Job Description
Job title / Ebola Response ManagerJob band / SAME / Ref / REQ0000003ZK
Department / Programmes & Partnerships /
Division
/ InternationalReporting to / Disaster Response Manager (now) / Head of Region (future) / Location / UK Office, London (with travel to West Africa)
Duration / 12 months (Fixed Term) /
Last updated
/ October 2014Scale and Scope
Direct / Indirect/overallBudgetary / Up to £10m / £……….
Staffing / Programme Officer
Assets / None
Accountability & Decision Making / Operational decision making authority in relation to programme delivery
Accountable for the integrity and quality of programme and/or project activities
Accountable for ensuring best use of BRC’s financial and other resources within the assigned programme(s)/projects
Accountable for security management of delegates and assets deployed to affected countries
Accountable for ensuring adherence to organisational principles and values, and compliance with partnership agreements within own programme and/or projects activities
Accountable, within own programme activities, for ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations, codes of conduct, standards and internal policies and procedures
Reach & Impact / In collaboration with Country Managers and Head of Region, provide assistance to and build the resilience ofvulnerable communities impacted by the Ebola virus through the effective use of humanitarian programmes of partner national societies.
Build and manage relationshipswith RCM partners within the assigned programme(s).
Work with other donor NSs in Europe, North America and elsewhere to ensure effective delivery of support in the assigned programme(s) and/or projects.
Work collaboratively and in partnership with technical advisors and other specialist colleagues within a responsive and fluid matrix structure
Context
The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.
We are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to, and bound by, its fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The Programmes and Partnerships department provides single oversight of our programme work and our long-term capacity building partnerships and disaster management. The department will work in partnership not only externally with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the IFRC and ICRC, but also internally within a matrix relationship of technical advisers and policy professionals in other teams.
The post of Ebola Response Manager is responsible for strategic direction, management and delivery of BRC support to the Ebola response operations currently being undertaken in West Africa. It will provide fixed term surge support to the West and Central Africa regional team until the outbreak is under control and operations can once again be handed back to the relevant Country Managers.
Overall Purpose of the Post
To lead BRC’s response to the Ebola crisis currently affecting countries in West Africa and ensure that BRC is a leading Partner National Society in the scale-up of this response.
To ensure timely and effective allocation of BRC resources in the regional Ebola response through coordination of key stakeholders and decision-making processes
To build and maintain relationships with RCM partners and other external stakeholders involved in the Ebola response.
To ensure coordination of internal stakeholders, allowing BRC corporate discussions and plans to be sufficiently developed, risk-informed and to have full commitment at senior levels.
To coordinate with external stakeholders to ensure smooth and timely BRC support to the IFRC response and support to partner National Societies.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Management
1. In accordance with delegated budget and operations management authority, take responsibility for the decision making on, and efficient and effective management of, the Ebola Response and related budgets.
2. Chair the Ebola Response Working Group, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and methods of communication with representatives from across the BRC.
3. Work proactively with the BRC Programmes and Partnerships, Technical Advisory and Humanitarian Policy teams and International Division Support Functions to ensure appropriate on-going support responding to identified needs with Red Cross Movement partners.
4. Work closely with the relevant Country Managers, DM Coordinator and Head of Region to ensure the Ebola Response is coherent with the broader BRC W&CA Regional Strategy and its initial implementation plans, especially around capacity support to the national societies.
5. Ensure that the BRC Ebola response remains appropriate to the political, social, economic, environmental and cultural context of the countries in the region. This includes the ability to analyse the context and make programme decisions accordingly (covering security, occupational health, operational objectives and approaches, resourcing and coordination, etc.).
6. Identify and advise on new response programming options, including longer-term recovery as the situation allows, which are consistent with the BRC’s Ebola Response Operational Framework.
7. Ensure appropriate management systems are in place regarding all BRC supported activities (including but not limited to monitoring [seeking to ensure compliance with internationally recognised standards], security and health and safety, HR, accountability, etc.).
