IFRC recruits 01 Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Closing date (Geneva time zone):05-09-2019

Duty station:Uganda

Country:UGANDA

Duty station status: N/A

Accompanied status: N/A

Duration:5 Months

Category of Staff: Delegate

Grade: To be determined

Vacancy No:IFRC03333

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 Eastern Africa (EA) Country Cluster office supports 8 (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan) countries in the EA region from Nairobi, Kenya. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) and the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) work is guided by the principle that disaster preparedness starts and ends with communities. As such IFRC and URCS aims at building capacity and skill of communities and local institutions, while strengthening URCS preparedness and response capacity. In particular IFRC and URCS aims at i) strengthening community based surveillance systems with a focus on one health; ii) reinforcing linkages between Early Warning and Early Action (EW/EA) with a focus on epidemics and new influxes, including drafting and revising of contingency plans and preparedness measures and iii) responding timely to emergencies through activation of the crisis modifiers. These objectives are part of the “Disaster and Epidemic Preparedness project” funded by ECHO, the “Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme – CP3” funded by USAID and the “URCS Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) response / preparedness plan of action” funded by several donors, among which UN agencies and Governmental stakeholders. With respect to EVD, since the declaration of the 10th EVD outbreak in DRC in August 2018, URCS is engaged in Preparedness activities in districts along the border with DRC, selected among those identified as most at risk of EVD importation by the Ministry of Health (MoH). URCS has strengthened its intervention after the declaration of the EVD outbreak in Uganda in June 2019. In line and guided by Governmental plans, URCS intervention is focused on: a) risk communication, community engagements and sensitization (RCCE); b) community-based surveillance (CBS) at community level; c) screening at point of entry (PoE); d) provision of psychosocial support (PSS); e) implementation of infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures, including Safe and Dignified Burials (SDB); f) strengthen the National Society in Epidemic Preparedness through the revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and contingency plans.The ability of URCS to respond to disasters has over time been founded on the existing policies, guidelines and plans supporting the institution in discharging its mandate. This has been further strengthened by the network of committed and experienced volunteers and personnel. Disaster Management surge capacity has been built through the national and international Red Cross surge systems, including the National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) members and Red Cross Branch Action Teams (RCAT).

Job Purpose

Based in the Mid-Western region, Uganda the Operations Manager will;

Support the URCS to manage the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemics preparedness project to ensure set objectives are met within the approved budget and timeframe;

Ensure alignment and complementarity of the ECHO-funded Disaster and Epidemics preparedness project with other ongoing Preparedness interventions (CP3 and OIA);

Ensure alignment and complementarity of the ECHO-funded Disaster and Epidemics preparedness project with URC’s annual preparedness and response plan.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the IFRC EA Operations Coordinator in Nairobi;

Working closely with the URCS Operations Manager of the ECHO-funded Disaster and Epidemics preparedness project and with technical staff involved in the operation;

Collaborating with the URCS Operations Manager for EVD activities and URCS CP3 Program manager;

Overseeing the coordination of timely, efficient and effective IFRC support to the URCS ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic preparedness project;

Ensuring an overview of IFRC support to URCS preparedness activities to guarantee complementary of actions;

Supporting the central and field levels implementation structure in operational planning and implementation of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic preparedness project in accordance with agreed priorities, financial plans and adherence to relevant IFRC/URCS standards and requirements;

Ensuring that any expenditure of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic preparedness project is conducted in a manner that is compliant and adhering to IFRC procurement policies and procedures;

Supporting the National Society with the implementation of technical components of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemics preparedness project;

Providing regular written reports to the Operations Unit in Nairobi;

Supporting URCS to ensure close cooperation with Movement partners as well as communication and coordination with Government officials and agencies, UN partners, non-governmental organizations and donors. The Operations Manager will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

Overall responsibility for supporting URCS in the planning, management and reporting of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic preparedness project;

Ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms as per PMER plans developed / to be developed, while strengthen capacities of URCS PMER department;

In collaboration with IFRC Finance (Kampala) and URCS Disaster Management and Finance departments, monitoring expenditure against budget;

In collaboration with URCS Disaster Management and Supply Chain departments, developing a Procurement Plan as per agreed budget and monitor its implementation;

In collaboration with URCS Supply Chain department ensuring the correct management of the fleet;

Ensuring the timely development and provision of project narrative and financial reports as per grant agreement;

Supporting EACST in the development of project proposals as completion / scale up of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic preparedness project;

Providing coaching, mentoring and capacity building support, as required, to the operations management and technical staff of URCS;

Ensure the application of the strategic direction of operations and focusing on achievement of the planned objectives;

Support the URCS structures to cooperate, collaborate and consult with key partners including Government agencies, UN partners and NGOs, and Movement partners to ensure consistency, harmonization and to avoid and duplication of effort;

Ensuring the harmonization and complementarity of the ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic Preparedness project of other Preparedness activities (OIA and CP3) and supporting the EASCT in their operational and financial implementation;

Ensuring URCS adheres to IFRC procurement and logistics procedures.

Ensuring URCS adhere to International standards (i.e SPHERE) and National standards (i.e. on epidemics)

Ensuring ECHO-funded Disasters and Epidemic Preparedness project is in line with Government Guidelines, Strategies and Policies;

Facilitating the documentation of best practices and lessons learned from the URCS activities and assist in disseminating them to Federation staff and partners.

Assuring full compliance of operations with RC/RC principles, IFRC rules, regulations and policies and operational strategies of the HNS and relevant reference documents and policies (Sphere, Do No Harm).Performing any other related duties or responsibilities that may be assigned by the Operations Coordinator.

Education

Relevant University degree (International Relations, Disaster Management, Public Health)

Experience

Demonstrable experience working as an Operations manager, preferably in a remote or isolated emergency context and/or in a refugee camp setting.

Five years’ experience working for a humanitarian aid or local organization on empowerment and community-driven capacity building.

Experience building and maintaining strong cooperative and professional relationships with local and international partners

Experience of project planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Experience of writing comprehensive narrative and financial reports

Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement-Experience of working on Preparedness, Disaster Management, Epidemics operations.

EVD project as preference.

Experience in working on Refugee operations.-Experience of working with EU and ECHO funds

Knowledge, skills and languages

IMPACT course (or equivalent knowledge)-Technical background in International Relations, Disaster Management and Publish Health

Knowledge of / experience with participatory methodologies/ volunteer management in emergencies

Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spread sheets, word-processing, e-mail)

Strong demonstrable skills and expertise in capacity building in emergencies

Good skills in training, facilitation and presentations

Excellent communications skills and ability to sensitively negotiate complex situations-Valid international driving license (manual gears)

Skills in mentoring and developing staff

Willingness to spend 5 months in a remote environment

Creativity and the ability to work with limited resources

Fluency in spoken and written English

Competencies and values

-Teamwork

-Communications

-Integrity

-National Society relations

-Empowering others

-Professionalism

Comments

Please note that short-listing of candidates will be done on a rolling-basis.

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.