The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Job Overview
The Emergency Response Coordinator provides strategic and operational leadership for IRC’s emergency response across priority locations in South Sudan. The role oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of multi-sector emergency response programs to ensure timely delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected populations.
The coordinator is responsible for guiding emergency response strategies, coordinating response activities across sectors, and ensuring effective collaboration between program teams and operational departments. The position will deploy to priority emergency locations, support rapid scale-up of response activities during acute crises, and ensure programs are implemented in accordance with humanitarian standards and IRC policies.
The Emergency Response Coordinator works closely with sector coordinators, field teams, government authorities, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners to ensure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies such as displacement crises, disease outbreaks, flooding, and other humanitarian shocks.
Emergency Response Leadership
Lead the design, implementation, and oversight of IRC’s multi-sector emergency response across priority operational areas.
Provide strategic leadership to emergency response teams to ensure timely and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Coordinate response activities across sectors including health, nutrition, protection, and livelihoods interventions.
Lead rapid emergency assessments to inform response planning and operational prioritization.
Support the transition from emergency response interventions to early recovery programming where appropriate.
Operational Coordination and Response Management
Ensure effective coordination between program teams and operational departments including supply chain, finance, HR, and security.
Support field offices in initiating and scaling emergency response activities in priority locations.
Establish operational systems and procedures required for rapid emergency response implementation.
Ensure effective planning and deployment of emergency response teams to affected locations.
Monitor operational progress and address implementation challenges.
Program Quality and Response Oversight
Ensure emergency response programs are implemented according to international humanitarian standards and IRC program quality frameworks.
Monitor program implementation across response locations and support teams to maintain high-quality programming.
Identify operational challenges and support teams in developing solutions to ensure effective response delivery.
Promote integration and coordination between IRC sectors during emergency responses.
Program Monitoring, Accountability and Learning
Ensure strong monitoring and reporting systems for emergency response activities.
Oversee timely collection and analysis of program indicators and operational data.
Ensure emergency programs comply with donor requirements and reporting standards.
Use monitoring data and operational feedback to improve response quality and effectiveness.
Grant and Budget Management
Support development of emergency response proposals and funding opportunities.
Ensure emergency grants are implemented in accordance with donor requirements and compliance standards.
Monitor budget utilization across emergency response projects.
Identify opportunities to expand emergency response programming in underserved or newly affected areas.
Representation and Coordination
Represent IRC in emergency coordination forums including inter-agency meetings and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Maintain strong relationships with government authorities, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners.
Ensure IRC emergency response activities are aligned with national coordination structures and cluster strategies.
Facilitate internal coordination between IRC departments to support effective emergency response implementation.
Safety, Security and Operational Support
Regularly assess operational conditions and ensure safe implementation of emergency response activities.
Work closely with IRC safety and security teams to support safe deployment of staff in emergency locations.
Support operational planning to ensure staff safety and risk mitigation during response activities.
Reporting & Communication
Ensure transparent communication and reporting across response teams and leadership.
Provide regular updates on response progress, operational risks, and emerging needs to senior management.
Contribute to situation reports, donor updates, and internal communication materials highlighting emergency response activities.
Ensure response teams remain informed of operational developments, policy changes, and strategic priorities.
Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs (DDP)
MIP: Senior Health Coordinator, Sector Coordinators
Directly supervises: Emergency Response Teams
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum 5 years of experience managing humanitarian programs or emergency response operations.
Demonstrated experience coordinating multi-sector humanitarian responses in complex environments.
Ability to work effectively with government authorities, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners.
Demonstrated leadership, communication, and coordination skills.
Experience supervising and managing multi-disciplinary teams in cross-cultural environments.
Demonstrated experience in grant management and proposal development.
Excellent computer skills including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work effectively under pressure in complex emergency settings.
Fluency in English required.
Work Environment:
The position is based in South Sudan and requires extensive travel to field locations with challenging security and living conditions. The role may require rapid deployment to emergency areas and working under high-pressure humanitarian response environments.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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