Manager, Emergency Operations Coordination

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Head of DCC (HoDCC), the Manager supports the IFRC network in Asia Pacific with the maintenance and development of the local-to-regional IFRC emergency response system to ensure timely, high quality and well-coordinated disaster and crisis operations. Specifically, the Manager directly oversees a team of seven whose functions include coordinating international disaster management, coordinating mobilization of global disaster response tools, strengthening regional response capacity, supporting National Societies to access the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and Emergency Appeal mechanisms, operation management quality assurance, ensuring adequate information management in response and recovery, and thought leadership and knowledge sharing across relevant technical areas. S/he also leads large and complex operations (level orange) at the regional level, including being the technical supervisor of country-based Operations Managers.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Management:

1. Responsible and accountable for the overall day-to day management and coordination of emergency operation.
2. Accountable to the HoDCC on achievement of results of the unit’s Operational Plan as a proactive manager and dynamic member of the DCC management team (which comprises HoDCC and manager for DRM and emergency operations).
3. Select, mentor and manage team members under the emergency operation functional area, including ensuring that they have well-defined results-based priority plans and capacity to provide technical support to response operations at any time.
4. Promote a culture of continuous learning, individual and team accountability in the emergency operation functional area by setting individual and team objectives, monitoring team performance and conducting timely performance reviews.
5. Ensure that the team prepares accurate and timely weekly operational analyses, monthly operational highlights, quarterly updates on operations and annual updates on operations as well as deliver inputs for standard reports.
6. Ensure that the emergency operations team works closely with the programmatic and crosscutting thematic approaches functional areas of DCU and coordinates other units within APRO, CoDs, CCDs and Geneva as well as with ICRC, Partner National Societies and key external stakeholders throughout emergency response cycle.
7. Develop annual plans for the emergency operations functional area in coordination with the HoDCC and Manager for DRM as well as mobilize, manage and monitor the use of available financial resources and facilities by the team to ensure that delivery of agreed activities is in line with approved ceilings and finance procedures.

Disaster and Crisis Management Effectiveness:

1. Responsible and accountable for creating a shared understanding of the Principles and Rules of Red Cross Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance, IFRC Emergency Response Framework (ERF), IFRC SOPs for Asia Pacific Disaster and Crisis Response and Recovery, ‘Disaster and Crisis Management Effectiveness’, ‘Working Effectively Together’, and other IFRC policies, standards, tools, procedures and strategic guidelines across IFRC offices and National Societies in Asia Pacific.
2. Act as the lead regional expert for timely and appropriate mobilization of global response tools – financial (DREF and Emergency Appeals), coordination and technical support (FACT) and service delivery (ERU) – as well regional response capacity (RDRT and non-nominal surge) for disaster and crisis response operations requiring solidarity of the IFRC system, in agreement with the National Society receiving assistance.
3. Lead input for developing strategies for large and complex operations in the region as well as ensure organization-wide understanding of strategies of emergency operations in Asia pacific by ensuring that Joint Task Forces (JTF) and Regional Task Forces (RTF) are convened, based on the categorization of a disaster or crisis levels, as outlined in the ERF.
4. Act as the lead regional expert for the continuous improvement of DREF and Emergency Appeal guidelines and alignment of the SOPs for Asia Pacific Disaster and Crisis Response and Recovery to the ERF.
5. Support the surge optimisation process including migration to the Global Rapid Response database and competency-based system.
6. Guide and oversee the Virtual Communities initiative: to ensure greater engagement and peer-to-peer support between three critical cohorts within the AP response system: Women Leaders in Emergency Operations, Asia Pacific Information Network, Regional Rapid Responders Network.

Quality Assurance:

1. Responsible for ensuring that response operations are appropriate and aligned with internal guidelines and policies including SPHERE, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules, Strengthening Movement Cooperation and Coordination (SMCC).
2. Responsible for ensuring the application of IFRC policies, frameworks, procedures, standards, guidelines and methodologies in delivering humanitarian assistance to people affected by disasters and crises.
3. Lead monitoring of implementation rates and performance of IFRC-supported response operations against Operational Excellence indicators and benchmarks, budgets and compliance, and propose corrective action where necessary.
4. Promote a culture of Movement cooperation and coordination to maximize the quality and effectiveness in the assessment of needs and the delivery of disaster and crisis response operations.

