Coordinator, Operations - Hurricane Season

Vacancy No.S18359Category of ContractSeconded StaffPosition TypeSeconded StaffApplication Deadline26/08/2026Job Posted On21/08/2026Duty StationPort of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoCountryTRINIDAD AND TOBAGODuty Station StatusFamily Duty StationAccompanied StatusNon-AccompaniedDuration4 months (shorter availability will also be considered)

Organizational Context

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 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.” IFRC 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 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.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability, and (iv) People and Strategy.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East and North Africa. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The 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.

In the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, IFRC maintains a Country Cluster Delegation in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Port of Spain Country Cluster Delegation facilitates regional and international support to, cooperation between, representation of, and strengthening of the National Societies of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

As part of its readiness for the hurricane season, the CCD in Port of Spain engages an Operations Coordinator to provide operational, technical and coordination support to National Societies in preparedness, operational planning, and roll-out of emergency response.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Programme and Operations Manager, working in close coordination with other technical leads, and under technical supervision of the Regional Manager for Operations, Evolving Crisis and Disasters, the Operations Coordinator will lead and support the timely, effective, and coordinated IFRC network response to hurricane-related emergencies across the Caribbean.

The role will ensure:

  • Coherent coordination across the IFRC Network, and with partners
  • Timely activation of IFRC mechanisms for financing emergency operations
  • Timely mobilization of surge resources if, and when, requested by National Societies
  • Strong operational planning, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms

This reflects IFRC’s core function of ensuring efficient and effective support to National Societies responding to disasters and crises

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Coordination

  • Support the overall coordination of emergency response operations in countries that may be affected.
  • Facilitate the definition and implementation of operational strategies and response frameworks.
  • Act as a coordination link between National Societies, the CCD, the Regional Office, and Geneva.
  • Ensure alignment with a Federation-wide approach and One Team coordination.

Operational and Resource Planning

  • Support the design and development of:
    • Disaster Response Emergency Response (DREF) requests/operations and Emergency Appeals
    • Operational strategies and plans
    • Implementation and budget tracking tools.
  • Monitor funding status and support alignment between operational priorities and available resources.

National Society Support

  • Accompany and support National Societies in:
    • Operational planning and implementation
    • Strengthening coordination structures
    • Enhancing response capacity and systems.
  • Promote localization and strengthen National Society leadership in response operations.

Information Management and Reporting

  • Ensure production and consolidation of:
    • Situation reports (SitReps)
    • Operational updates and snapshots
    • Final reports
  • Maintain regular information flow across IFRC Network stakeholders.
  • Support coordination calls, task forces, and operational briefings.

Quality and Accountability

  • Monitor implementation of response activities and:
    • Ensure relevance, quality, and timeliness
    • Promote adaptive management in evolving contexts.
  • Ensure compliance with:
    • IFRC policies and procedures
    • Sphere standards and humanitarian principles.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Cross-cutting Priorities

  • Ensure integration of:
    • Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA)
    • Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI)
    • Safeguarding
    • Duty of care and staff/volunteer safety
    • Climate and disaster risk considerations.

Coordination

  • Ensure coordination with the IFRC Network and the ICRC.
  • Engage with external stakeholders such as CDEMA and UN agencies.
  • Complement National Societies in the engagements with respective government ministries and agencies.
  • Represent IFRC in coordination mechanisms where required.
  • Support coherence and complementarity across actors.

Effective Matrix Management

  • Engage with thematic technical leads of the IFRC Americas Regional Office and/or Geneva head office to ensure that the design and implementation of emergency operations consider global and regional priorities and directions.

Be available for time-bound interim support to National Societies when requested.

Education

REQUIRED:

  • Degree in Disaster Management, other relevant area, or equivalent qualifying experience
  • Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), IMPACT, WORC or equivalent knowledge

Experience

REQUIRED:

  • At least 5 years established professional mastery in programme/project management, programme/operations coordination, or PMER
  • 3 years of experience within the Red Cross Red Crescent or international organization(s)
  • Proven experience working in emergency response context, resilience, health, disaster risk management and migration/displacement
  • Experience in mainstreaming community engagement and accountability (CEA), and protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) approaches
  • Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
  • Experience in supporting capacity building initiative(s)
  • Experience in coaching, skills transfer and applying collaborative working models
  • Experience in resource mobilization targeting government and institutional donors such as ECHO, FCDO, Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, etc.
  • Field experience in disaster contexts

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

REQUIRED:

  • Comprehensive understanding of IFRC policies, procedures, and IFRC-wide approaches
  • Strong coordination and leadership skills
  • Strong organizational and analytical skills
  • Proficiency in writing project concepts or proposals and in reporting
  • Good mentoring and capacity development skills
  • Strategic thinking with operational focus
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
  • Familiarity in managing relations with donors and understanding of their expectations
  • Ability to work under pressure in rapidly evolving environments
  • Demonstrated integrity and accountability
  • Self-supporting in computers and internet-based tools
  • Fluently spoken and written English
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