Country: Panama
Closing date: 04 Jul 2019
Head, Disaster and Crisis: Prevention, Response and Recovery
The Head of Disaster and Crisis lead the provision of quality technical and management support to regional and country offices in the coordination, implementation, risk mapping, analysis and review, (as well as National Society capacity development and representation), of the work of National Societies across all areas of focus outlined in the IFRC 2016-2020 Plan.
Job Duties & Responsibilities 1
The Head of Disaster and Crisis will develop and implement a Disaster and Crisis strategy and plan for the Americas region, aligned to the global Federation-wide and to globally agreed in the Houston Commitment. The specific duties and responsibilities include:
Crisis and emergency operations system
Ensure that IFRC operations system provides adequate support to National Societies in managing emergency operations
Validate EPoAs and budgets for DREF and/or appeals presented to Geneva meet the quality criteria and required guidance.
Ensure disaster and crisis response operations are appropriate and aligned with International Federation guidelines and policies (SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules, Seville agreement, etc.). Present a ready to sign DREF or appeal request to senior management.
When activated lead the Americas EOC and coordination with the EOC in Geneva HQ.
Identify, and mobilize requests for deployment of relevant International Federation disaster response tools, in support of National Society disaster management structures when agreed with the National Society and when the disaster exceeds their capacity.
Monitor disaster response operations outcomes/deliverables are achieved in a timely fashion, within budgets and maintaining the minimum ratios of relief, early recovery and longer term development goals.
Monitor that regular, timely and accurate narrative and financial reports for the Federation and other donors are produced.
Follow up and support continental efforts to develop and implement regional contingency plans according to the most disaster prone scenarios, such as those provided by hurricane season and El Niño/La Niña.
Promote coordination of emergency management actions with Red Cross partners, UN and other agencies in order to ensure adequate preparedness and appropriate, efficient and timely emergency response and early recovery.
Lead the DM system review process as defined in Toluca road map
Ensure that all IFRC support systems & units, including HR, finance, admin, logistics, PMER, health, PSK and all sectors within the Americas Disaster & Crisis (IDRL, etc) are informed, contributing to and aware of actions needed for ongoing operations.
Lead the Joint Task Force meetings on behalf of the Americas Regional Office.
Support the mobilization of Real Time Evaluation teams as needed during operations.
Programmes and operations quality assurance and support
To ensure that Disaster & Crisis unit works with regional/country representatives/coordinators, Geneva based staff and other ARO units to provide leadership in orienting National Societies on strategies for adopting an integrated approach to programme delivery including training and advise on changes to organizational structures
Provide technical support to regional/country representatives/coordinators in the preparedness of country long term planning frameworks as they pertain to relevant programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Work with regional/country representatives/coordinators, Geneva based staff and other ARO units/teams in carrying out relevant research, sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and best practices with the aim to increase programming quality and impact.
To ensure the integration of lessons learned, develop tools and recommendation within Disaster & Crisis modus operandi. This process should be properly documented and evidence should be ready available.
Ensure that early recovery actions are linked to longer term recovery while respecting and promoting environmental standards and local contexts.
Job Duties & Responsibilities 2
Institutional Preparedness and readiness
Ensure that National Society disaster and contingency plans and the National Intervention Teams are well linked to regional tools as part of the overall regional response system
Promote that Disaster & Crisis unit facilitates training access, tools and opportunities, in close collaboration with Reference Centres, to strengthen NS Institutional preparedness both at national and regional level.
Ensure that NS and country cluster receive specific orientation, training, tools and technical advice on integral disaster and crisis risk management according to key external trends.
Increase the institutional knowledge of the Federation Disaster response and recovery related policies, code of conduct, principles and rules, guidelines and other quality standards tools to assist national societies in the development of their capacity and their accountability to beneficiaries.
Advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy
To support the development of IFRC Policy, Strategy, Positioning Review process. Promote the development of IFRC policy and positions regarding the Focus Areas of the IFRC Global Plan, as well as other comprehensive risk management issues, with a view to expanding technical advice and the advocacy agenda.
Support in defining institutional policy and positions with regard to Red Cross areas of expertise in comprehensive disaster risk management, and establishing a strategic direction that is aligned with the National Societies.
Ensure the focus of IFRC advocacy efforts on strengthening the positioning of NSs in the Americas as privileged auxiliary partners of their respective public authorities in the humanitarian field.
Ensure that support is provided to NSs to enable them to assist their respective authorities in advocacy around policy and laws. (Others)
Community Resilience: To ensure that Department scales up investment on strengthening community resilience through ambitious and integrated longer term plans, in cooperation with NSs and other key partners, in line with S2020 and The Implementation Framework for Community Resilience in the Americas. Follow up the process to put into operation and guide the direct implementation of the One Billion Coalitionfor Community Resilience in the Americas. Ensure strategy development and implementation and the roadmap to resilience through its programmes and technical support to priority areas that aim to reduce vulnerability and create resilient communities, placing NSs at the center of the action.
Pillar coordination: Support to Deputy Director to ensure strategic coherence and alignment between DCPRR, Logistics and Health. Support to Deputy Director to ensure programmatic and operational coordination between DCPRR, Logistics and Health. Monitor working relationships, programmatic and operational initiatives and internal procedures within the pillar. Represent the pillar in the SMT meeting
Lateral relations and general tasks: Establish and ensure effective working relationships with the other programmatic and service departments, in particular with HR, Learning and Innovation, Strategic Relationships and Cooperation, as well as with the IFRC country and regional offices. (Others)
Management: Select, lead and manage the team members. (Others)
Education
University degree in management and/or social sciences or related fields
Basic Training Course: successful completion and selection
Advanced training in disaster management/relief/logistics
Clear and demonstrated knowledge of urban risk and community resilience issues
Relevant post graduate degree (preferred)
Experience
10 years’ experience of working for a humanitarian organisation in a developing country in the area of disaster management and development in which at least 5 years have been spent in the Americas.
10 years’ experience analysing, planning and managing development programmes and resources
10 years of experience of managing and supporting staff
Experience of working with Red Cross/Red Crescent
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Thorough knowledge of technical, managerial, logistical and other aspects of preparedness, relief and recovery programming for people affected by disasters and other emergencies
Demonstrated experience in disaster preparedness, relief and recovery, including in sectors relevant to the IFRC
Self-supported in computing systems
Demonstrated success in project/programme planning, budgeting, management, reporting and evaluation
Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
Ability to work in a cross-functional environment
Available to travel to other countries
Valid international driving licence (manual gears)
Political and cultural sensitivity
Knowledge of key donor agencies priorities and practices(preferred)
LANGUAGES:
Fluent spoken and written English
Fluent spoken and written Spanish (Preferred )
Good command of another IFRC official language (French), or a language relevant to the region.
Competencies and Values
VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust
MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development; Strategic Orientation
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others
How to apply:
A letter of motivation must be submitted along with the application no later than May 1, 2019. In order to ensure 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 you submit your application thru the following link https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/support/hr/recruitment-process/current-vacancies/ taking into account the following:
Important Note:
- Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through an international contract;
- The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and applicable international labor law;
- Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.
- The position will be based in Panama