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
To provide a timely and reliable service to the IFRC network through the development and maintenance of innovative information management and data collection, collation and analysis tools for disaster and crisis prevention, response and recovery. Specifically, the Senior Officer is accountable for the development and maintenance of the system(s) to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of data to support IFRC operational and strategic decision making at local (national), regional and global levels. The Senior Officer will work to align existing IFRC datasets, mine relevant data from historical datasets, establish new templates and approaches to data collection, support the analysis of trends and forecasting, contribute to the development of data standards, and promote data sharing and inter-operability – including common humanitarian datasets. The Senior Officer will also support the day-to-day management of the EOC – including training and technical support to end users, and maintenance of some DMIS functions.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Support IFRC Leadership in Management of Prevention, Response and Recovery
- Support the phased introduction of new and/or information management updated standards, procedures and tools appropriate to the organisational structure and matrix management practices.
- Facilitate training and dissemination on information management standards, procedures and tools and monitor compliance - referring any significant issues of accountability to the Coordinator, Information Management in a timely manner.
- Support the Emergency Support Group when requested
- Contribute to the further development the DREF, Emergency Appeals, operational quality control and approval process at a global level.
- Supports efforts to develop Movement wide approaches to RCRC disaster and crisis prevention, response and recovery through the further alignment of IFRC and ICRC plans, tools and mechanisms.
- Liaise with the IT department to coordinate and ensure a One Secretariat, One IT approach.
Deliver quality information in PRR to end users
- Implement systems for data gathering and information management across all activities of the DCPRR to ensure accurate and reliable data is sought, collected, stored, analysed and shared with key stakeholders in a timely manner.
- Support the day-to-day operation of the IFRC Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and networked facilities and exercise quality control over the platform, user interface and tools that support data collection and analysis such as, but not limited to, Open Data Kit (ODK), RAMP and RMS.
- Lead and manage data collection processes and data management activities including encoding, storing, and transferring data to key stakeholders.
- Monitor the effective use of the information management systems, and the application of relevant tools and procedures and identify and fill gaps where necessary
- Oversee the development and delivery of information management training modules for stakeholders
- Ensure timely preparation and generation of information products and reports in accordance with needs of the IFRC network, and support on information sharing and dissemination to all relevant stakeholders (Movement and external partners).
Representation and sustaining a global network on preparedness, relief and recovery
- Build functional networks and coordinate with RC/RC movement partners, NGOs, UN and other International organizations, to ensure the International Federation is kept informed and up to date on best practices and emerging trends related to information management.
- Work with the Senior Officer IM and GIS to research and explore partnerships to expand IFRC access to relevant data sources – including historical statistical data, hazard trends and drivers of vulnerability, needs assessments, satellite imagery, remote sensing, media / social media
- Participate in relevant working groups at the global level and liaise with external partners in relation to information management needs and coordination.
- Coordinate and collaborate with ICRC and RCRC partners on the harmonisation and alignment of data collection and management process where appropriate.
- Coordinate and collaborate with non-Movement partners (including UN OCHA and IASC) on the harmonisation and alignment of data collection and sharing as appropriate.
- Lead IFRC efforts to promote inter-operability with IASC partners, support for the development of the Common Humanitarian Dataset / Common Operational Dataset, and dissemination of global data standards
- Support the Disaster Management teams present in the Regions with technical advice and surge capacity for information management and seek to connect regional to global networks.
Contribute to an effective, high quality IFRC Department:
- Be accountable to the 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 improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
- Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and cost effectiveness.
- Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and the National Societies and open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.
- Be available to deploy internationally for up to 3 months each year
Education
- University degree in relevant area or equivalent experience required
- Training in the RC/RC global disaster response tools (FACT, RDRT, ERU, SIMS, etc.) - Preferred
- Technical training in information and data management
Experience
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in information and data management - Required
- Field experience in working with a humanitarian organisation in an information management, information systems capacity, reporting or communications function - Preferred
- Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation - Required
- Experience in working within the RC/RC Movement - Preferred
- Experience in strategy development, developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance and in establishing and maintaining networks - Preferred
Knowledge, skills and languages
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods
- Knowledge of RC/RC and UN global disaster response tools - Preferred
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills with independent decision making capacity
- Ability to formulate IM related technical requirements and operating procedures
- Ability to compile and holistically analyse diverse datasets
- Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions
- Strong partnership building skills, demonstrated capacity to build functional networks
- Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment and ability to travel at short notice
- Fluently spoken and written English
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) - Preferred
Comments
The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.
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