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Job Description:
The role of the Emergency Field Director is to combine the ability to respond and lead in emergency response and protracted crises around the world, while also using that experience to influence lasting change in the humanitarian system through advocacy with key decision makers. The role requires a dynamic and flexible approach, combining management and influencing skills, and deep knowledge of how the humanitarian and development sectors works. The role will also be required to contribute to how long term durable solutions for displaced persons can be done from the start of an emergency response, and work closely with development actors in acute emergencies.
Previous Emergency Field Directors have used compelling narratives from the field to call for timely, relevant and impactful changes in how the global community responds to humanitarian crises.
Field Leadership
Under the direction of the IRC EPRU Director based in the New York office, the Emergency Field Director would lead the IRC’s Emergency Response Team providing management guidance to ensure rapidity of response, scale of assistance and quality within programming. Often the IRC’s most senior representative in the field, the Emergency Field Director must bring a senior leadership profile with a proven track record in managing humanitarian programming around the world. The successful candidate will be confident, eloquent and organized, as the Emergency Response Team will rely on their leadership during times of high pressure and competing priorities.
Policy and Communications “Influencer”
When not leading field missions, the Emergency Field Director will work under the direction of the Director of Policy & Practice to build awareness of the issues facing humanitarian responders and contribute to improving the effectiveness and quality of the work of governments, IFIs, UN and NGOs to improve conditions for people in need. Through first person information on conditions on the ground, the Emergency Field Director has an opportunity to bring to light the realities of conditions in the field and lead a call for meaningful change in how we as a humanitarian community can respond better.
Key Working Relationships
Relationships
Reports to the Director of the IRC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) in New York for all emergency related deployments
Reports to the Director of Policy& Practice for policy and advocacy related work based in UK (with travel to worldwide as required).
Close collaboration with all departments in IRC-UK as well as the IRC-UK board and committees (development committee in particular).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1) Field Duties – Emergency and Management deployments (50%)
Lead emergency responses and other urgent deployments, providing management guidance to the IRC’s emergency technical and operations staff that make up the ERT.
Liaise with local governments, leaders, communities, authorities, and ministries; work with communities, authorities, and other humanitarian agencies; represent IRC and its work to the media and other groups.
Liaise with technical and operational staff in New York, Washington, London, and Geneva to ensure the highest quality programming is implemented, adequate support to the field is assured, advocacy issues are prioritised, and donor relations are strengthened.
Establish and oversee support functions - ensure security protocols are in place and followed; ensure adequate and appropriate staffing (local and international); ensure the proper establishment of finance, logistics, grants management, administration, and human resources systems and procedures; ensure compliance with internal and donor controls.
2) UK based duties (50%)
Conduct briefing sessions for UK stakeholders on the IRC’s programmes and develop plans to influence change to improve overall humanitarian programming.
Work with IRC UK development staff to produce UK specific outreach materials highlighting IRC’s humanitarian programming, lessons learned (through monitoring and evaluation) and plans for future programmes of work.
Work with UK based technical and research and evaluation staff as needed, to strengthen IRC’s effectiveness in humanitarian response, including longer term recovery and resilience building.
Act as the IRC Start Network (consortium of NGOs based in London) Representative.
Support IRC-UK fundraising efforts with business development support and field focused contributions at donor meetings and opportunities.
Support the European Strategic Projects Team in new opportunities for partnership with European stakeholder governments.
Maintain good working relationships with the wider IRC and keep UK staff informed of the work of the EPRU.
Build contacts and relationships with other relevant stakeholders in the UK
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
Masters university degree, in International Affairs, Management, Health, Engineering, or relevant field.
Proven knowledge of best practice in crisis settings, especially in relation to health, environmental health, protection, livelihoods, and child/youth programming; experience with transitional programming.
Proven track record of influencing policy makers, contributing to research on the humanitarian and development sector and a deep appreciation of current debates on humanitarian response.
Experience:
Extensive experience working in developing countries; and significant experience of leadership positions in complex humanitarian and/or emergency settings.
Diverse geographical professional experience preferred.
Ability to influence and change approaches to humanitarian and development programming through policy level engagement above ‘field level” work.
Strong management skills in support functions such as security, human resources management, logistics, grants and budget management, finance, and administration.
Significant experience in dealing with media and press and communicating with external audiences.
Skills/Abilities:
Ability to maintain a flexible schedule to allow for travel to crisis situations within 72 hours.
Ability to work long hours in stressful, often insecure environments for up to six weeks at a time.
Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences.
Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills; ability to focus both on internal issues and external players.
Proven team-building and team leadership skills; ability to maintain an esprit de corps with a team that is often geographically dispersed.
Excellent spoken and written English and proficiency in spoken French required.
Desirable
Strong computer skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook; other programmes (Access, SUN Systems, etc.).
Interest and understanding of advocacy work.
