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Operations Manager

Budapest

  • Organization: IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • Location: Budapest
  • Grade: Mid level - D2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies 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.

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. For the next decade the organization will be guided by the principles set out in the IFRC Strategy 2030: Platform for change - global reach, local action.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into several main divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination NSDOC); (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization (GRHDD); and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services (MPSCS). IFRC has five regional offices based in the following locations: (i) Africa Region, in Nairobi, Kenya; (ii) Asia Pacific Region, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; (iii) Middle East and North Africa Region, in Beirut, Lebanon; (iv) Europe Region, in Budapest, Hungary; and Americas Region, in Panama City, Panama. 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. IFRC is currently present in Hungary through a Regional Office (ROE).

The IFRC has an office in the Hungarian Red Cross. This office provides support to the Hungarian Red Cross (HRC) programmes and capacity building, with emphasis (at the time of writing) on supporting the needs of Ukrainian refugees. The longer-term mission of the Country Office in Hungary is to provide direct support and facilitate organisational growth, technical capacities, partnerships and resource mobilisation that enable Hungarian Red Cross Society to deliver its humanitarian mission, in accordance with Strategy 2030 and annual Operational Plans.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager, the Operations Manager will be operating from the IFRC office in the Hungarian Red Cross to provide full technical support to the implementation of the Hungarian Red Cross’ programmes supported by the IFRC. The Operations Manager will be responsible for heading the IFRC office, supervise IFRC personnel and represent the IFRC within the Movement and externally.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

  • Supervise IFRC technical leads to ensure they work closely with the managers of relevant NS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.
  • Along the NS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of the emergency plan of action. Support, the NS to enhance their position vis-a-vis the national and international coordination mechanisms.
  • Support IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and to ensure provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crisis.
  • Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions within all relevant programming divisions in the NS.
  • Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools.
  • Assist the NS, Movement and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
  • Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution and ensure that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
  • Work with the regional HDCC Unit to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the NS for emergency response.
  • Support the NS in setting up the structure needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.
  • Support the NS in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions. Together with the NS and the Head of Country Office, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.
  • Support the NS in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.
  • Work with PMER leads in IFRC and the NS to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk.
  • Ensure sound financial management is applied to all IFRC-assisted programmes within the NS, that budgets are monitored and any problems identified and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
  • Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.

Education

  • University degree in relevant area is required
  • Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT, FACT, ERU, RDRT, CAP training is required

Experience

  • At least 5 years of disaster management experience is required
  • At least 10 years of experience in working for a humanitarian organisation internationally is required
  • Experience in local capacity building, volunteer management and/or community development in cross-cultural and diversity-sensitive environments is required
  • Proven track record and experience in representing an international organisation at different levels is required
  • People management experience, including as a direct line manager is required
  • Experience in management at senior level and/or in consulting and facilitating organizational development in a National Society or similar voluntary organization is required
  • Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis operations/ projects and activities preferably population movements and/or Health-related emergencies in complex settings is required
  • Work experience with RC/RC is required
  • Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation is required
  • Substantial experience in community led processes is required
  • Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context is preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Effective project and financial management skills is required

• Good analytical skills and solution-oriented is required

• Good mentoring and capacity development skills is required

• Ability to work well in a multicultural team is required

• Excellent stress management skills / Ability to work effectively under pressure is required

• Demonstrated accountability is required

• Strong demonstrable skills and expertise in capacity building is preferred

• Good skills in training, facilitation and presentations is preferred

• Good understanding of basic procurement and tendering processes is preferred

• Exceptional organizational ability with an eye for detail is required

• Good communication and report writing skills is required

• Knowledge of humanitarian affairs and migration is preferred

• Able to work independently and as part of the team is required

• Valid international driving license (manual gears) is required

• Self-supporting in IT is required

• Documentation preparation/presentation and computer-based production skills is required

• Fluent spoken and written English is required

• Good command of Ukrainian/Russian (Written and Spoken) is preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

  • 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
This vacancy is now closed.
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