Lead, Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF)

Job Purpose

Under the guidance of the EOC Manager, the incumbent will lead strategy development for a well-functioning, relevant, accountable fund fit for the future DREF activities. He/she will also lead the development of Federation strategies, plans and procedures relating to the fund management, accountability, allocation parameters and resource mobilisation (jointly with PRD) and advocacy efforts with a view of advancing and promoting the DREF fund and overall IFRC agenda.

Additionally, this position leads the overall ambition of the DREF scale up to increase the footprint of the IFRC and its National Societies to respond to the growing humanitarian needs and manages a team of professionals.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Management of the DREF and its scale-up

• Lead the development of a strategy for growing and managing the overall evolution of the DREF towards the scale-up (changes in the funding modalities, structural and organizational changes, guarantee accountability, etc.) ensuring proper alignment with the Strategy 2030.
• Lead the development and implementation of global guidelines, tools and processes to ensure the functional establishment of new modalities for the DREF scale-up, from design to presenting findings to management.
• Advise the EOC manager in the approval processes within the Secretariat (DREF Steering Committee; SG approvals) and IFRC Governance (Governing Board and its Working Groups; General Assembly) for the DREF new modalities or any required adjustment to the DREF.
• Identify the new potential projects and funding sources and develop proposals in line with the donor requirements to advance DREF.
• Lead on the implementation of the required organization changes including the DREF procedures revision process as well as its further development.
• Ensure the DREF objectives are met in the short and in a long run.
• Develop jointly with the team and other services (especially Partnership & Resource Development and Communication) a program plan on a yearly basis.

Staff and Budget Management

• Manage and be fully accountable for the DREF coordination budget
• Provide day to day leadership and management of the DREF staff
• Develop, motivate and set performance objectives for staff in line with the broader DREF objectives and goals.
• Create a working environment that ensures staff growth, innovation, motivation and job satisfaction.

Communications, Fundraising and Management/Governance structure

• Manage and coordinate donor relationship, advocacy and funding together with PRD and comms.
• Lead on the content development of advocacy materials
• Lead with PRD the development and the maintenance of the new DREF management structures (including the DREF council and advisory group)
• Oversee with PRD the development and implementation of a fund-raising strategy for the DREF to ensure sufficient funding is available to meet National Society requests
• Represent the DREF in appropriate and relevant forums
• Ensure effective internal communication within the Secretariat with the relevant departments
• Ensure effective communication with the Membership and the governance to ensure adequate buy-in and promotion

Accountability

• In coordination with the team ensure a relevant approach towards accountability and implement such approach to guarantee a well-functioning and accountable fund
• Oversee the DREF funding situation and the KPIs of the fund, including the risk register, act or escalate when red flags are raised.
• Provide consolidated global reports and data as needed based
• Maintain abreast of latest trends and developments in Disaster management, Anticipatory action and pool fund management and accountability

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Representation

• Represent IFRC in specific meetings with NSs, donors, governments and other actors to promote DREF and/or other IFRC agenda including resource mobilization that maximizes programme delivery

Anticipatory action

• Lead the development and scale-up of anticipatory action through revision of procedures, modalities and other initiatives
• Work closely with the Anticipatory Action coordinator in the Climate, Migration and Resilience team to explore and implement initiatives scaling up the anticipatory action footprint by the DREF
• Manage a performing network with the membership and external actors to enable the DREF to implement more anticipatory action

Education

Required

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Disaster Management or another relevant field

Experience

Required

• Minimum 10 years working and management experience in disaster management
• Minimum 7 years of experience developing and implementing a strategy
• Experience working for a humanitarian/development sector
• Experience in managing organizational change & process development
• Experience managing resources (staff and budget)
• Influences learning of colleagues
• Proven ability and experience to influence the leadership level

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Required

• Broad understanding of disaster management approaches and methodologies
• Knowledge of Grant management, investment and risk management strategies and mobilising resources
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity
• Project management, including knowledge of budgeting, financial and narrative reporting
• Knowledge and experience of working with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
• Results-oriented
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills within a diverse global environment
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead through influence and to utilise talent and experience of others
• Demonstrated organisational skills in a complex set-up
• Demonstrated networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills in a complex, multi-national and multi-culture environment. An ability to be proactive and persuasive
• Good understanding of Anticipatory action approaches
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
• High degree of discretion, tact, sensitivity and diplomacy in dealing with internal and external stakeholders all levels
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies and Values

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