The Venezuelan Red Cross (CRV) is a humanitarian organization whose mandate is to save lives and improve the conditions of vulnerable people. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it provides timely assistance in emergencies, disasters, and other humanitarian crises.
Guided by its Fundamental Principles—Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality—the CRV acts as an auxiliary to public authorities in the humanitarian field, working to reduce human suffering without distinction of race, gender, religion, or ideology. Its work encompasses emergency medical care, strengthening community resilience, first aid training, disaster response, and the promotion of health and well-being.
Through a network of highly committed volunteers, the CRV efficiently and effectively mobilizes resources to be present where and when they are most needed. Its work is based on solidarity, respect for human dignity, and a commitment to protecting life in all its forms.
If you want to be part of the team and make a difference, we invite you to join us.
How can you make a difference? Key functions / Responsibilities
The Disaster Risk Management Officer will be responsible for providing technical and operational support for the implementation of disaster preparedness actions, risk reduction, operational coordination and rapid response of the Venezuelan Red Cross, within the framework of programs and projects aimed at strengthening local, institutional and community capacities in the face of multi-hazard scenarios.
This position will have a priority focus on risk reduction, strengthening territorial capacities, updating contingency plans, activating emergency and disaster management mechanisms, interoperability with actors in the national risk management system, and coordination between CRV subsidiaries, competent authorities, Civil Protection and Disaster Management, fire departments, community organizations, and other humanitarian actors.
He/She will be in charge of:
- Contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and technical reporting of disaster risk management, risk reduction and emergency and disaster management activities.
- Support the development, updating and validation of multi-risk analysis in prioritized areas, incorporating hydrometeorological, geological and climatic threats, human mobility, multiple impact scenarios, and complex emergencies.
- To provide technical support to subsidiaries and local actors in the development, updating and validation of multi-hazard contingency plans at the community, municipal or regional level, as appropriate and with a focus on protection, gender and inclusion.
- Support the identification of threats, vulnerabilities, capacities and operational gaps in prioritized communities, subsidiaries and local response structures, using participatory methodologies and institutional risk analysis tools.
- Contribute to the formation, strengthening and support of Community Emergency Response Teams, DRR focal points, technical staff and operational volunteers of the CRV.
- Coordinate and facilitate training processes in disaster risk management, community preparedness, anticipatory action, early warning systems, rapid needs assessment, operational coordination and initial emergency response.
- Support the planning, execution and evaluation of simulations, drills and operational exercises at the community, local, regional and national levels, aimed at strengthening coordination, decision-making, early activation and interoperability among actors.
- Contribute to the design, updating and dissemination of standard operating procedures, protocols, activation flows, coordination tools and interoperability mechanisms for emergency preparedness, deployment and rapid response.
- Provide technical support for the preparation of rapid deployment capabilities of the CRV, including activation criteria, team profiles, communication routes, checklists, readiness mechanisms and coordination with subsidiaries.
- Coordinate with the logistics, purchasing, finance and programs areas to ensure that the prepositioning of humanitarian supplies responds to risk analysis, contingency scenarios, operational priorities and rapid response criteria.
- To provide technical inputs for the strengthening of strategic logistics hubs and pre-positioning mechanisms, ensuring their articulation with contingency plans, deployment routes, territorial capacities and emergency scenarios.
- Support the rapid mobilization of initial humanitarian assistance during emergencies, in coordination with the Disaster Risk Management Coordination, subsidiaries, logistics, competent authorities and allied actors.
- Participate in conducting rapid needs assessments during sudden emergencies or multiple impact scenarios, contributing to the definition of priority response actions in the early activation phases.
- Support the activation and monitoring of flexible response mechanisms or Crisis Modifier, where appropriate, ensuring technical documentation, operational coordination, recording of decisions and systematization of evidence.
