Organizational Context
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.
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.
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.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. 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.
Country and sub-regional offices across the region (currently: Brussels, Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Athens, Ankara, Dushanbe, Tbilisi) are reporting to the Regional Office. Regional Office provides coordination in disaster management, high level representation of the IFRC, advocacy and communications, resource mobilisation. A range of technical specialists work in the IFRC Office, based in Budapest and elsewhere in the Region.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Regional Director, the Deputy Regional Director in close coordination with Country and Cluster Delegations is responsible for providing Strategic Leadership and direction to the teams under his/her responsibility covering a multiple and broad range of relevant services, ensuring global and regional alignment in the implementation of IFRC plans and ensuring, that effective support and integrated membership services to strengthen National society capacities and their programmes is provided by the IFRC teams in the region.. The position holder, is a member of the IFRC Europe Region senior management team and contributes to the corporate management of the Region in a matrix organisation with relevant Departments in Geneva.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that across the Europe Region there is an integrated approach to National Society development, Programmes and Operations and Partnerships and for managing the teams responsible for these in the region in the following range of activities:
National Society Capacity Building
- Under the lead of the Regional Director and in close coordination with the Country and sub-regional Office Heads coordinate engagement of the technical expertise to identify and agree relevant capacity building support. Apply and utilise where relevant outcomes of the OCAC process to expand the reach and quality of services. Provide, where requested and appropriate, such support through secretariat staff, and ensure that it is always focused on strengthening National Society capacities at all levels to deliver relevant humanitarian services and programmes to and with vulnerable communities.
- Lead technical teams in developing long term, targeted and tailor made National Societies support and capacity development strategies. Provide special focus on development of methodologies for updating National Societies business model: relevant programmatic portfolio, sustainable funding base, effective support systems. Provide long term plans for updating National Societies legal systems and leadership training, continuity and renewal.
- Be the lead representative in the areas of responsibility to support the National Societies in designing and implementing effective mechanisms managing formal partnerships and alliances with different components of the RCRC Movement and external partners.
- Lead the delivery of service improvement, good practice, continuous learning and knowledge sharing between IFRC and National Societies in the relative areas of responsibility and promote knowledge management and testing of innovative approaches to address critical challenges in programme management and operational coordination.
- Lead the development of capacity in Europe to support national societies' efforts to deepen their relationships with the general public in their countries, including through new contacts with partner organisations and through the development of processes which support contact with academia, foundations, the private sector, corporate partners or others capable of supporting their humanitarian objectives.
Implementation of Strategy 2030 and the Agenda for Renewal
- Ensure effective analysis on the humanitarian impact on Europe Region of the five global strategic priorities identified in S2030 and work with the respective Europe National Societies on practical solutions to respond to the needs arising from the humanitarian challenges they are facing.
- Facilitate the conditions for a successful implementation of the IFRC Agenda for Renewal starting with the enhancement of internal effectiveness and efficiency as well as with the provision of relevant support to the Europe National Societies to enable them to tackle the priority transformations identified.
- Ensure that regular monitoring mechanisms exist for evaluating the progress made in taking forward S2030 and the Agenda for Renewal in Europe Region.
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Partnerships and Communications
- Support the Director in the development of policy guidance and advice for National Societies and the regional Office in support of their relationships with governments and intergovernmental agencies, ensuring that the Federation’s official positions are represented with consistency and benefit the National Societies in their own work as the auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field.
- Ensure close coordination with regional and international organizations to enhance the IFRC’s regional and global positioning. Be the lead representative and provide advice and support for the negotiation and maintenance of partnerships (through agreements or other arrangements) with other international agencies whose goals and programs match those of the Federation and National Societies and which are prioritised in terms of the Federation's new operating model at the regional and sub-regional levels.
- Lead the Regional Office's team in the fulfilment of an effective communications and advocacy strategy closely aligned with the global strategy and responsive to the country and regional priorities.
- Ensure consistency of messages both within the Federation and through consultations with the ICRC and other interlocutors. Ensure alignment of these messages and actions with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement.
International Disaster Response
- Provide leadership to the integrated Emergency and Partnership teams to ensure that international disaster and crisis response assistance is effectively and timely organised, coordinated and directed.
- Ensure that the support provided to NS in disaster and crisis response is relevant to the identified needs and is part of a wider strategy covering recovery and long-term development as applicable. Work closely with the Secretariat's Programs and Operations team to ensure that the response to major disasters and crisis is timely and at the scale commensurate with the needs and is in line with global systems and policies.
- Lead on operational modalities in movement co-ordination including capacity enabling as intervention mechanisms for disaster and crises.
Longer Term Development Programming
- Provide overall coordination to longer term programming support to NS in the strategies for implementation and as outlined in the Plan and Budget.
- Ensure efficient and effective management of Federation resources.
- Ensure that monitoring and evaluation carried out in Europe are relevant, effective and implemented.
General management
- Abide by and work at all times in accordance with Fundamental Principles of the Movement.
- Provide day to day management of all staff reporting to the position in the Regional Office.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws and status agreements to minimise risk of harm to the Federation and its personnel, properties and resources. Special attention is to be given on the compliance of procurement procedures and standards.
- Ensure sound planning and financial management for areas under his/her responsibility.
- Contribute to upholding the Secretariat`s policies, procedures and management system within the Region, and support their improvement and review as necessary.
- Promote a culture of performance and continuous learning to improve the accountability and impact for vulnerable people.
- Perform any other related duties and responsibilities that might be assigned by the Regional Director.
- Deputise for the Director when requested.
Education
Required
Advanced university degree in Economics, Social science, international development or related
Degree in Management
Experience
Required
Long term experience working with the IFRC Secretariat and/or National Society
At least 15 years of management experience, including direct supervision of more than 10 people and the management of teams with more than 50 people
Experience leading IFRC Country and especially Regional or Sub-regional teams
Proven successful track record in managing complex disaster response situations and long term recovery programming
Experience in external representation
Demonstrated success in planning, project management and reporting
Proven successful experience in strategy development and implementation
Proven successful experience in finance and risk management
Proven successful experience in people and performance management
Good understanding of the global humanitarian environment
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
Ability to build effective teams
Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross functional environment
Excellent communications skills, negotiating and influencing skills
Excellent Networking skills, strong interpersonal skills
Politically and culturally sensitive
Ability to work in tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks
Strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into action
Fluently spoken and written English
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)
Competencies, Values and Comments
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
MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development; Strategic Orientation
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others