Pass it on for Referral Bonus. Not the right role for you, but know someone we should meet? Share with him to earn $1,000 referral bonus.
Job Description:
The role of the Emergency Field Director is to combine the ability to respond and lead in emergency response and protracted crises around the world, while also using that experience to influence lasting change in the humanitarian system through advocacy with key decision makers. The role requires a dynamic and flexible approach, combining management and influencing skills, and deep knowledge of how the humanitarian and development sectors works. The role will also be required to contribute to how long term durable solutions for displaced persons can be done from the start of an emergency response, and work closely with development actors in acute emergencies.
Field Leadership
Under the direction of the IRC EPRU Director based in the New York office, the Emergency Field Director would lead the IRC’s Emergency Response Team providing management guidance to ensure rapidity of response, scale of assistance and quality within programming. Often the IRC’s most senior representative in the field, the Emergency Field Director must bring a senior leadership profile with a proven track record in managing humanitarian programming around the world. The successful candidate will be confident, eloquent and organized, as the Emergency Response Team will rely on their leadership during times of high pressure and competing priorities.
Policy and Communications “Influencer”
When not leading field missions, the Emergency Field Director will work under the direction of the Director of Policy & Practice to build awareness of the issues facing humanitarian responders and contribute to improving the effectiveness and quality of the work of governments, IFIs, UN and NGOs to improve conditions for people in need. Through first person information on conditions on the ground, the Emergency Field Director has an opportunity to bring to light the realities of conditions in the field and lead a call for meaningful change in how we as a humanitarian community can respond better.
Key Working Relationships
Relationships
Reports to the Director of the IRC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) in New York for all emergency related deployments
Reports to the Director of Policy& Practice for policy and advocacy related work based in UK (with travel to worldwide as required).
Close collaboration with all departments in IRC-UK as well as the IRC-UK board and committees (development committee in particular).
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1) Field Duties – Emergency and Management deployments (50%)
Lead emergency responses and other urgent deployments, providing management guidance to the IRC’s emergency technical and operations staff that make up the ERT.
Liaise with local governments, leaders, communities, authorities, and ministries; work with communities, authorities, and other humanitarian agencies; represent IRC and its work to the media and other groups.
Liaise with technical and operational staff in New York, Washington, London, and Geneva to ensure the highest quality programming is implemented, adequate support to the field is assured, advocacy issues are prioritised, and donor relations are strengthened.
Establish and oversee support functions - ensure security protocols are in place and followed; ensure adequate and appropriate staffing (local and international); ensure the proper establishment of finance, logistics, grants management, administration, and human resources systems and procedures; ensure compliance with internal and donor controls.
2) UK based duties (50%)
Conduct briefing sessions for UK stakeholders on the IRC’s programmes and develop plans to influence change to improve overall humanitarian programming.
Work with IRC UK development staff to produce UK specific outreach materials highlighting IRC’s humanitarian programming, lessons learned (through monitoring and evaluation) and plans for future programmes of work.
Work with UK based technical and research and evaluation staff as needed, to strengthen IRC’s effectiveness in humanitarian response, including longer term recovery and resilience building.
Act as the IRC Start Network (consortium of NGOs based in London) Representative.
Support IRC-UK fundraising efforts with business development support and field focused contributions at donor meetings and opportunities.
Support the European Strategic Projects Team in new opportunities for partnership with European stakeholder governments.
Maintain good working relationships with the wider IRC and keep UK staff informed of the work of the EPRU.
Build contacts and relationships with other relevant stakeholders in the UK
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
Masters university degree, in International Affairs, Management, Health, Engineering, or relevant field.
Proven knowledge of best practice in crisis settings, especially in relation to health, environmental health, protection, livelihoods, and child/youth programming; experience with transitional programming.
Proven track record of influencing policy makers, contributing to research on the humanitarian and development sector and a deep appreciation of current debates on humanitarian response.
Experience:
Extensive experience working in developing countries; and significant experience of leadership positions in complex humanitarian and/or emergency settings.
Diverse geographical professional experience preferred.
Ability to influence and change approaches to humanitarian and development programming through policy level engagement above ‘field level” work.
Strong management skills in support functions such as security, human resources management, logistics, grants and budget management, finance, and administration.
Significant experience in dealing with media and press and communicating with external audiences.
Skills/Abilities:
Ability to maintain a flexible schedule to allow for travel to crisis situations within 72 hours.
Ability to work long hours in stressful, often insecure environments for up to six weeks at a time.
Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences.
Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills; ability to focus both on internal issues and external players.
Proven team-building and team leadership skills; ability to maintain an esprit de corps with a team that is often geographically dispersed.
Excellent spoken and written English and proficiency in spoken French required.
Desirable
Strong computer skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook; other programmes (Access, SUN Systems, etc.).
Interest and understanding of advocacy work.
Pass it on for Referral Bonus. Not the right role for you, but know someone we should meet? Share with him to earn $1,000 referral bonus.
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