As one of the nation’s premier humanitarian organizations, the American Red Cross is dedicated to helping people in need throughout the United States and, in association with other Red Cross networks, throughout the world. We depend on the many generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the American public to support our lifesaving services and programs. The American Red Cross is a diverse nonprofit organization offering its employee’s professional development and growth opportunities, a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefit package, and a collaborative team spirit environment.
SUMMARY:
The American Red Cross seeks a Response Personnel Manager to be based out of National Headquarters to oversee the International Disaster Response (IDR) roster of personnel. This cross-functional role is embedded within the Staff Support & Training unit supporting the Services to Armed Forces (SAF) and International Services (ISD) team. While primary responsibilities will align with ISD short-term staffing needs, there may also be requests to support activities aligned with the SAF mobile staff and deployment model.
The incumbent will be responsible for the planning and coordination of recruitment, training, deployment, engagement, management and retention of emergency related short-term staffing for International Services. The Manager will work closely with the members of the roster and several other units within the American and international Red Cross partners. While many of the roster members are volunteers and solely managed by this position, those who are compensated will be coordinated with the Human Resources Department and Business Operations.
We are seeking an individual with a wide range of communication, representation, and management skills to join a team working in a dynamic, highly collaborative, and service focused environment which requires a high level of multi-tasking, flexibility, initiative, collaboration and a creative approach to work as well as availability outside of traditional office hours, including weekends and holidays.
PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Planning:
- Review emergency field personnel strategy considering American Red Cross and international Red Cross needs and technical sectors.
- Contribute to development of innovative comprehensive strategy including workforce planning, recruitment, training, engagement, deployment, development, retention, and alternative compensation plans for short term personnel based on Red Cross policies and emerging industry best practices.
- Work closely alongside the SAF/ISD Staff Support & Training Manager and the ISD Response Operations Manager to maximize existing resources, identify new opportunities, and leverage expertise to fulfill a variety of personnel requests across ISD.
Recruitment:
- Expand recruitment base to maximize personnel expertise based on workforce planning analysis and targets.
- Lead, coordinate, and facilitate all recruitment activities in partnership with various units to include HR, if applicable.
- Coordinate with Human Resources Department on recruitment and compensation models for portion of roster members.
Training, Development/Skill Building:
- Identify and coordinate disaster management skill building opportunities through existing domestic and international Red Cross and external providers.
- Develop and manage roster training plan including annual schedule, budget, coordination of recruitment and participant selection, content management, administration and partial facilitation.
- Implement and expand development opportunities for roster members at National Headquarters and international Red Cross operations and support environments.
Roster Management:
- Maintain and improve systems for recruitment, deployment, and retention in line with various American Red Cross, International Federation and ICRC emergency personnel systems.
- Initiate and respond to frequent communications with roster members via phone, email, and online network neighborhood and quarterly newsletter.
- Develop and maintain international roster development and performance management system.
- With Program Associate, ensure collection of electronic and hard copy information required for roster members, including member profiles, trainings and deployments, annual renewal and monthly on-call roster management.
- Database management to maintain critical files across platforms to include Volunteer Connection, ECOS, Workday, and SharePoint.
Operational Deployments:
- With Program Associate, manage and ensure all aspects of emergency deployments including receiving alerts, coordination of personnel selection, pre- deployment information and briefings, domestic and international travel arrangements, financial support mechanisms, in country arrival and post assignment close-out.
- Maintain, update, and disseminate Disaster Response Standard Operating Procedures for personnel deployments and returns.
- Manage and triage non-disaster personnel requests in support of various American Red Cross and/or international Red Cross human resource needs.
Representation:
- As appropriate, represent American Red Cross interests and/or participate in related international training, disaster management skill building, and humanitarian emergency personnel management forums as well as domestic Red Cross Volunteer Services.
Other:
- Manage and contribute to ISD workplan, unit workplan, response standards-of-practice (SOP), and other critical doctrine.
- May assist the SAF unit as needed to support various personnel functions.
- Due to the dynamic nature of our work, may be asked to assist and/or manage a variety of projects in support of the department.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree required (Masters preferred) in related field.
- Minimum 5-7 years of professional experience, 1-3 of supervisory experience in related field including experience in the public and/or private sector as well as experience or interest in international development, emergency contexts and/or disaster management.
- Outstanding information management, written, verbal, facilitation, diplomatic and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage and/or coordinate various human resource, training and support needs for a wide variety of personnel profiles and operational needs.
- Demonstrated experience with recruitment, human resource/work force planning, skill development and training facilitation are also preferred.
- Experience or interest in volunteer management preferred.
- Desire to work in collaborative, team environment.
- Ability to manage projects, prioritize, multi-task, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively in a fast-moving high pressure and dynamic environment.
- Regular availability outside of traditional office hours, including weekends and holidays to meet unpredictable business needs.
- Some domestic and/or international business travel anticipated annually (up to 10%).
- Must possess strong personal integrity, professionalism, and ability to adapt to changing situations.