Under Secretary General, Programmes & Operations

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 189 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organisation established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement). 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; directing and coordinating international relief operations, resource mobilization, technical support including providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services. The Under Secretary General, Programmes and Operations reports directly to the Secretary General, and leads the Programmes and Operations business group including: Disaster and Crisis Prevention, Response and Recovery; Health; and Logistics. The position is located in the IFRC Secretariat headquarters in Geneva.

Job Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Secretary General and in support to National Societies, the Under Secretary General, Programmes and Operations (USG) provides vision, leadership, and effective management for the Secretariat’s work and resources along the continuum from disaster risk reduction and crisis prevention, to building safe, healthy and resilient communities, to disaster and crisis response and recovery. The USG supports the Secretary General in the overall management of the Secretariat, including through membership in the Global Senior Management Team (GSMT) and Senior Management Team (SMT), to ensure organizational excellence in support of vulnerable people and communities.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Within the framework of the IFRC Strategy 2020, and under the guidance of the Secretary General, the Under Secretary General, Programmes and Operations:

• Provides vision, leadership, strategic direction, effective management and operational coordination for the work of the Secretariat in the areas of disaster risk reduction and crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. In full support of the National Society in country and in close collaboration with regional directors, the USG works to ensure that resources of the Movement are mobilized to meet needs at scale, while helping to build stronger National Society capacities in these areas, and maximizing operational coordination and coherence within the Movement.
• Provides vision, leadership strategic direction, and effective management for the work of the Secretariat in strengthening the resilience of communities and addressing the needs of vulnerable people, including in such programme areas as health, water and sanitation, shelter, food security and nutrition, climate change, livelihoods and poverty reduction, migration, prevention of violence including gender-based violence, and social services, consistent with the priorities established by Governance and the Secretary General.
• Provides vision, leadership, strategic direction, and effective management to ensure global state-of-the-art logistics services, tools, commodities, resources and overall organizational preparedness for all programatic and operational activities of the IFRC, including disaster and crisis response, as well as effective management of the IFRC Fleet base.
• Oversees efforts to ensure that the organization fulfills its coordination and operational responsibilities within the Movement and broader humanitarian community (e.g., shelter cluster) and is positioned as a partner of choice in the areas of disaster and crisis prevention, emergency response and recovery, building and maintaining resilient communities including risk reduction and safe and healthy living, and for all programme areas consistent with the priorities of Governance and the Secretary General.
• Provides vision and leadership for the elaboration of innovative and effective programmes for safe and healthy living and strengthened community health systems; maximizing the RCRC contribution to promoting healthy behaviours, reducing health risks, addressing social and environmental factors that affect health status, and expanding health and social services for under-served communities and vulnerable people.
• Oversees staff safety and security, ensures that effective systems, mechanisms, programmes and tools are in place to protect the safety and security of staff and volunteers in operational settings, and strengthens National Society capacities to ensure the safety and security of their staff and volunteers.
• Provides leadership and effective content-based technical expertise and support for the Secretariat's efforts to promote and advance the achievement of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, consistent with the priorities of Governance and the Secretary General, and in partnership with the USG, Partnerships.
• Provides content-based professional and technical direction and representation, and is accountable for ensuring content-based and technical support and collaboration by the business group to colleagues in other business groups responsible for the development and updating of policies and strategies, overall institutional planning, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy positioning, knowledge dissemination and learning and communications.

Key tasks:

• Provide line management of the teams in this business group, which focus on :

a) disaster and crisis prevention, preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery;

b) health and social services;

c) thematic programme areas such as water and sanitation, shelter, food security and nutrition,

climate change, livelihoods and poverty reduction, migration, prevention of violence including

gender-based violence;

d) logistics services.

• Work to ensure overall institutional coherence and coordination and contributes to and supports the organization’s results based management systems.
• Foster and contribute to an overall organizational ethos of learning, accountability and transparency.
• Related to the responsibilities of this business group, nurture and ensure effective matrix management and cohesion in global teams, including effectively putting in place systems of shared accountabilities with regional leadership structures.
• Effectively manage the business group and ensure staff growth, motivation and satisfaction, contributing to effective organizational talent management and overall institutional discipline.
• Work continuously to bring the Secretariat closer to National Societies and to foster Movement coordination and collaboration in related areas of work.
• Perform as an effective member of the organization’s senior management teams.
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Secretary General, including representing or deputising for him upon request.

Education

Post-graduate degree in the area of management, humanitarian or development issues, or other relevant area

Experience

• At least 15 years of management experience at senior level including competence in disaster and crisis prevention, response and recovery, humanitarian emergency operations, economic and social development including health and social services, or other relevant field.
• Proven experience in the international humanitarian and/or development sector at global, as well as, at field level.
• Proven experience in the management of operations and programmes the areas of disaster and crisis management or humanitarian protection and assistance operations, and the achievement of health and other economic and social development goals and targets.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Knowledge and Skills :

• Capacity to work with sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills, including in public speaking
• Able to conceptualize strategic approaches and translate them into practice and results
• Able to network effectively and influence and inspire others including the membership, governments, other agencies, and own peers, staff, volunteers and partners
• Focus on quality and standards, results, and accountability
• Teamwork and trust-building, including in National Society relations
• Management style that empowers, guides, inspires, builds confidence, and finds creative and constructive solutions to complex or difficult issues

Languages :

• Fluently spoken and written English
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and values

Values :

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Accountability

Core Competencies :

• Communication,
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Judgement & Decision Making
• National Society & Customer Relations
• Creativity & Innovation
• Building Trust

Manegerial Competencies :

• Managing Staff Performance
• Managing Staff Development

Functional Competencies :

• Strategic Orientation
• Building Alliances
• Leadership
• Empowering Others

Comments

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• The Federation is an equal opportunity employer

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via the following link:

http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-...