Regional Preparedness Technical Advisor (American Red Cross)

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 (NS). The overall aim of the 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.” The 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 NSs 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.

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

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has CCD and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The CCD Bangkok covers four countries namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam and operates as one joint team to support each country’s NS. The CCD Bangkok also provides secretariat support to the Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Networks and represents IFRC with the United Nations ESCAP and other regional organizations based in Bangkok.

Under the umbrella of the Federation’s Country Cluster Delegation, the American Red Cross (AmRC) provides support for RCRC National Societies (NS) implementing programmes in the area of DM/DP, Capacity Building and other general support that arises between ARC and RCRC through client services, and mutual relationship building between RCRC Societies. ARC is expanding its projects in the region and needs support to do this.

The American Red Cross International Services Department (ISD) seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering around the world by supporting National Societies to respond to disasters, build safer, more resilient communities, and educating future humanitarians. In the coming years the American Red Cross will deepen and expand its programming around the world while also working to strengthen the global Red Cross Red Crescent network, in order to deliver vital help and hope to some of the most vulnerable communities.

The American Red Cross (AmRC) seeks a Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) to provide technical support to AmRC country delegation and National Society partners in their preparedness programs particularly those involving youth, school, individual, household and community preparedness, as well as early warning systems and institutional preparedness activities.  Additionally, this position will contribute to ISD’s knowledge management efforts by supporting monitoring, program reviews, and research in accordance with ISD doctrine.   The Regional Technical Advisor, Preparedness will report to the Deputy Regional Director – Asia Pacific Division who is overall responsible for program quality in accordance with ISD doctrine.  The RTA will be matrixed to in to the Preparedness pillar to ensure technical advisors have common. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Through the country delegations, provide day-to-day technical support and guidance on National Societies preparedness programs at the strategic, program and project level in the areas of institutional, community and school-based programming.
• Prioritize support to ISD priority countries in the AP region, ensuring preparedness programs meet ISD standards, and are contextualized to the needs, conditions and capacity of priority countries and key stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the Deputy Regional Director, priority country and HQ stakeholders, support resource mobilization through networking and high-quality program design; as requested, develop concept notes and proposals aligned with ISD doctrine.
• Conduct regular program reviews and support design and execution of evaluations; ensure recommendations are actionable and addressed, in coordination with the Deputy Regional Director, delegations, NS partners, and appropriate HQ technical advisors.
• In coordination with AmRC Preparedness unit, Global Disaster Preparedness Unit (GDPC) staff, other ISD teams and the global Red Cross/Red Crescent network, work closely with field teams to build capacity based on global good practices.
• Work with field teams to document good practices, facilitate learning, and support and contribute to the development of updated Disaster Preparedness doctrine which, when contextualized, would increase quality, efficiency and effectiveness of field-based disaster preparedness projects.
• Work closely with IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office to support National Society Institutional Preparedness work across the AP region.
• Support country teams in the analysis of systems and services, identification of gaps, and design of programs based on learnings from existing work, and unique entry points for RCRC partners.
• Work with IFRC APRO technical counterparts to strengthen NS contingency planning (CP), response planning and other response tools.
• Assist the IFRC in measuring and implementing institutional preparedness and readiness activities, including preparedness for effective response (PER) and Red Ready.

Cross-Cutting Functions

• Working with other RCRC partners, ensure that Protection, Gender and Inclusion is consistently and effectively mainstreamed into community and institutional response and preparedness programs.
• Working with IFRC and other RCRC partners to ensure community engagement (including two-way feedback mechanisms) and accountability is mainstreamed across preparedness programming and integrated throughout institutional preparedness work.
• Support the integration of climate, asset protection, and PGI into community-based disaster risk reduction programs and cash readiness.

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict moral confidentiality and do not disclose neither spread any confidential or sensitive information.
• Organize archives of all reports and documents and treat them as confidential material

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as disaster management, development studies, international relations. (Required)
• Master’s degree (Preferred)

• At least 7 years’ experience in international settings working in disaster risk reduction including response and readiness required; work with Red Cross, UN or NGOs strongly preferred.  Experience working in the region of assignment desired.  (Required)
• Experience supporting or managing international community-based programs (Required)
• Strong understanding of and experience in supporting program design, monitoring and evaluation required.  (Required)
• Prior experience in developing successful U.S Government awards (USAID, PRM, BHA etc); strong understanding of U.S. gov’t funding and compliance requirements preferred. (Preferred)

• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomacy; excellent written and spoken skills in English; working knowledge of regional languages will be an advantage (Required)
• Must be flexible and able to travel up to 75%. (Required)
• General comfort level with technology is required with proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, SharePoint and PowerPoint expected. Also, familiarity with Salesforce, Google Drive, Drop Box, Zoom and Skype preferred.  Must be detail-oriented and organized and have strong analytical skills. (Required)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (Required)
• Language skills from the region (Bangla, Nepali, Bahasa, Myanmar, Filipino) preferred (Preferred)
  
  

• Accountability: commitment to RCRC movement; Diversity: Acts as a bridge between or bring together different cultures for business results, Cultural sensitivity; Integrity and personal conduct, does not abuse power or authority; Professionalism: Flexibility, adaptability and demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Building trust: Provide an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; Empowering other: Encourages others to set challenging goals; National Society relations: Aims at strengthening and building the capacity of National Societies; Teamwork: manage conflict in a transparent and fair manner
• Communication: Represents adequately the Federation, interpersonal skills; Innovation: Seeks actively to improve programmes or services; Judgement decision-making: Make tough decisions when necessary; Manaing performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority, management of strategy and change
• Building alliances: Develops networks and coalitions to accomplish goals by building on strenghts; Influencing: Uses communication plan, employing multiple channels to align people and groups; Inspiration: Stimulates other to develop new ideas; Strategic orientation: Develops long-term vision for complex setups

Note: Salary Range:

Grade 7, ranging from THB 73,796.00 to 90,197.00 per month.

This position is open to both Thai and non-Thai applicants who possess Non-Immigrant Visa.