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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” The 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 the 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 has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) is a joint initiative of the Big Six, acting as a key delivery mechanism to empower a movement of young people to take action to tackle global issues to improve their lives and their communities. The Big Six is an alliance of leading international youth-serving organizations. It is comprised of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (World YMCA), the World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (The Award). Together, the Big Six actively involve and engage more than 250 million young people, contributing to the empowerment of more than one billion young people during the last century.

Youth-led and co-created programs have been central to the Big Six’s collective strategic mission and joint cooperation. The Big Six are pleased to partner with the European Union, in GYM’s next phase to deliver the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) which provides direct financial support to youth-led initiatives focusing on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level.

For more background on the GYM, please visit: https://globalyouthmobilization.org/impact/

The role will be hosted in one of the IFRC field offices, and will be reporting to the Director, National Society Development.

The Program Manager, GYM, primarily focuses on the effective management and successful implementation of the European Commission–funded YEF, while also supporting the development, growth, and management of the GYM.  

A key priority is to lead the successful delivery of the YEF (80-70% of role’s engagement) to meet the current needs of the donor, stabilise and strengthen programme delivery structures, and oversee the transition of the current Project Coordination Team (PCT) to a fit-for-purpose operational model that supports current delivery and future GYM ambitions for scale.

The role will report to the Director of National Society Development at IFRC and will provide YEF oversight on behalf of the Steering Committee and the GYM board, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives. 

In addition, for further GYM programmes, the role will provide end-to-end programme oversight: ensuring strong programme design, delivery against agreed objectives, financial and risk management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and high-quality reporting to governance bodies and donors.

As 20-30% of the role, the Manager will work with the Big Six CEOs and their Strategic Leads in the strategic change management process, supporting the strategic evolution of GYM as a multi-partner global programme, to strengthen systems, explore future phases of programming, and ensure the sustainability and credibility of GYM as a flagship youth mobilisation mechanism.

1. Programme leadership and delivery

• Provide overall leadership for the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Global Youth Mobilization portfolio, with primary accountability for YEF implementation.
• Ensure YEF programme activities are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in line with donor agreements, governance decisions, and safeguarding standards.
• Maintain clear oversight across all programme components as per the needs of the YEF Steering Committee, including:
• Youth-led and network-led funding mechanisms
• Capacity building and technical support
• Youth-led advocacy, national engagement, and recognition initiatives
• Communications, digital platforms, and learning activities
• Ensure coherence and integration across workstreams, partners, and implementing teams.

2. Programme governance, quality assurance, and reporting

• Act as the primary programme interface with the GYM Chair, YEF Steering Group, and donors (when required), ensuring clear accountability and decision-making.
• Institutionalise the development of a GYM secretariat based on the outcomes of the consultancy process on the change management of the GYM.
• Lead the preparation and consolidation of high-quality narrative and financial reports, drawing inputs from the PCT and Big Six partners.
• Establish and maintain strong programme management systems, including risk management, issue tracking, and decision logs.
• Provide oversight of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) frameworks, ensuring evidence-informed delivery and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, contractual obligations, and organisational policies.

3. Operational transition and programme structure

• Lead the transition of the current YEF Project Coordination Team into a stable and effective programme delivery structure.
• Develop and implement a clear transition plan covering roles, responsibilities, workflows, and decision-making authority.
• Ensure continuity of delivery during transition periods, addressing operational risks and capacity gaps proactively.
• Strengthen systems and processes to support scalability and future programme phases.

4. Team leadership and coordination

• Line manage the Project Coordination Team and other senior programme staff as required.
• Provide clear direction, performance management, and professional support to programme leadership roles.
• Enable effective coordination across multiple organisations and teams, fostering a collaborative and accountable programme culture.
• Support strategic workforce planning aligned to programme needs and funding horizons.

5. Financial management and risk oversight

• Provide senior oversight of programme budgets, financial planning, and expenditure tracking, in coordination with the financial custodian.
• Ensure financial controls, risk mitigation, and value-for-money principles are embedded across programme delivery.
• Lead scenario planning for programme sustainability and future phases, informed by funding pipelines and delivery performance.

6. Strategic development and partnerships

• Contribute to the strategic positioning and evolution of GYM as a global partnership, grounded in delivery experience and learning.
• Drive the coordination / development and direction of the Big 6 partnership through the GYM.
• Support the identification and development of future funding opportunities and programme extensions, in collaboration with the Big Six.

• Maintain constructive relationships with donors, partners, and technical agencies, focused on programme quality and impact.
• Ensure communications and advocacy activities are aligned with programme/partnership objectives and evidence.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’s goals. 
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.
   

Required

• Postgraduate qualification in management, international development, public policy, programme management, or a related field.

Preferred

• Professional certification in programme or project management (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, PMP, Agile or equivalent).

Required

• At least 10 years of experience in programme or portfolio management within international development, humanitarian, youth, or social impact contexts.
• Experience in managing institutional donor-funded programmes, ideally including EU-funded initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-partner consortia or alliance-based programmes.
• Experience leading teams through transition, restructuring, or scale-up while maintaining delivery performance.
• Experience operating within formal governance structures and managing accountability to boards, steering groups, and institutional donors.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing large programme budgets, financial planning, and value-for-money.

Preferred

• Experience working directly with youth-led organisations, movements, or networks, particularly in global or regional contexts.
• Experience contributing to programme design and proposal development for institutional donors.

Required

• Strong understanding of financial management, risk, and compliance in complex programme environments.
• Proven ability to lead and deliver complex, multi-partner programmes to agreed objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Strong grasp of core programme management disciplines, with the ability to manage delivery through complexity and change.
• Track record of producing high-quality narrative and financial reporting and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Strong capability in identifying and mitigating programme-level risks, including delivery, fiduciary, and safeguarding risks.
• Ability to stabilise teams, clarify roles, and sustain performance during transition or scale-up phases.
• Commitment to accountability to programme participants, particularly youth-led organisations.
• Ability to lead future programme phases and funding strategies, grounded in delivery experience and learning.
• Strong systems thinking and focus on long-term programme sustainability.

Preferred

• Familiarity with EU systems, contracting modalities, and reporting requirements.

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.