Advisor National Societies Development, based in Switzerland, Geneva

Organizational context

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 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; 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 Global Innovation team is part of the Partnerships business group, sitting within the Policy, Strategy and Knowledge Department. The Innovation team builds and implements strategies that enhance the capacity of the IFRC and National Societies to innovate. The team also secures and manages global partnerships and develops global initiatives. There is a particularly strong focus however on supporting local innovation efforts to thrive across our large ground network in 190 countries.

Job Purpose
Ensure IFRC expertise, knowledge and systems on local organizational development to facilitate high quality National Society development support as per IFRC plan and budget objectives.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Maintain, develop and share relevant learning related to National Society development

  • Maintain up to date personal expertise in at least two specialist areas of National Society development (NSD) and act as a focal point for the global NSD team and other stakeholders in these areas
  • Lead processes to expand and share NSD knowledge through development of research, case studies, training, discussion with other agencies and actors involved in similar work etc. and identify, document and validate relevant knowledge and learning and making it available to National Societies and their Movement partners. Collect, document and validate outcomes and learnings of individual support interventions and aggregate the data and findings to higher levels
  • Analyse and interpret key patterns and systemic organisational weaknesses, to better focus the secretariat’s support to National Society development
  • Assure quality of IFRC and other tools, and their alignment with the 2013 National Society Development Framework

Work with IFRC regional offices to ensure high quality NSD support to National Societies

  • Maintain good working relationships and ensure timely two-way communication with field colleagues managing National Society development at Regional level
  • Work with field colleagues individually and collectively to ensure a coherent IFRC NSD offer to all National Societies in line with the 2013 National Society Development Framework
  • Monitor follow-up of OCAC phase one workshops by the global NSD team at field level

Work with IFRC programme and functional departments to ensure high quality NSD support to National Societies

  • Maintain good working relationships and ensure timely two-way communication with Geneva colleagues overseeing programmatic and functional support to National Societies
  • Work with these colleagues individually and collectively to ensure a coherent IFRC NSD offer to all National Societies in line with the 2013 NSD Framework

Support other Movement actors and other interested actors to ensure high quality NSD support to National Societies

  • Maintain good working relationships and ensure timely two-way communication with other Movement actors overseeing programmatic and functional support to National Societies
  • Work with these colleagues individually and collectively to ensure a coherent IFRC NSD offer to all National Societies in line with the 2013 NSD Framework

Support development of peer support modalities within IFRC

  • Work with regional focal points to systematically leverage National Society development expertise within National Societies and non-Movement actors
  • Provide surge OD expertise to support field colleagues when required
  • In coordination with Regional colleagues be available to carry out missions to individual NSs in need of specific support.

Contribute to an effective, high quality global NSD team:

  • Be accountable to your team manager by providing progress reports on results against objectives, and risk analysis.
  • Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets, and work to improve team efficiencies and effectiveness.
  • Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture, critical thinking and continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
  • Foster a supportive and mutually respectful environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and National Societies.

Education
University degree, with emphasis on humanitarian or development issues

Experience

  • At least 7 years of experience in an OD capacity, either within the RC Movement or in an INGO or agency that invests significantly in OD and capacity building.
  • Proven credibility in relation to organisational development and capacity enhancement, change management, and related aspects

Knowledge, skills and languages

  • Able to undertake strategic thinking and translate this into practice
  • Able to work with due sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment and virtual or/and dispersed teams
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Able to build partnerships and network effectively and to influence and inspire others including the membership, governments, other agencies, and own peers, staff, and partners
  • Focused on quality and standards, results, and accountability
  • Teamwork and trust-building for inclusive National Society relations
  • Proactive and demand-driven approach to finding creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues

Technical expertise in at least two areas of non-profit management and development, which could include (but not be limited to):

  • Governance and leadership development, strategy, membership development, volunteering development, branch development, youth organisation development, financial systems development, volunteer programme design, relationship development, fundraising systems development
  • Fluently spoken and written English
  • Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) - Preferred

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to apply via the following link:

www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies1

Application deadline July 15, 2016