Project Manager

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to 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.” The 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 the 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 three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

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.

The Regional Office for Europe (ROE) is based in Budapest, Hungary.

The Country Cluster Support Team (CCST) for Central & South-Eastern Europe will facilitate cooperation in the area of responsibility and provide direct support to IFRC country offices (if any), National Societies under the cluster, and to donors and humanitarian partners located in the area of operation. The central thematic focus of this Country Cluster Delegation will be National Society Development and on providing support to population movement strategies, anticipatory action and disaster preparedness, capacity-building within programs, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccine roll-out. The CCST draws on the regional office, as required, to deliver support for the NSs and will ensure regional coherence and consistency on IFRC delivery. The CCST aims to promote country-centered longer-term programming, provide a platform for cooperation and learning, provide technical support in the countries, and manage the performance of the secretariat staff in the countries in its responsibility (all as per transition plans from ROE to CCST).

Job Purpose

The role of the Project Manager is to manage and coordinate IFRC’s programmatic portfolio in Central & South-Eastern Europe and to ensure closer linkages between programs and technical support in organizational development and humanitarian diplomacy with a particular focus on COVID-19 pandemic and Population Movement response and recovery in the region.

While the purpose of the position is to manage projects and coordinate operations across all active thematic areas, the current COVID-19 pandemic context necessitates that the incumbent pays particular attention to this specific topic in the portfolio and in close collaboration with the relevant technical teams at the ROE. The Project Manager will participate in on-the-job training by the current Operations Manager & Programs Coordinator, during 2022.

The position holder will:

• Manage IFRC coordination in support of National Societies in key programming areas such as disaster preparedness, response, recovery, cash and vouchers assistance, health in emergencies, livelihoods, and food security.
• Facilitate technical support to National Societies in analyzing and identifying socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and in developing and implementing relevant programs that address them.
• Ensure greater linkages between various programs, such as preparedness for effective response, disaster risk reduction, disaster law, and health, as well as with Community Engagement and Accountability; Protection, Gender and Inclusion; and Information Management.
• Support National Societies in identifying and achieving their organizational development needs and goals.
• Contribute to and participate in resource mobilization for IFRC programming in support of National Societies.
• Develop new partnerships within the Movement/Red Pillar and with governments, development partners, donors, United Nations, and other international and local organizations to scale up Red Cross/Red Crescent services across Central & South-Eastern Europe.
• Contribute to and participate in Neighbors Help First network events and activities.

The position of Project Manager is based in the IFRC Cluster Delegation Office in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Projects Management and Coordination of Programs and Operations

• Manage IFRC’s Covid19 projects within the cluster, in close collaboration with each responsible National Society.
• Coordinate IFRC disaster preparedness and response interventions in the region in collaboration with the ROE technical team and NS technical coordinators. This includes support to National Societies in their needs assessment and development of the emergency appeal documents (DREF and Emergency Appeal) as necessary.
• Ensure that monitoring, evaluation, and reporting are carried out in a timely manner and in accordance with IFRC Secretariat requirements.
• Ensure a coordinated approach to NS capacity development through programming support and operations management.
• Ensure that sound financial management is applied to all IFRC-supported programs in the Cluster and ensure that the expenditures relating to these operations are within the income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures.
• Promote knowledge and experience sharing between programs and within IFRC and NSs by organizing the documentation of best practice/lessons learned/pilot projects as appropriate for current programs and for future use.
• Ensure that all activities are carried out in a participatory and inclusive manner that reflects community needs and cultural sensitivities including gender balance, age, most vulnerable populations such as migrants and displaced populations and that activities take into consideration issues around any local risks and hazards.
• Contribute to Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Accountability activities by following the necessary quality standards defined by NS and IFRC.
• Perform budget holder’s responsibility for assigned programs and operations in accordance with IFRC financial procedures.

Partnership development, advocacy, and resource mobilization

• Research into opportunities for new partnerships for Red Cross work in the region with special attention to Governments, government donor agencies, and private sector engagement.
• Mobilize resources for IFRC programs and Emergency Appeals.
• Ensure a coordinated approach to programming support among Partner National Societies and maintain regular communications for greater Movement/Red Pillar coordination and cooperation in the region.
• Develop partnerships with Governments, development partners, donors, United Nations, and other international organizations to scale up Red Cross services and programs.
• Under the guidance of the Head of Country Cluster Delegation, represent the IFRC at relevant inter-agency, governmental coordination mechanisms, and other technical coordination forums, meetings and sector and technical working groups (e.g. Early Recovery Cluster, Cash Coordination and Basic Needs WGs etc.) as required.

Capacity Building

• Support NSs in the Central & South-Eastern Europe cluster in developing and implementing relevant operational standards, tools, and procedures that ensure quality, consistency, and sustainable programming and interventions.
• Support National Societies in establishing an effective information management system.
• Identify training needs (face-to-face or remote); support the organization and facilitation of training sessions for technical teams at NSs in needs assessments, skills development, and adapt existing or develop new methodologies, approaches, and tools enabling adequate responses to disasters and crises.
• Support National Societies in developing their business continuity plans.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Position requirements

Education

Required:

• University degree and / or formal qualification in relevant subject: Humanitarian assistance/development studies, agriculture, economic or socio-economic development, rural development, or Business Administration or equivalent.

Preferred:

• Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT, FACT, ERT, RDRT/CAP training

Experience

Required:

• Experience in international operations, including emergency response, in humanitarian and development aid programs.
• Experience in implementing development assistance programs, such as disaster risk reduction at national and/or international level.
• At least 5 years of international experience with a humanitarian aid organization.
• Relevant project management experience: assessing, designing, planning, implementing, monitoring and financial management of various programs in emergency, early recovery. and development contexts.
• Experience in drafting project proposals, preparing budgets and drafting narrative and financial reports.
• Experience in coordinating with authorities and other humanitarian actors.
• Previous experience in working with national organizations and counterparts.

Preferred:

• Experience in implementing cash and voucher assistance programs.
• Experience of coaching teams in multi-faceted projects, including mentoring, coaching, and training of international and national staff.
• Experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and working with National Societies

Knowledge and Skills

Required:

• Proven in-depth knowledge of organizational development, capacity building of partner organizations and program management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven project management and program coordination skills.
• Self-sufficient in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, email, etc.).
• Strong skills in negotiation and building relations.
• Strong communication skills and public speaking.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to prepare reports, updates, plans and emergency appeal.
• Documented, strong financial management skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment and ability to travel at short notice.
• Fluently spoken and written English.
• Fluently spoken and written Bosnian and/or Croatian and/or Serbian.

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.