IFRC recruits 01 Roving Operations Manager

Roving Operations Manager

Strong candidate identified

Closing date (Geneva time zone):11-04-2019

Duty station:South Africa

Country:SOUTH AFRICA

Duty station status: Non Family Duty Station

Accompanied status: Non-Accompanied

Duration:3 MONTHS

Category of Staff: Delegate

Grade: D2

Vacancy No:IFRC02937

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 organization 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), IFRC 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 IFRC is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional, country cluster teams and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity 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 Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The southern Africa Cluster Office based in Pretoria, South Africa provides representation supports to the ten National Societies (NS) of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia. South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Based on IFRC mandate. The Cluster representation among others supports the NS in programming including planning and reporting as well as resource Management as the NS requires strengthen capacities especially in reporting and maintaining relationships with partners. Cyclone Idai made landfall on the evening of 15 March 2019 in the port city of Beira located in Sofala Province of Central Mozambique. The cyclone wreaked havoc on Beira and surrounding areas resulting in loss of communication, important damage and destruction to shelter and settlements, health and WASH facilities and thousands of hectares of standing crops, communication infrastructures and as well as loss of life and injury. The extent of the damage is still unfolding as access to communities is slowly being regained. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the extent of the devastation is widespread, and reports indicate that 1.85million people have been affected across Mozambique. On 19 March 2019, the Mozambican government declared a national emergency and has formally requested international assistance. As information becomes available there is an evident need to scale up the response and reach more individuals affected by the cyclone.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Country Cluster, the Operations Manager provides the technical lead to ensure optimal coordination and direct management of resources for the effective and efficient implementation of Disaster Risk Management programming. The Operations Manager will support implementation of the operation in collaboration with the National Red Cross-National Society who has overall oversight of the operation. The Operations Manager is responsible and accountable for the implementation plan, budget as well as reporting. The Operations will also ensure support is provided to all National Societies in the cluster to enhance the implementation of the emergency operation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Negotiate, plan and mobilise IFRC resources in support of the NS in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response.

• Supervise IFRC technical leads to ensure they work closely with the managers of relevant NS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.

• Along the NS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of the emergency plan of action. Support, the NS to enhance their position vis a vis the national and international coordination mechanisms.

• Support IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and to ensure provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crisis.

• Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions within all relevant programming divisions in the NS.

• 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 NS, Movement and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.

• Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution, and ensure that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.

• Work with the regional DM or DCPRR Unit to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the NS for emergency response.

• Support the NS in setting up the structure 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 NS in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions. Together with the NS and the Head of Country Office, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.

• Support the NS in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.

• Work with PMER leads in IFRC and the NS to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.

• Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk.

• Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the NS,

that budgets are monitored and any problems 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 in relevant area

Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT. FACT, ERU, RDRT training

Experience

At least 5 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff

Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially population movements

Work experience with RC/RC

Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation

Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context

Knowledge, skills and languages

Effective team and project management skills

Good analytical skills and solution-oriented

Good mentoring and capacity development skills

Ability to work well in a multicultural team

Excellent stress management skills

Demonstrated accountability

Fluently spoken and written English

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

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.