Background
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 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
COVID-19 Response On 31 December 2019, Wuhan city in China reported cases of pneumonic disease of unknown origin, which was later confirmed to be caused by a new coronavirus. The disease caused by this new coronavirus, COVID-19, has since spread world-wide, including to Myanmar. In response to the massive humanitarian needs wrought by the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, IFRC has scaled up its Global Emergency Appeal, initially launched on 31 January 2020, with some portion of the Appeal operation allocated to meet the needs of people affected by COVID-19 in Myanmar. Myanmar Civil Unrest Response On 1 February 2021, Myanmar a political crisis occurred in Myanmar generating ongoing civil unrest with humanitarian impacts across all 14 States and regions. People injured in clashes linked to protest activities have required first aid support and/or ambulance services. Banking disruptions have restricted access to cash for populations across the country and reduced operational capacity for humanitarian response. A disrupted supply chain has increased prices for food and other basic commodities. Economic consequences include the risk of food insecurity for already vulnerable populations. Public health system disruptions have reduced health access and also increased public health risks, including for COVID-10 mitigation and treatment. Population displacement is increasing in existing areas of protracted crisis as well as in additional region/states. Regulatory measures such as internet restrictions and curfews have also impacted on humanitarian needs and operational response capacity. In response to this unfolding crisis, IFRC is supporting MRCS with a response reaching affected populations with first aid and basic health services as well as basic relief assistance and socio-economic support, focused on the most vulnerable communities, including those experiencing displacement and/or food insecurity. Within the response, investments in Branch capacity are enhancing capacity across the country for key areas of emergency support, including for people at risk from cyclones and flood in the period from May to October. In view of the scaled-up IFRC-supported operation, the capacity of IFRC Country Delegation for Myanmar to support the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in coordinating these responses is being bolstered for the extended timeframe required to address the protracted nature of both crises. There is a need to ensure smooth transition to medium-term personnel, which aligns planning and support needs both across MRCS Departments and in branch level interventions. It is in this context that the Myanmar Country Delegation is seeking an Operations Manager.
Job Purpose
The Operations Manager will provide leadership to personnel responsible for the COVID-19 response operation and the Myanmar Civil Unrest Response, ensuring that these positions are coordinated in supporting MRCS in delivering core services in accordance with its mandate. The incumbent will also be responsible for membership coordination and Movement coordination on COVID-19 and new emergency operations aspects. In addition, the Operations Manager will ensure participation of IFRC – together with MRCS – in coordination platforms established by external agencies including the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT).
Reporting to the Program Coordinator in the Myanmar Delegation in Yangon, the Operations Manager provides technical leadership to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of IFRC-supported COVID-19 response and the Myanmar Civil Unrest as well as other new emergency operations in Myanmar.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Negotiate, plan and mobilize IFRC resources in support of the National Society in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response.
- Ensure that IFRC technical leads work closely with the managers of MRCS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.
- Along MRCS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of IFRC-supported emergency operations. Includes supporting the National Society to enhance its position vis-à-vis national and international coordination mechanisms.
- Guide IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the structures, capacity and performance of the National Society. Entails analyzing and understanding its current strengths and weaknesses and ensuring provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crises.
- Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions with relevant counterparts in the National Society.
- Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools.
- Assist the National Society, IFRC membership and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
- Support Myanmar Red Cross to implement COVID-safe programming measures to protect personnel and affected communities.
- Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution so that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats. Assist with disaster and threat risk analysis to ensure that operations are prepared for – and responsive to – compounding crises.
- Work with the IFRC Asia Pacific Disaster, Climate and Crisis Unit (DCC) and Health Unit to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the National Society for emergency response.
- Support the National Society in setting up the structures needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.
- Support the National Society in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions.
- Together with the National Society, the Head of Country Delegation and the Programme Coordinator, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.
- Support the National Society in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.
Work with the IFRC Asia Pacific PMER Unit and the National Society to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
Prepare operational and partner updates which are context sensitive and aligned to specific communication protocols, prioritizing Red Cross engagement as a neutral and impartial humanitarian response actor.
Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Head of Country Office and the HR departments and/or surge desk of the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO).
Ensure sound financial management is applied to all IFRC-supported operations within the National Society, including ensuring that budgets are monitored, problems are identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.
Education
University degree, or equivalent qualifying experience, in relevant area is required.
Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT. FACT, ERU, RDRT training is required.
Experience
- At least 5 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff is required.
- Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially population movements is required.
- Work experience with RC/RC is required.
- Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation is required.
- Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context is preferred.
Knowledge, skills and languages
- Effective team and project management skills is required.
- Good analytical skills and solution-oriented is required.
- Good mentoring and capacity development skills is required.
- Ability to work well in a multicultural team is required.
- Excellent stress management skills is required.
- Demonstrated accountability is required.
- Fluently spoken and written English is required.
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred.
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.
How to apply:
Position advertisement can be also found at
Interested candidates can apply this position at below link:
Submission for Operations Manager - Welcome (recruitmentplatform.com)