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
Lead and manage the effective implementation of IFRC’s strategies and objectives in the areas of social inclusion, culture of non-violence & peace, gender & diversity, humanitarian education and youth & volunteers.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Enable the IFRC to be a global player in inclusion, protection and engagement
- Ensure relevant problem and trend analysis, best practices and learning both within and outside the IFRC programming.
- Lead and coordinate the integration of approaches to gender and diversity, social inclusion, and peace building, in all policy, advocacy and programming activities.
- Translate existing IFRC strategies into proven solutions and advocacy.
- Strategically position the organisation as a key player and partner, globally and locally accepted, in the areas of social inclusion, peace building, gender and diversity, humanitarian education, youth and volunteering
Support the IFRC capacity to improve and profile performance and inclusive programming and positioning
- Monitor practices and needs of National Societies in these sectors and coordinate coherent programme development and quality of practice at global level in collaboration with IFRC regional focal points and National Societies;
- Establish and disseminate relevant standards and benchmarks and ensure shared understanding and correct interpretation and implementation in all sector programmes;
- Ensure systematic and effective monitoring, evaluation, reporting and analysis of IFRC performance in these areas;
- Develop and share relevant evidence based practices, learning and resources in the IFRC community to support programming capacities.
- Coordinate and encourage engagement in relevant decision making forums.
- Build, maintain and utilise networks and relationships with National Societies and other relevant global stakeholders and identify advocacy and resource mobilisation opportunities.
Be a role model in leading and managing an effective, high quality team, fit for purpose
- Be accountable to Director on progress of results, a pro-active advisor and be a dynamic member of the department management team supporting strategic content areas and/or organisational change;
- Ensure effective coordination with other departments in Geneva, field colleagues, and National Societies.
- Nurture relations with peer organizations, participate in communities of practice and professional associations, develop networking and exchange initiatives to keep up to date with emerging trends and best practices
- Define clear roles, accountabilities and activities, and assign them across the team members on an ongoing basis while improving efficiencies within available resources;
- Plan, manage and monitor the use of available resources (people, budgets, etc.) of the team in order to deliver the agreed activities for area of responsibility;
- Foster a culture that values accountability for results, proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance;
- Create a working environment that ensures staff growth, motivation and satisfaction and support, through applying the seven personal skills linked to the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement’s Fundamental Principles and humanitarian values (see knowledge and skills section).
Education
Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in International Affairs, Political Science, Law, Economics, Public Policy, Social Studies, or other relevant areas of study.
Experience
Required:
- 10-15 years working experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with ideally a background in grass roots advocacy and working with community based actors.
- Demonstrated professional experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.
- Experience identifying and articulating strategic and tactical issues, risks and priorities to provide sound advice to senior management in a complex organisation.
- Experience with programming and positioning in one or more of the sectors within the department (social inclusion, peace-building/culture of peace, gender and diversity, humanitarian education, youth, volunteering).
- Demonstrated professional experience in an organization within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or in an international organization or NGO.
Knowledge, skills and languages
Required:
- Strategic thinker with the ability to implement strategies and policies at a senior level.
- Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
- Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across a complex organisation
- Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
- Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
- High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
- High degree of sensitive and adaptive inter- and intra-personal skills (including Empathy, Active listening, Critical thinking and non-judgement, Non-violent communication, Collaborative negotiation and mediation, working towards Personal resilience and Inner peace.)
- Fluent written and spoken English.
Preferred:
- Proficiency in an additional IFRC 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 & Cusstomer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust,
Managerial Competencies : Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional Competencies : Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others
Comments
The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.