Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the worldโs largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is โto 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.โ
IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination; (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; (iii) Management and Accountability; and (iv) People and Strategy.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
In Myanmar, IFRC is supporting the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) to roll-out a multi-million Swiss franc humanitarian operation in response to the 28 March 2025 earthquake alongside longer-term programmes, to reach 20,000 households. To effectively accompany the MRCS in addressing immediate to recovery humanitarian needs wrought by the earthquake, the IFRC Country Delegation in Myanmar is bolstering its operational capacity.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Head of Delegation, the Operations Manager provides the technical lead to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective, and efficient, sustainable and context-driven planning, implementation and monitoring of the emergency operations responses, aligned with humanitarian and organizational standards and priorities, as well as the IFRC Emergency Response Framework.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Strategy and Programme Management:
Negotiate, plan and mobilise IFRC resources in support of the NS(s) in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response and early recovery. Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools. Supervise IFRC technical leads to ensure they work closely with the managers of relevant NS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context and ensuring mitigating actions of the identified risks are being implemented. Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution and ensure that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats. Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk. Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the NS(s), that budgets are monitored, and any problems identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner. Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements. Lead, direct and motivate staff to ensure the highest level of performance in their respective areas of responsibility, ensuring quality service, compliance and timeliness. Leads the development of a Risk Management Plan as per the IFRCโs Risk Management Policy, consults the IFRC Emergency Response Framework (ERF) to ensure identified risks are within the established elevated risk appetite for Red Level Disasters and Crises, and coordinates the risk management process (risk identification, assessment, treatment, escalation, monitoring and reporting), including the development of a risk register and clear identification of responsible people for each mitigation measure. Conduct strategic analysis of the situation to identify humanitarian issues and potential risks by gathering relevant information, evaluating its impact and managing sensitive information discreetly and professionally Establishes a frequency for risk reviews and reporting to line supervisor. Escalates increasing AND emerging risks as well as challenges in the implementation of identified mitigation measures. Ensure the safety and security of staff in the operation by taking operational decisions based on changing risk levels, providing relevant updates to stakeholders and factoring in risk management into planning, through existing security structures when possible. Promote and ensure the integration of the response into longer term programs. Lead and ensure the effective operationalisation of safeguarding policies and practices across the operation, fostering a culture of safety, and holding staff accountable for maintaining high standards of conduct for all personnel and vulnerable individuals in line with IFRC`S Code of Conduct, policies and Principles. Lead new operations that might occur in the same operating area affected by the earthquake, it will include situations updates, reports, new DREF or Emergency Appeal.Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Coordination:
Assist the NS(s), Movement and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets, ensuring alignment of all IFRC network activities. Support the NS(s) in setting up the structure needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners. Promote and support membership coordination: Support the NS(s) in efforts to establish and maintain effective membership coordination structures at operational level and ensure these structures facilitate collaboration and shared leadership among all members. Coordinate with the ICRC regarding the operational response and ensuring complementarity according to respective expertise and mandates, ensuring that the NS is always at the centre. Together with the NS(s) and the Head of Country Office/Delegation, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country. Collaborate with NS(s) technical teams to support and promote a common context, needs, and situational analysis. Support the alignment of IFRC Network activities. Assist the NS(s) in creating operational objectives and priorities for emergency operations; ensure that IFRC Network activities align with these objectives. Support common planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting framework. Support a single data collection mechanism and promote a common accountability framework. Support the NS(s) in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions. Work with PMER leads in IFRC and the NS(s) to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner. Work with the regional Health, Disasters, Climate and Crises (HDCC) Department to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the NS(s) for emergency response.
National Society Capacity Strengthening
Support IFRC network technical leads and the IFRC NSD delegate to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the NS(s)โs structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and to ensure provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the crisis. Ensure existing data on the National Society response capacity is analysed alongside the context and the NS mandate to incorporate relevant resources to support. Support, the NS(s) to enhance their position vis a vis the national and international coordination mechanism. Along the NS(s), build alliances and partnerships with other stakeholders to enhance the implementation of the operational strategy. Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions within all relevant programming divisions in the NS(s). Review operational learnings from previous operations and utilize findings to analyse and adapt response options and prioritization and identify NS Response Capacity strengthening opportunities. Support the NS(S) in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.Education
Required
University degree in relevant area IMPACT training or equivalent
Preferred
Certified Head of Emergency Operation (HEOP) or Developing HEOPExperience
Required
At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in disaster management, including managing staff Min. 3-5 years of field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially population movements Work experience with RC/RC Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
Preferred
Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional contextKnowledge, Skills and Languages
Required
Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations. Demonstrated management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way. Outstanding networking, representational and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Effective project management skills. Excellent analytical skills and solution-oriented mindset. Good mentoring, coaching and capacity development skills. Ability to work well in a multicultural, multilingual and cross-functional team setting. Excellent stress management skills. Demonstrated accountability. Fluent spoken and written English
Preferred
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)Competencies, Values and Comments
Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; managing Staff Development.