The Organization
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that promotes children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every girl and boy, but we know that they are often held back by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And girls are the most affected.
In collaboration with children, youth, supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world by addressing the root causes of the challenges faced by the most vulnerable children. We support children from birth to adulthood and empower them to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive policy and practice change at the local, national, and global levels through our reach, experience, and expertise.
For more than 85 years, we have brought together other determined optimists to transform the lives of all girls and boys in more than 80 countries.
We will not stop until we achieve equality.
HUMANITARIAN PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE MANAGER
Job Description / Position Profile
Position Overview
- Title:Â Humanitarian Preparedness and Response Manager
- Functional Area:Â Programs/DRM, CA Cluster
- Location:Â Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras
- Travel Required:Â 50% field travel
- Contract Duration:Â 12 months (with possibility of renewal)
- Reports to:Â Cluster Management
- Technical Supervision:Â Regional Director of Humanitarian Preparedness and Response
BACKGROUND
Central America faces significant challenges due to high vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These events often cause considerable damage, worsening persistent poverty and infrastructure deficiencies. Furthermore, the region deals with high levels of violence and crime—primary drivers of migration as individuals and families seek safer environments and economic opportunities.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Cluster Emergency Response Manager plays a central role in managing and coordinating emergency responses in Central America, involving multi-national collaboration to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities. This requires strategic planning and the implementation of effective communication and logistics systems. Actions include training local emergency staff, establishing resilient technical and financial infrastructure, and improving community readiness. Additionally, developing strong alliances with donors and humanitarian agencies is essential to secure funding and support. These efforts are vital for immediate disaster response and the long-term stability of the region.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Programs and Strategy:
- Oversee the management and coordination of emergency programs across the four countries, ensuring alignment with international standards and organizational policies.
- Lead the development and updating of humanitarian response strategies, focusing on preparedness and immediate response to extreme weather events and other human crises.
- Manage multi-national initiatives and projects within the cluster, ensuring effective design and implementation through collaboration with regional and local teams.
Preparedness:
4. Coordinate training and preparedness activities tailored to the regional risk calendar, emphasizing cyclone and rainy seasons, as well as periods of increased migratory flows.
5. Ensure compliance and support for Ready to Respond (R2R) activities across the four country offices.
6. Conduct proactive analysis and monitoring of hotspots to prevent and address potential crisis areas.
Proposal Development:
7. Co-design project proposals for sub-regional initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and leveraging local knowledge.
8. Take responsibility for multi-national project proposals, ensuring coherence and alignment with broader regional strategies.
9. Assist country offices in designing proposals within their respective territories.
Representation and Coordination:
10. Actively engage with donors and UN agencies to strengthen strategic alliances, especially with sub-regional staff within the Central America cluster.
11. Identify and develop multi-national initiatives, representing the organization at key thematic and sub-regional group meetings and events.
Response:
12. Lead needs assessments and support country offices in developing response plans and securing necessary resources.
13. Provide direct emergency response support to countries within the group.
14. Manage Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities in country offices that lack dedicated humanitarian staff.
15. Oversee multi-national emergency projects within the group.
Technical and Operational Support:
16. Develop technical capacities in Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), Education in Emergencies (EiE), and other sectoral areas as needed (e.g., CVA, Food Security, WASH).
17. Ensure that operational support functions—such as finance, HR, and logistics—are managed according to organizational standards and local regulations.
18. Supervise the creation and maintenance of safety and security guidelines aligned with local contexts.
Safeguarding:
19. Ensure that Plan International’s global policies on Child and Youth Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully integrated according to policy principles and requirements. This includes ensuring staff and partners understand their responsibilities under these policies and the Code of Conduct (CoC), and that concerns are reported and managed through proper procedures.
REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
- Advanced degree in Management, Humanitarian Aid, Disaster Management, or a related field.
- Extensive experience in managing emergency programs in diverse and complex environments.
- Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and project management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in Spanish with proficiency in English.
- Strong understanding of the humanitarian landscape and child protection standards in the Central American context.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND DEMANDS
- The position will be based in any of the cluster countries with frequent travel to program sites and other countries within the group.
LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN
- High Level:Â The role involves direct interaction with children, adolescents, and youth, requiring the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection.
Deadline/Closing Date: February 28, 2026
Early application is recommended, as we will be reviewing applications during the advertising period and reserve the right to close the ad early.
Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.
In accordance with Plan International’s “Safeguarding Children” and “Young People” policy, a series of pre-employment checks will be carried out.
As an international, child-centered community development organization, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children’s rights, including their right to protection from violence and abuse. This means we have particular responsibilities towards the children we come into contact with.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organization, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or putting children at risk.
Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively promotes diversity, receiving applications from all areas of the international community.
How to apply
To apply, please send your CV via the following link:
https://jobs.plan-international.org/job-invite/53503