Strategic Direction and Leadership:

1. Contribute to defining, promoting and leading the overall strategic vision and planning of IFRC’s disaster and crisis work in Asia Pacific with a focus on operational excellence, disaster and crisis management effectiveness, enhancing regional response capacity.
2. Lead large and complex operations (level orange) at the regional level, including being technical supervisor of country-based Operations Managers, Heads of Emergency Operations (HEOps), Rapid Response Team Leaders and Field Programme Coordinators.

Organizational Readiness:

1. Responsible for ensuring that IFRC offices develop and update office-specific plans for enhancing organizational readiness for disasters and crises.
2. Ensure that National Society disaster response tools are well linked to regional tools as part of the overall strategy for enhancing regional response capacity, and in line with the principles and progress of the “surge optimization” process.

Information Management and Innovation in Disaster Management:

1. Ensure collaboration with thematic functions on the monitoring, analysis and dissemination of timely and accurate disaster and crisis threat, impact and response information before during and after disasters, keeping the senior management teams informed on emerging or significant humanitarian situations.
2. Ensure the extraction, analysis and validation of data related to response and recovery operations and production of information products to facilitate sharing information with Movement and external stakeholders.

Coordination and Networking:

1. Network and coordinate with Movement partners, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, national disaster management agencies, inter-governmental organizations, Civil-Military actors, and private sector to ensure that the IFRC shares information and is well informed on best practices and key developments in disaster response and recovery.
2. Ensure technical-level engagement with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), within the context of One ASEAN One Response, as a key humanitarian and development actor in Southeast Asia.
3. Engage with Partner National Societies and potential donors to promote the work of the Emergency Operations and IM team, develop proposals for funding and report on these activities.

Representation:

1. Represent IFRC in operational engagements with regional disaster and crisis response-related forums including the ASEAN AHA Centre.

Education

Required

• Relevant university education or an equivalent of qualifying experience
• Basic Delegates Training Course (BTC), WORC, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge
• ERU/FACT/RDRT/Emergency Team Leader training

Preferred

• HEOps training and/or certification
• Technical training in the emergency/disaster preparedness and/or response

Experience

Required

• 7 years’ experience in international disaster response and recovery operations
• 5 years’ experience, minimum, working for the IFRC
• Good understanding of the IFRC global response system and mechanisms
• Good understanding of the global humanitarian environment
• Experience in working for a humanitarian aid organization in a developing country
• Experience in managing teams and budgets
• Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian actors
• Experience in narrative and financial reporting and proposal writing
• Experience in the Asia Pacific region

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Required

• Valid international driving licence (Manual gears)
• Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.)
• Skills in developing and training staff
• Skills in negotiation and building relations
• Solid and tested team coordination and/or support skills
• Fluently spoken and written English

Competencies and Values

COMPETENCIES

COMMUNICATION

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; demonstrates ability and willingness to adapt language, tone and style to different audiences; ensures messages are understood; is attentive to others and encourages open, two-way communication

COLLABORATION and TEAMWORK

Promotes cooperation, supporting others and sharing the credit for achievements; accepts consensus views. Establishes strong interpersonal relationships and works effectively with colleagues and partners from different backgrounds, cultures and functions, to achieve organisational goals and optimize results.

JUDGEMENT and DECISION MAKING

Demonstrates a capacity to gather relevant information systematically and make objective judgements. Shows an ability to reach sound and balanced decisions and take into account their positive and negative impacts. Brings clarity and direction to ambiguous, complex or difficult situations.

NATIONAL SOCIETY and CUSTOMER RELATIONS

Identifies, understands and meets internal and external customer needs (*National Societies, colleagues, stakeholders); builds productive customer relationships; ensures that services provided are of high quality; takes responsibility for ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.

CREATIVITY and INNOVATION

Leads or substantially contributes to the development of new or better processes,
methods, systems and practices to improve organizational performance by means of innovative ideas and creative thinking.

BUILDING TRUST

Establishes open, candid, trusting relationships; treats all individuals fairly and with respect; behaves in accordance with IFRC values and stated commitments; maintains high standards of integrity.

VALUES

RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY
Treats all individuals and groups fairly and shows respect for all persons equally, without any distinction on the basis of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, political opinions, or any other grounds.

INTEGRITY
Works in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Fundamental Principles and Values, in a transparent and accountable manner.

PROFESSIONALISM
Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates knowledge, professional competence, and technical mastery of relevant subjects. Displays self-control, perseverance and resilience in the face of pressure or adversity.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Honours commitments, and takes responsibility for delivering high quality outcomes.