Organizational Context
The IFRC Solferino Academy aims to challenge and inspire the way people work, think, act and connect. It supports the IFRC network in transforming to be more fit for future and capable of thriving through the complex and dynamic changes occurring throughout the world in order to more effectively meet humanitarian and development challenges.
We do this in alignment with the transformation priorities of the IFRC Strategy 2030 and the IFRC Agenda for Renewal. The Academy is composed of three pillars: Leadership, a Think Tank and Innovation. While each of these areas is presented as distinct components, in reality all Solferino Academy initiatives address each of these three areas and are deeply interconnected. Our three areas of focus are;
We help leaders transform for the future
We support leadership in all its forms to develop the capabilities and insights needed to lead transformation, adaptation and to build systems and cultures for change.
We are a Think Tank for the IFRC Network
We provide platforms for new thinking and approaches where National Societies can learn from others and strengthen their own strategies and transformation processes.
We catalyse and promote Innovation
We develop initiatives that help promote innovation and the enabling environments necessary for it to thrive in our network.
The Coordinator Leadership Initiatives will work within the Solferino Academy initiative and is remote-based, with some travel anticipated for the role.
Job Purpose
In 2026 the IFRC Solferino Academy is continuing to support National Societies to develop approaches to leadership systems and capabilities, innovation and strategic foresight that will lead to greater anticipation, agility and capacity for transformation.
The primary purpose of this position is to help the IFRC to strengthen leadership across the IFRC Network so National Societies are better prepared to address today’s complex humanitarian challenges. This role works within the Solferino Academy and with key IFRC stakeholders to create strategies and initiatives to help leadership thrive at all levels, enabling National Societies to adapt and make effective decisions. This role will work with National Societies, particularly their governance, leadership, strategy and policy experts as well as middle management responsible for youth and volunteers, through a variety of forums and initiatives.
The role has a particular focus on innovative or cutting-edge approaches to supporting leadership and governance, as it ultimately aims for organisational transformation. This may include creative peer learning strategies, digital engagement, anticipatory governance, strategic foresight and other approaches. The role also works extensively with external leadership experts, corporate and academia, think tanks and innovation hubs to open spaces for dialogue and learning. The role is embedded within the NSDOC department and works alongside a wide range of internal departments and teams including particularly country, country cluster and regional delegations of the IFRC, in their shared aims of strengthening National Societies.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The key tasks for the role are;
Leadership and Governance
- Alongside Solferino Academy colleagues, other IFRC teams and NS partners.
- Directly organize and lead the design and delivery of a High-Level Think Tank in the IFRC Network to explore strengthening governance models and decision-making systems and to inspire fresh thinking about our current approaches and challenges.
- Build and facilitate innovative spaces for leaders to gather, share challenges, exchange ideas and work on solutions together.
- Drawing on the materials, design and tools established by the Solferino Academy, develop and implement a tailored leadership program focused on contextual, collaborative, and adaptive learning. Ensure the program is developed with inputs and guidance that includes senior leaders feedback from previous iterations, and the inputs of Solferino Academy and IFRC staff.
- Analyse contexts and challenges and support National Societies in tackling governance challenges and developing new approaches to decision making systems fit for highly uncertain and complex contexts.
- Partnering with thought leaders and innovators both inside and outside the IFRC Network to bring fresh ideas and practical tools into leadership strategies. Facilitate purposeful provocations by bringing in external leaders and innovators to inspire fresh thinking and challenge traditional ways of working and leading.
- Contribute to documents and thinking for the IFRC Governing Board Advisory Board on ‘the Future of Humanitarian Assistance”.
- Provide support, as needed to other IFRC Solferino Academy teams and high value projects particularly in leadership elements.
- Along with colleagues in the Solferino Academy and following established procedures, ensure that monitoring processes are effectively implemented to enable effective evaluation and reporting.
Strategic Foresight
- Develop and implement a plan of support that will assist an NS to embed strategic foresight approaches in their strategy development and planning approaches, and where possible in their policy formulation.
- Ensure the support is tailored to the specific context of the NS, taking into account their contexts, aims, objectives and current capacities and strengths and that aligns with the approaches of other IFRC teams.
- As required, advise and provide ongoing coaching for the NS during the design and implementation stages of their strategy or planning processes, assisting them to effectively explore foresight scenarios, source data and insights on potential futures and to robustly explore implications for the organisations strategies and the communities they support.
- Source and engage external experts who have specialist expertise as required to support the NS and the IFRC on this journey.
Reporting to
Innovation Lead and Head of Solferino Academy.
Time period
10 August to 20 December 2026 (50 Days).
Location
Remote-based, ideally in Rome, Italy.
Experience
Required
- Experience managing and leading major global programs specifically in the humanitarian sector.
- Substantial expertise and experience in humanitarian leadership programs that support executive leaders and governance of major humanitarian organisations, particularly those within the RCRC Movement.
- Experience working at global scale and familiarity with the complexity of supporting highly diverse leadership groups across multiple languages and regions, confronting complex crises and humanitarian scenarios.
- Experience with innovation and strategic foresight methodologies, particularly workshops and training programs to help leaders consider strategic foresight and innovation-enabling approaches in their own organisations.
- Experience advising organisations on utilising and embedding strategic foresight and innovation approaches for strategy development, operational planning and policy formulation.
- Experience with learning, insights and experimentation with innovative approaches to learning, particularly peer learning, accelerators, incubators and intensive reflection approaches.
- Experience and strong capability in managing. Leading and inspiring staff to work collaboratively on projects with demanding deliverables.
- Significant experience as a leader in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and/or significant familiarity with the complexities of senior strategy and policy making at a National Society and IFRC network level.
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
- Deep understanding of and ability to connect well into the RCRC network across all regions, in particular with senior leaders such as Secretaries General and Presidents.
- Deep and current understanding of humanitarian sector issues, particularly the complexities of system transformation.
- Very strong capacity to liaise with multiple stakeholders and manage relationships and formal partnerships effectively.
- Strong external networks that can contribute to think tank and leadership focused activities.
- Ability to communicate effectively in English and at least one other language of the IFRC.
- Able to start immediately and work according to tight timelines on multiple projects.
- Excellent written and oral communication, organizational and presentation skills.
- Strong marketing, communications and community engagement skills.
- Proactive attitude to problem solving. “Can do attitude”.
- Highly creative, dynamic and flexible.
- Knowledge of and ability to keep up with trends and practices in innovation and all technical aspects related to this.
- Ability to work as a part of a team and with multiple stakeholders and partners.
- Excellent cross-cultural knowledge and understanding.
Competencies, Values and Comments
Application Instruction
Please submit your application in English only.
