Surge Capacity Projects Officer At International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies

Organizational context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

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.” 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 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. 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 Society Development 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 country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC’s Surge Capacity is striving for operational excellence in crisis and disaster response through a joint effort, embedded in the Movement’s framework and the broader humanitarian environment. It harmonizes current regional and global tools. It is guided by overarching Surge Principles:

1. The Surge mechanism is part of a wider response system. It is accountable, fit for purpose, able to deploy the right people and services to the right place at the right time, as local as possible, as global as necessary.
2. Staff and volunteers have equal access to joining Surge networks. Members of Surge networks have equal access to deployment based on competences and availability. There are equitable opportunities for progression within the Surge mechanism, based on merit.
3. Roles, responsibilities, and procedures are clear, transparent, known, held in common and adhered to.
4. The Surge mechanism contributes to capacity building and support existing disaster preparedness initiatives.
5. Stakeholders commit to working together towards operational excellence where not achieved. The Surge mechanism will monitor quality, learn and optimize.

Job purpose

The main purpose of this position is to manage projects related to Surge Capacity at regional level, with focus on Woman´s in humanitarian leadership strategy for the Americas, but no limited to other projects interconnected to strengthen regional capacities for effective response such leadership trainings, coordination training, development of concept notes, project proposals, implementation, monitoring and finals reports. **

The job responsibilities include the collaboration with different IFRC staff members, with NS of the Region and with Surge Personnel intended to be deployed within the Americas to:

• Support the start-up and implementation of projects that are under the responsibility of the surge capacity team,
• Support the Surge Capacity component of the Disaster Management System within the Americas.
• Aim at building capacity of Red Cross Movement members in the Americas Region (NS/IFRC).

Job duties and responsibilities

The Surge Capacity Project Officer key responsibility is to support DCPRR Department. To accomplish their primary goal of providing administrative and technical skills to support projects to success, Project Officer perform the following duties:

1. Organize Project Meetings

On a regular basis, Project Officer meets with the Surge Capacity Sr. Officer to review progress and to discuss future steps. The Project Officer also arranges meetings with the members of the project, sends out any relevant information, and attends each meeting to take minutes.

2. Information management

Project Officer is responsible for maintaining crucial project documents which track project progress. He/she files all project documents in an appropriate database or library and ensure that all documents are accurate and have been accepted by the Surge Capacity Sr. Officer.

3. Identify Problems or Risks

Being so closely involved in the projects, the Project Officer is relied upon to identify any potential issues or risks that could affect the progression of the project. He/she communicates these items with the Project Manager, and work to identify potential solutions.

4. Manage the Schedule

Project Officer closely watch the projects schedule, monitoring deadlines for each project task. He/she checks regularly that every deadline is still possible and report any potential delays to the Surge Capacity Sr. Officer.

5. Support Learning and Training Activities

It is expected that the Project Officer can provide administrative support in the development and execution of training activities that are part of the projects lead by surge and the extended regional capacity portfolio.

6. Support disaster and emergencies response.

The Project Officer will provide support to the Surge Capacity Sr. Officer in tasks related to emergencies and disasters response, mainly in the deployments of rapid response personnel, registration and documentation of the deployments, as well all those other tasks assigned to it.

Education

• Relevant university degree
• Certification in Project Management, preferred
• University degree or related academic knowledge with gender and diversity, preferred

Experience

• 2+ years’ experience project management and capacity building
• 1+ years’ experience of working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country
• Experience of proposal and report-writing, developing, and managing budgets
• Experience in managing and supporting staff, preferred
• Experience with National Societies of the Red cross, preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Leadership and Coordination skills
• Analytical thinking and planning
• Ability to work under stress
• Ability to work in a diverse cultural context
• Strong knowledge of information sharing and reporting tools, and the ability to implement them including the use of relevant technologies
• Highly organized and able to work independently and proactively, with ability
• to support effective teamwork
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of the RCRC Fundamental Principles and the RCRC Movement
• Capacity to do proper management of resources
• Teaching and coaching abilities

Languages
Fluently spoken and written Spanish and English

Competencies and values

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building trust.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others