American Red Cross Regional Manager, Africa

The American Red Cross (ARC) International Services Department (ISD) seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering around the world by responding to disasters, building safer, more resilient communities, and educating future humanitarians. The American Red Cross continues to deepen and expand its international programming while also working to strengthen the global Red Cross Red Crescent Network, in order to deliver critical assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

SUMMARY:

The primary goal of the Regional Manager is to provide management, supervisory, and technical support to ARC staff and programs to achieve regional strategic objectives in addition to facilitating learning, sharing, and use of good practices within this region, among other regions, and with ARC National Headquarters and Red Cross/Red Crescent partners. The incumbent will serve as line manager for Africa Region Program Officers and Program Assistants at NHQ. The Manager also serves as the lead interface between the country and regional delegations and ARC NHQ International Disaster Response, Program Integration, Business Operations units and many other external NHQ Units to contribute to fundraising, cross-regional learning, program quality and compliance, and accountability to donors and beneficiaries.

The position will report directly to the Regional Director for Africa and maintains an integrated, collaborative relationship with the Regional Quality & Learning Unit, HQ-based Program Integration Unit, and relevant staff in the region to ensure consistent and standardized use of best practices and processes.

This position is responsible for developing, implementing and managing an extensive portfolio of risk reduction, health and organizational development projects and budgets in Africa. The position facilitates and supervises on-going assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of assistance projects throughout Africa while ensuring compliance with internal policies, donor agreements and applicable rules and regulations with an emphasis on US government rules and regulations in HQ and in ARC’s regional and country delegations. The position also works closely with Red Cross Societies in the region and with appropriate staff at NHQ and in the field to provide or access related technical, financial or operational guidance.

This is a full time position and is based at ARC Headquarters in Washington DC, with frequent travel through the region (up to 40%).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Regional Manager will provide support to ARC and Red Cross/Red Crescent partners in Africa to implement high-quality programs while ensuring programmatic integration and impact across all programs and projects in the region. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

•Oversee day-to-day Africa operations, programmatic management and reporting. •Collaborate daily with the Regional and Country Representatives and all field delegates on a range of operational and programmatic issues. •Manage and coach NHQ-based Program Officers (Pos) and Assistants (PAs) and other field delegates as determined by the RD. •Ensure activities are carried out in a timely manner and conform to ARC sector strategies and industry standards, as well as in compliance with ISD and corporate procedures. •Monitor program and project timelines, targets and budgets, trouble-shoot problems, and suggest corrective actions when necessary to ensure Africa meets articulated objectives and commitments. •Provide timely information and updates to RD on program progress and challenges. •Provide management and supervisory support to POs to promote quality programming, support and coordinate integrated country planning, project design, proposal development, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, ensure field-level day-to-day activities and achievements align with program objectives, ARC strategies and desired results. •During disaster response operations, support the Disaster Response lead in managing all aspects of disaster response, including planning for recovery. Should also be prepared to serve as Disaster Response lead, as needed. •Monitor new, ongoing, and potential disasters in region, working with International Response Operation Center’s reporting function and Development, Communications and Marketing Departments to ensure up-to-date information. •Collaborate with counterpart managers and staff for the other regions to mutually inform experiences and remain coherent and compliant with ISD standards and desired outcomes. •Supervise the POs and delegates to collaborate with NHQ and field Finance staff to develop, track and efficiently manage Africa budgets; with Program Officers, monitor budget implementation, project cash flows, restricted awards and field offices. •Ensure, in collaboration with Human Resources Department, timely resourcing of qualified staff at field level and NHQ. •Monitor and promote productive relations with partners, specifically counterpart Red Cross/Crescent societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and partners external to the RC/RC movement. •Facilitate, with assistance of field and NHQ staff, identification, documentation, and dissemination of best practices and suggest program standardization or replication in technical sectors when appropriate. •Facilitate sectoral and country-specific program integration, and assist the RD to ensure a coherent strategy within the Africa region. •Assure compliance with ARC policies, external donor requirements and industry standards. •Represent ARC at industry and international conferences and meetings. •Support program staff in identifying opportunities for professional development. •Serve asthe acting RD during his/her absence when designated. •Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

•Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent experience is required. Graduate level degree in a related field is preferred. •Minimum five years experience in international relief and development is required. •Minimum one year supervisory experience is required. •Experience in disaster risk reduction and response, health, organizational development, and/or water/sanitation is desirable. •Red Cross/Red Crescent experience preferred. •Prior experience managing USAID awards preferable. •Candidate must have strong verbal and written communications skills and must demonstrate familiarity with evolving industry standards. •Experience in proposal writing, project design, monitoring and evaluation and other fund raising methodologies is desirable.

The American Red Cross is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

How to apply:

Apply online at https://www.americanredcross.apply2jobs.com. Please reference requisition number NHQ35746.

Selected candidate must be legally allowed to work in the US without any need for Visa sponsorship now or in the future.