Coordinator, Operations

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpa); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.
 
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. 

As one of the five decentralized parts of the Secretariat, the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROE), based in Budapest, Hungary leads the support to National Societies of 54 countries through Country and Country Cluster Delegations and directly from Budapest spread across Western and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. 

As part of the Disasters, Climate and Crises unit (DCC) and under the supervision of the Thematic lead, Operations Coordination, the Operations Coordinator supports the management and implementation of IFRC emergency response operations in the region and acts as a focal point from Budapest office. The incumbent will also support more broadly the IFRC network in the ROE Region with the maintenance and development of the local-to-regional IFRC emergency response systems to ensure timely, high quality and well-coordinated disaster and crisis operations. 

The Operations Coordinator, under the line management of the DCC Manager/Thematic lead, Operations Coordination and reporting technically to the  Operations Coordination Senior Officer in Geneva, is accountable for overseeing the coordination of timely, efficient and effective IFRC support to National Societies in responding to sudden and slow-onset disasters and crises with assigned geographical area of responsibility.

The Operations Coordinator generally focuses on coordination, leadership, strategic support and technical guidance, with the option of time-bound remote operation management support at country-level, as may be needed. Additionally, the role is responsible for mobilizing and coordinating internal sectoral support to the operation. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring monitoring and appropriate, timely and quality response to emerging situations in the region, including providing response to orange operations.

The position holder will be responsible for the following:

Disaster Response Coordination

• Coordinate and provide leadership to timely and appropriate mobilization of global response tools – financial (DREF and Emergency Appeals), coordination and technical support (Surge or otherwise) and service delivery (ERU), alongside Cluster/Country Delegations and in agreement with the National Society receiving assistance.
• When National Societies are not covered by a Country/Cluster Delegation, liaise directly with the affected NS to coordinate the response and mobilize required IFRC support.
• In the absence of the Surge Officer position at ROE, administer deployment of IFRC Rapid Response personnel in the geographical areas of responsibility, following established Regional Surge processes (alert, deployment, end of mission).
• Ensure response operations under the incumbent’s purview are appropriate and aligned with internal guidelines and policies including SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules, Strengthening Movement Cooperation and Coordination (SMCC).
• Lead monitoring and documentation of implementation rates, performance and quality of IFRC-supported response operations under his/her purview against developed indicators and benchmarks, budgets and compliance, and propose corrective action in a timely manner where necessary. Escalate major issues to senior leadership as required.
• Deploy to support operational set up and response and/or in support of responding NS’s as required.

Monitoring, Processing, and Operational Support

• Ensure collaboration with thematic functions on monitoring, analysis and dissemination of timely and accurate disaster and crisis information before, during, and after disasters, keeping the senior management teams informed on emerging or significant humanitarian situations.
• Further develop and streamline monitoring of emerging disaster and crisis situations with Cluster/Country Delegations and the IM team to ensure timely and active management of emergency situations as they appear and evolve.
• Ensure that IFRC policies, frameworks, procedures, standards, guidelines and methodologies for delivering humanitarian assistance to people affected by disasters and crises are applied.
• Support the Operations team in the dissemination of IFRC procedures and frameworks, including the Emergency Response Framework and Emergency Appeal guidelines.
• Support and strengthen the Federation’s work with National Societies in promoting a holistic and integrated approach to disaster risk management in line with the Federation’s frameworks, strategies and approaches for community safety and resilience.
• Provide technical support to NSs in the Region to strengthen their Disaster Management capacity in line with Federation-wide and regional policies and strategies.
• Contribute to the Ops team effort to finalize regional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disaster and crisis monitoring and response.
• Promote a culture of Movement cooperation and coordination to maximize the quality and effectiveness in the assessment of needs and the delivery of disaster and crisis response operations.

Other Responsibilities

• Network and coordinate with Movement partners, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, national disaster management agencies, inter-governmental organizations, Civil-Military actors, and private sector to ensure that the IFRC shares information and is well informed on best practices and key developments in disaster response and recovery, in close cooperation with Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization.
• Contribute to defining and promoting the overall strategic vision and planning of IFRC’s disaster and crisis work in the Europe Region, including contributing to regional annual plans and strategies.
• Contribute to development of proposals and other program planning as it pertains to emergency operations and responses.
• Support and facilitate briefing and introduction sessions for ROE staff, new joiners and/or CCD/CDs on Operations and procedures (general or tailored).
• Oversee the regional DREF file and ensure compliance and timely action together with the Senior Officer, DREF while informing decision-making for improving quality and accountability.
• Cooperate closely with the preparedness team for a coordinated readiness and preparedness support to NS and IFRC offices outside emergencies.

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:

• Relevant university degree or equivalent qualification within a relevant field.
• Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC) OR IMPACT training or equivalent knowledge.
• Experience or degree in project management.

Preferred:

• IFRC Emergency Team Leader Training/ MOT/ FACT or CAP.

Required:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in disaster management, including field experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience with RC/RC with special attention to finance responsibilities, preferably with IFRC.
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation.

Preferred: 

• Experience in managing and supporting staff.
• Experience in the Europe and Central Asia region.
  

Required:

• Assessment
• Information Management
• Safety and Security
• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred: 

• Movement context, principles and values
• National Society Capacity Strengthening
• Coordination
• Direction Setting and Quality Programme Management
• Resource Management
• Transition and Recovery
• Conflict Management
• Interpersonal Communication
• Cultural awareness
• Motivating Others
• Personal resilience
• Integrity
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
• Other languages: Russian 

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