Regional Head, Health, Disasters, Climate & Crises

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 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 IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. 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 Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan & Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.

This position is part of the Regional Office for the Americas (ARO) in Panama, providing support to National Societies through Country and Country Cluster Delegations and directly from Panama. The geographical coverage spreads across Central and South America and the Caribbean. ARO, led by the Regional Director, is organized in units overseen by unit heads. As of January 2022, a new structure is in place with a Health, Disaster, Crises and Climate (HDCC) unit. The HDCC unit leads the coordination, management and quality support of, and technical support to, all operations and programmes delivering towards beneficiaries as well as support delegations and National Societies in building of capacity across a range of thematic files.

The purpose of this position is to manage a team which has overall responsibility for all operations and programmes in the region involving Health, Disasters, Climate and Crises. The position supports National Societies on the operational side of all five strategic priorities of Strategy 2030.

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, this role ensures the relevance, coherence, and timeliness of IFRC emergency response and resilience development and regional thematic leadership in the critical areas of climate, migration, and health. Also, the job holder will position regionally IFRC at the forefront of development of humanitarian competencies such as health, cash-based assistance, shelter, CEA, Information Management and anticipatory action.

More specifically, the incumbent manages thematic lead in key strategic priorities in disaster risk management, health (health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, WASH, MHPSS), climate change, migration and displacement in the region and ensures the integration of cross-cutting issues.

Coordination and Regional & Country Support

• Lead all operational technical teams that provide NSs with country level support and guidance for strategic plans for development, design and management of quality programmes and operations.
• Lead overall emergency operations coordination and technical support involving health, WASH, food security and livelihoods, shelter, cash in emergencies, disaster risk reduction, Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), Protection Gender and Inclusion (PGI).
• Contribute to the overall strategic vision and planning for the IFRC in collaboration with other departments and programs and headquarters – with a focus on strengthening NS capacities for developing and implementing effective programmes and operations – through the support of IFRC cluster and country offices.
• Promote and contributes to the development of IFRC policies and positions regarding the Strategic Priorities and enablers of the IFRC Secretariat Agenda for Renewal as well as other comprehensive risk mitigation issues, with a view to expanding the advocacy agenda in all operational areas.
• Ensure coherence and a clearly articulated integration among relevant policies, strategies, frameworks, and tools related to all operations and programmes.
• Ensure effective and efficient international disaster management and coordinates the multilateral disaster response and early recovery process of operations launched through the IFRC mechanisms which include the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and International Emergency Appeals, IFRC Rapid Response system, Information Management for operations, and covers preparedness, readiness, response and recovery.
• Promote National Societies Preparedness through the IFRC Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach and tools towards National Societies.
• Provide timely and reliable service to the IFRC network through the development and maintenance of quality information management and data collection, collation and analysis tools for disaster and crisis prevention, response and recovery. Oversee the continuous improvement of an essential information management system for prevention, response and recovery and deployment of response resources
• Manage thematic leads in key strategic priorities in disaster risk management, health ((health in emergencies, community health including First Aid, immunization, HIV, TB, malaria, public health and immunization, WASH, MHPSS), climate change, migration and displacement in the region and ensures the integration of cross-cutting issues.

• Lead on and collects/shares innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable programmes.
• Liaise with internal and external partners at international, regional and national levels to ensure operational coherence in disaster response operations, development actions within the disaster risk management spectrum.
• Lead the strengthening of community resilience through ambitious and integrated longer-term plans, in cooperation with National Societies and other key partners, in line with strategic priorities.
• Is accountable for institutionalizing and strengthening Community Engagement and Accountability and Protection Gender and Inclusion across all IFRC programmes and operations as well as those of National Societies in the Region.
• Responsible for identifying risks within their work area, monitoring the development of the risks, and implementing risk responses or escalating to the Director when necessary.

Effective matrix management

• Coordinate with PMER and Quality Assurance, Membership Services and Corporate Services Units to ensure that Health, Disasters and Crises operations follow the financial, human resources, reporting and general administration procedures.
• Ensure close coordination with SPD for the resource mobilisation for plans and budgets.
• Support the Deputy Director to ensure strategic coherence and alignment, as well as programmatic and operational coordination between different units.
• Effectively manage team members under their responsibility through clear lines of responsibility and well-defined results-based priority plans.
• Responsible for identifying risks within their work area, monitoring the development of the risks, and implementing risk responses or escalating to the Director when necessary.

• Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field or a first-level university degree combined with extensive relevant experience.
• Successful completion of the Basic IMPACT Course. 
• Qualification or Certification in Project Management - Preferred

• 7 years of experience working for a humanitarian organization in humanitarian response to disasters and crises and health emergencies, and/or longer term programming for lasting needs.
• 7 years of experience analysing, planning, and managing humanitarian or development programs and resources.
• 7 years of experience managing staff.
• 7 years of experience in building capacity of Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies, NGO, civil society organization etc. on health interventions, disaster management, resilience building, development activities etc. - Preferred
• Strong experience working in a multicultural, international context
• Experience managing partners or partnership arrangements, donors and organizational leadership and government counterparts.
• Experience working with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.

• Demonstrated experience in programmes and operations, including in sectors relevant to IFRC.
• Demonstrated success in project/program planning, budgeting, management, reporting and evaluation.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Highly developed leadership skills.
• Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity.
• Proven ability to motivate and manage a team.
• Strategic analysis, systematic planning, and implementation skills.
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills.

Languages:

• Fluent spoken and written English 
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish and Arabic)

• 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.