8. When possible, undergo monitoring and support visits to the region, working closely with National Societies and IFRC regional and country delegation representatives to ensure the on-going relevance of programme direction and support.
9. Liaise with, and ensure timely instructions and adequate information are supplied to, the Logistics Team in order to meet the material needs of this operation.
10. Contribute to the documentation and communication of learning within the organization and seek, where possible, to share that learning with key stakeholders.
Representation, Relationship and Communications
1. Ensure effective working relationships with RCM Partners in the Ebola Response – at Geneva, Zone, Region and Country levels.
2. Ensure the optimal use of BRC’s technical advisory resources to support RCM partners.
- Represent the assigned programme(s) and BRC externally in relationships with relevant government representatives, donors, and with other agencies and strategic partners
4. Represent the BRC as allocated at important forums including Movement meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings and with corporate and private donors.
5. Lead, in coordination with Humanitarian Policy team and Communications Division, BRC’s messaging and advocacy strategy in regard to the Ebola response.
6. Provide media interviews and sign-off of communications materials as required.
Financial and Human Resource Management
6. Manage, support and develop any staff or delegates involved in the programme ensuring a constructive and supportive working and living environment for any BRC staff or seconded delegates.
7. Take responsibility as security focal point for delegates deployed to the Ebola Response. Ensure that delegates are sufficiently trained, briefed and prepared (with requisite kit and equipment) to undertake field missions in the response.
8. Take responsibility for the effective management of the programme budget ensuring accurate forecasting, reporting, and ensuring spending targets are met.
9. Identify funding options for continued response programming initiatives and lead on the development of proposals for, and the securing of, new contracts.
10. Ensure operations comply with BRC procedures, regulations and policies. In particular, ensure that the financial management of all funds meets with the standards established by the Finance Division and donors and liaise with the Head of International Finance within the International Division to achieve this objective.
11. Provide timely provision of clear and consistent information and operational narrative and financial reporting for BRC corporate and institutional donor proposals and reports.
12. Ensure that the reporting and accountability needs of institutional donors (DFID, ECHO, the DEC, etc.) are provided for.
Other
7. Ensure that any risks to BRC associated with its relationships and resourcing of RCM partners are identified and appropriately addressed.
8. Facilitate technical and management visits from appropriate BRC staff or associates.
9. Any other reasonable duties as delegated by the Line Manager.
10. Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and work within the Society’s equal opportunities policy.
Person Specification
Job Title: Ebola Response Manager Ref: REQ0000003ZK Band: SAMEEducation/
training / > Degree level or equivalent technical qualification within a specialist
technical or professional field relevant to disaster management
Experience / > Substantial experience of working in the development, delivery
and coordination of Disaster Response programmes, including significant exposure to overseas work**
> Needs assessment and developing operational plans, in an
emergency response context**
> Managing operational budgets**
> Building organisational partnerships and organisational capacity
Advising decision makers where authority is based on influence rather than status
> Working with local partners to build capacity or share skills**
> Working with institutional and high-profile donors
> Representing an organisation
Knowledge/
technical skills / > Analysis and programme planning.**
> Monitoring, evaluation and needs assessment.**
Knowledge of issues and complexities of disaster response programming, recovery and resilience.**
Understanding of dynamics related to sudden onset, chronic and conflict response and recovery programmes.**
> Budget and funding proposal development.
> An appreciation of the IFRC’s global disaster response tools,
regional response mechanisms and means of managing these.
> Security management training and/or experience.**
> Other languages relevant to the region would be an advantage.
Competencies / > Working in Partnership
> Embracing and leading constructive change
> Communicating and influencing
> Commercial awareness
> Information seeking
> Personal impact and self-management
> Problem solving
> Leading and engaging
> Developing yourself and others
Special
Circumstances / > Able to travel for up to 90 days per year and operate in a physically demanding working environment.
Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary.
Willing to work in situations of political insecurity.
**Minimum short-listing criteria.
N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme
BRC Job DescriptionEbola Response Manager / October 2014
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