Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) supports 38 National Societies in the region through eight country delegations – CD (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Philippines) and five country cluster delegations’ teams – CCDs (Bangkok, Beijing, Jakarta, New Delhi and Suva), each covering a cluster of countries. Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore each receive direct support from IFRC APRO.
IFRC/APRO region has developed the Operational plan for 2022-2025 in line with the IFRC Strategy 2030 and its 5 Strategic Priorities (1. Climate and Environmental crisis, 2. Evolving crisis and disasters, 3. Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, 4. Migration and Identity, 5. Values, power and inclusion). As part of the HDCC Department, the Shelter and Settlements Coordinator will be based Kuala Lumpur or in another Country where IFRC have legal status.
IFRC will mainstream its Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach beyond the more than 70 National Societies currently assessing, measuring, and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of their response systems to strengthen response capacity. Special attention will be given to the preparedness needs of National Societies working in fragile contexts, complex emergencies, and protracted crises.
In Asia Pacific, the complex emergencies and protracted crisis continue to grow and IFRC will going to scale its humanitarian actions prioritizing the development of regional framework to address protracted crises for Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, expanding funds access across preparedness, response and early recovery.
Job purpose
The main purpose of this position is to coordinate emergency operations team in APRO, providing technical advice, guidelines, ensuring the quality of operations based on timely response, effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance according to IFRC standards and protocols. The Coordinator, Large Scale Disaster and Crises will be responsible for managing a team of 3 Operations Coordinators and 1 Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) Coordinator. Additional staff capacity may expand for specific seasonal events (example: typhoon and monsoon season) to increase the regional capacity to manage and coordinate simultaneous emergency operations.
Additionally, the role will be responsible to establish a robust coordination mechanism among the IFRC corporative services, CCD/CD and the Operations team in GVA in monitoring implementation, improvement of the regional key performances indicators and promoting the operational excellence. This position will oversee the regional institutional preparedness and readiness to response to disasters and crises in Asia Pacific that includes readiness plans, preparedness meetings and an adequate training process to CCD and NSs on the use of DREF, Emergency Appeal and others response tools of IFRC.
Inherent in the role is the need for flexibility, the ability to travel, and willingness to work in multiple contexts with different stakeholders.
Job duties and responsibilities
Disaster and crisis Response & Recovery
- Ensure that Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) and budget for DREF and/or Emergency Appeals (EAs) meet the quality criteria and aligned with IFRC guidelines and policies (Sphere, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules, etc.). Present a ready-to-signed DREF or EA requests to the Lead, Evolving Crisis and Disasters and the Head of HDCC.
- Request – in agreement with the Lead, Evolving Crises and Disasters, and the Coordinator, Protracted Crises and Recovery- the deployment of relevant IFRC disaster response tools (Rapid Response Personnel (RRP), Head of Emergency Operations (HEOps), Emergency Response Units (ERUs) and others).
- Facilitate the pre-deployments and/or deployments of IFRC staff and RRP to disaster and crises in coordination with Operation Coordinators, Protracted Crisis and Recovery Coordinator and Surge Capacity Coordinator.
- Ensure accurate, rapid, and updated information on ongoing operations through information bulletins, Go reports, flash updates, situations reports, factsheets, secondary data analysis etc. in coordination with the Information Management (IM) team and the Protracted Crises and Recovery Coordinator.
- Ensure that IFRC Disaster Management system provides adequate and timely support to CCD/CD and NS in managing emergency operations (floods, earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons, population movements, epidemics and other disasters/crises) following the IFRC Emergency Response Framework, Policies and Core Humanitarian Standards.
- Support and monitor the Regional Operations Coordinators in the operational support and guidance to DREF and EA operations.
- Take the lead to produce the bi-weekly operations update/report and risk watch in coordination with the Operations Coordinators and CCD/CD. In coordination with relevant colleagues, establish and maintain regional risk register for orange and red level operations plus regularly highlight and report key risks to the senior management.
- Monitor disaster and crisis response operations outcomes and ensure deliverables are achieved in a timely fashion, within budget and maintaining the minimum ratios of relief, early recovery and longer-term development goals.
- Lead the weekly Operational meeting with the Ops. Coordinators to monitoring implementation process, challenges and actions points to support the CCD/CD.
- Responsible to setup and manage the Regional Emergency Operation Center, including the definition of roles & responsibilities and EOC protocol for APRO.
- Together with the DREF Coordinator, ensure a tracking system for DREF operations (risk watch, request, approval, implementation and closing) to monitoring the Regional KPI.
- Deploy the Operations Coordinators to support CCD/CD to develop DREF, Emergency Appeal and to coordinate operations when it is required and requested by the Delegation.
- Assure good preparation, management and follow-up of Regional Task Forces and Joint Task Force according to the ERF and Task Force guidelines.
- Coordinate with Geneva counterparts, Regional Office and CCD/CD, PMER, Finances Communication and other Units the necessary communication for a prompt and adequate support to emergency operations.
Organizational Readiness
- Lead regional efforts to develop and implement regional readiness and contingency plans according to the disaster and crisis-prone scenarios.
- In collaboration with the Coordinator, Protracted Crises and Recover, coordinate the development of the scenarios planning exercises.