- Contribute to technical coordination with Civil Protection and Disaster Management, fire departments, local authorities, community organizations, humanitarian actors and partners of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- Support technical spaces for national, regional and binational coordination related to risk reduction, anticipatory action, early warning systems, emergency management and cross-border scenario management, with prior authorization from the Disaster Risk Management Coordination.
- Promote the integration of cross-cutting approaches to protection, gender and inclusion, community participation and accountability, climate action, environmental sustainability, safe access and do no harm in DRM activities.
- Support the incorporation of environmental sustainability, climate adaptation and green logistics criteria into reduction, simulation, prepositioning and response activities, in coordination with the responsible areas.
- Contribute to the development of indicators, monitoring tools, tracking matrices and quality control mechanisms for activities related to preparedness, capacity building, drills, rapid response and operational coordination.
- Collect, organize and systematize verification sources, activity reports, attendance lists, photographic records, minutes, field reports, post-activity evaluations and other evidence required by the CRV and project partners.
- Prepare technical and operational reports on progress, alerts, gaps, results, lessons learned and recommendations related to the implementation of DRM activities.
- Participate in post-operation reviews, After Action Reviews, Real-Time Evaluations or other institutional learning exercises, contributing to the updating of procedures and continuous improvement of preparedness and response.
- To technically represent the CRV in coordination spaces with governmental, community, humanitarian and risk management system actors, with prior authorization from the Disaster Risk Management Coordination.
- Ensure the application of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the Code of Conduct, institutional policies, safety standards, data protection and confidentiality in all activities.
- Perform other tasks assigned by your immediate superiors that contribute to strengthening the disaster risk management area and to achieving institutional and project objectives.
Report
The Disaster Risk Management Officer will report to the Disaster Risk Management Coordination.
Workplace
Caracas (Headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross), with availability to travel nationwide.
To qualify as a builder of the Venezuelan humanitarian system, you must meet the following requirements:
- University degree in risk management, engineering, environmental sciences, geography, social sciences, international relations, disaster management or related fields.
- Minimum experience of three (3) years in disaster risk management, disaster preparedness, risk reduction, humanitarian response, civil protection, operational coordination or community resilience programs.
- Demonstrable experience in implementing disaster preparedness activities, contingency plans, drills, community training or strengthening local response capacities.
- Knowledge of participatory methodologies for vulnerability and capacity analysis, risk assessment, community planning and local preparedness.
- Practical knowledge of early warning systems, anticipatory action, rapid needs assessment, activation protocols and emergency response mechanisms.
- Experience in coordination with local authorities, Civil Protection and Disaster Management, fire departments, community organizations, humanitarian actors or territorial response structures.
- Ability to facilitate training processes, workshops, simulations and practical exercises with technical staff, volunteers, communities and institutional actors.
- Experience in preparing technical reports, systematizing information, managing verification sources, and monitoring indicators.
- Basic knowledge of humanitarian logistics, pre-positioning of supplies, organization of response teams and rapid deployment mechanisms is desirable.
- Knowledge of protection, gender and inclusion approaches, community participation and accountability, do no harm, safe access and data protection in humanitarian contexts.
- Experience working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is desirable.
- Knowledge of the Venezuelan context, the national disaster risk management system, and risk dynamics in border territories is desirable.
- Proficiency in office software, data collection platforms, and basic information management systems.
- Fluency in spoken and written Spanish. Knowledge of English is desirable.
- Excellent communication, planning, organization, writing, and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing contexts and maintain standards of safety, neutrality, confidentiality and institutional responsibility.
- Commitment to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
- High sense of responsibility, professional ethics and results orientation.
How to apply
Only a shortlist of candidates will be contacted to advance to the next phase of the selection process. Candidates will be asked to speak with their previous direct reports/line managers before proceeding to interviews.
All those interested in applying for the position and who meet all or most of the requirements for the role should send their CV to the email address: postulaciones@cruzroja.ve
The email subject line should read: Disaster Risk Management Officer (First and Last Name)
CVs received without the title assigned to the call will be discarded.
Please review the professional requirements to be eligible.