader supports the IFRC network to ensure high quality, coherent and well-coordinated programmes and operations. Specifically, the Team Leader oversees a team who delivers against the key headquarters roles of operational and programmatic quality and accountability (incl. risk analysis, standard setting, tools and procedure development, etc), thought leadership and knowledge sharing across relevant technical areas (in support of NS, Regional and country office roles for management of programmes and operations), and global representation and policy positioning. The Team Leader ensures a continuum approach to programmes and operations 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 strategic direction and leadership in ensuring programmatic coherence:

• 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 programmes and operations – through the support of IFRC regional and country offices.
• Collaborate with other teams and departments to ensure a continuum approach to programmes and operations that supports and strengthens community preparedness, response, recovery and resilience across all areas of focus in the 2016-2020 Plan.
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues, such as gender and violence protection, HIV/AIDS, emergency health and WASH, movement coordination, security, international humanitarian law into IFRC programmes and operations.
• Support efforts to strengthen Movement Coordination through the further alignment of tools and approaches for programmes and operations.Ensure systematic and effective analysis, monitoring and evaluation, including but not limited to the appropriate use of real time evaluation (RTE), field visits, and participation in regional and country level Movement partnership meetings.
• Provide quality advice and support to the Governing Board and IFRC Senior Management Team on all matters related to IFRC programmes and operations.

Ensure operational and programmatic quality and accountabilty

• Oversee the mapping and analysis of global hazards, risks and NS capacities across all relevant technical sectors to inform programme and operational strategies and decision making DCPRR sectors.
• Promote and support NS and Regional and country office understanding and use of the IFRC Principles and Rules for RCRC Humanitarian Assistance.
• Promote and support NS and Regional and country office use of Sphere standards and other relevant technical guidance.
• Oversee the development and dissemination of tools and procedures.
• Provide high level policy, strategic and technical advice to Regional Offices and National Societies on issues across the preparedness, response, recovery, development programming continuum – with a focus on strengthening community resilience.
• Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of all programmes and operations and the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.
• Ensure adequate input in relevant DCPRR data systems in conformity with requirement.
• Lead, facilitate and actively participate in IFRC and Movement knowledge networks.
• Use and promote the use of the IFRC Research Centers.
• Support capacity and knowledge building of Regional Offices and National Societies.
• Identify risks and challenges to the ongoing operations of the DCPRR and provide advice to the Director on mitigation strategies.
• Liaise with IFRC DCPRR heads in the regions to ensure appropriate linkages and synergies in the IFRC's interventions.
• Liaise with other divisional departments to ensure appropriate linkages and synergies in the IFRC's interventions.

Global representation and policy positioning

• Build solid relationships with key global and regional partners and promotes preparedness thinking and emphasizes strengthened resilience in responding to the crisis.
• Represent the IFRC, as requested by the supervisor.
• Support partnership building and resource mobilization for DCPRR.
• Advocate for IFRC 's role in the crisis response, as developmental actor amidst the humanitarian actors, emphasizing a resilience lens on crisis and disaster response.
• Liaise regularly and forge close linkages with other Humanitarian, agencies and entities, as well as other international and national stakeholders concerned DCPRR.
• Ensure quality of reporting to partners and donors supporting the IFRC in DCPRR, from a substantive perspective.
• Support management hosted programmes (incl. SCHR, GRS) and reference centres (incl. Climate Centre, GDPC, Livelihood Centre, Shelter Research Unit).
• Manage global and regional partners in resource mobilization in line with corporate guidelines and mobilize, foster, and provide substantive inputs related to global external partnerships.
• Manage Inter-agency coordination (Humanitarian Standards, SDGs, Sendai Framework, UNFCCC etc.)

Ensures knowledge management focusing on achieving the following results:

• Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information.
• Ensure adequate input in relevant DCPRR data systems in conformity with requirement.
• Ensure systematic and effective analysis, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge extraction & sharing, and participation in Governing Board and/or Emergency Support Group meetings.
• Actively participate in IFRC’s knowledge networks and takes advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the regions and globally and encourages team to do so by creating a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Use and promote the use of the Research Centers.
• Support capacity and knowledge building of Regional Offices and National Societies.
• Ensure timely and adequate reporting against plans, including timely and articulate progress reports.

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 ongoing 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 the integrity of financial and administrative operations as well as the consistent application of IFRC rules and procedures for programme and operations 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.
• Lead the delivery of service improvement, good practice, continuous learning and knowledge sharing between the IFRC and NSs and between colleagues.
• Create a working environment that ensures staff growth, motivation and satisfaction.
• Directly supervise the Operations and Global Networks Practice Staff; act as secondary supervisor to project staff directly working on DCPRR and provide effective leadership in overall direction and guidance for crisis response.
  Education

Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) is 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, with developing countries and/or with an international organisation at management level.

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 & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision Making, National Society & Cusstomer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust,

Managerial Competencies : Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development

Functional Competencies : Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

Please apply under organization's website : http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=2584