- Lead the processes to develop regional readiness plans for recurrent events in Asia Pacific (Typhoon season, Monsoon season and others).
- Responsible to maintain the updated regional emergency Standard Operating Procedures (SoP), including the definition of timelines and products to be delivered during the different stages of the emergencies and crises.
- Instruct the Regional Operations Coordinators to work alongside with its CCD/CD to develop specific readiness plan for the Delegations and NS as necessary.
- Work together with the Coordinator, Protracted Crisis and Recovery to deliver trainings at regional level to enhance the regional capacities for Disaster and Crisis Response (Ops. Manager trainings, Team Leader training, Emergency Need assessment training etc.).
- Responsible to organize together with her/his team the annual preparedness meeting in coordination and support from other Departments and CCD/CD.
- Lead the process for regional capacities mapping for disaster and crisis response, coordinating with the Regional Ops. Coordinators and IM team to maintain the information updated.
- Coordinate her/his team to provide support for Preparedness for Effective Response activities in Asia Pacific, making sure that the Ops. Coordinators and DREF Coordinator bring the necessary technical advice and support to CCD/CD and NS by participating in the PER cycle and its implementation plan.
- In coordination with the Protracted Crisis and Recovery Coordinator r and the Surge Coordinator, conceptualize and implement the Development Program for Operations Managers in Asia Pacific.
Management
- Select, lead, and manage the team members under his/her direct responsibility.
- Ensure that the technical team under his/her responsibility has well defined results-based priority plans and maintain updated capacities to respond to operations and programs at any time.
- Prepare accurate and timely reports in accordance with Secretariat requirements, formats, and standards.
- Manage the emergency duty system for Operations Coordinator, making sure that all sub regionals are always covered to receive support from the Regional Office in any time.
- Review roles and responsibilities among the team ensuring equal balance in the workload during emergency response.
- Take the lead to reinforce her/his team with more personnel during the peak of the monsoon season, typhoon and cyclones season and/or in case of large-scale disasters.
- Prepare proposals and advocate for funding to support the team under her/his responsibility.
- Ensure that annual objectives and appraisal reviews performance are completed according to timeframes define by HR department.
- Ensure a proper and continuous monitoring of the key performance indicators related to operations, it includes DREF request, Emergency Appeals, Operational Strategies and reporting.
- Assume the role of acting / Lead, Evolving Crisis and Crisis when required and prior agreement with the line manager.
Long-term planning
- Responsible to lead the planning process with her/his team, it includes regional context analysis, coordination with other units, CCD/CD and the HDCC team.
- Responsible to monitoring the implementation of the annual plan, specifically the objectives and activities linked with her/his role.
- Responsible to coordinate with her/his team to prepare implementation reports following the PMER guidelines and deadlines.
Coordination
- Maintain strong relationships and cooperation with other units in the Regional Office, in particular those directly involved in the disaster management process, as well as PNS and ICRC to ensure a rapid and coordinated response.
- Coordinate Federation activities on disaster response and early recovery with Red Cross partners, UN and other agencies to ensure adequate preparedness and appropriate, efficient and timely emergency response and early recovery.
- Represent, under the request of her/his line manager, the Federation in disaster response forum.
- Facilitate a Federation-wide approach to operations.
Position Requirements
Education
Required
- University Degree in relevant field (Disaster Risk Management, Conflict Management, Development Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Affairs, etc.).
- IMPACT course or equivalent knowledge and trainings.
Preferred
- IFRC Emergency trainings or equivalents (Team Leader, Operations Manager, Need Assessment and Coordination etc.).
- HEOP/DHEOps certification or in progress.
Experience
Required
- Min. 5 years of professional experience in disaster management, including assessment, relief, logistics and coordination, working for a humanitarian aid organisation.
- Min. 5 years of experience in analysing, planning and managing disaster response operations, programmes and resources.
- At least 3 years of work experience with contingency and readiness planning exercises.
- Min. 3 years of proven experience managing DREF and Emergency Appeals in the field and at Cluster/Regional level.
- Min. 3 years of experience inmanaging and supporting staff.
- Experience planning and managing budgets.
- Experience writing narrative and financial reports.
- Deployed at least once in the field to lead and manage large scale emergency operations as Operations Manager (Orange or Red emergencies).
Preferred
- Previous experience working in Asia Pacific and knowledge of the region.
- Experience working with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
- Experience coordinating operations at regional level, preparing DREF and Emergency appeal, leading joint task forces and other regional coordination mechanisms.
Knowledge and Skills
Required
- Ability to work in a diverse cultural context.
- Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them.
- Highly organised and able to work independently and proactively, with ability to work in team.
- Overall understanding of IFRC budget and finance management.
- Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking.
- Skills in training and developing staff.
- Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing.
- Valid international driving licence (manual gears).
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Familiarity with current standards and guidelines for humanitarian emergency response.
- Knowledge of Fundamental Principles and RCRC Movement.
- Knowledge of Information Management tools and software’s.
Languages
Required
- Fluent spoken and written English.
Preferred
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
Reporting to:
Thematic Lead, Evolving Crisis and Disasters – IFRC
Position is based in:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contract length:
12 months contract (possibility of family posting)
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.
Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.