Social investment and business growth advisor

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through technical assistance, supplies and money. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

Within the International assistance department we have a vacancy for a

Social investment and business growth advisor

40 p/w –12 months contract with extension possible depending on funding

(based in The Hague)

In this role you advise and coach leaders and teams within Red Cross / Red Crescent (RC/RC) organisations (or ‘National Societies) in middle-income to low-income countries across the globe, using your business development expertise. You do this through a combination of remote contact and in-country visits. This includes assessment of opportunities, business case development, investment budgeting, progress monitoring and implementation of initiatives through coaching of local teams, including work with senior managers and their Governance teams. Workplace First Aid (WFA), which describes the delivery of First Aid training for organizational customers, is currently the main promising initiative Netherlands Red Cross is offering business development support on.

If you are drawn to working internationally as well as with a team of organisational and financial development advisors, do continue reading. We are looking for a colleague who brings business development expertise, from a social enterprise point of view.

The team

The team is newly formed and has a strategy and a workplan with a large number of existing programmes underway. The team consists of a manager, two financial/organisational development advisors, a senior workplace first aid advisor and an officer. Sometimes you will all be in the Hague for a team-meeting, other moments you are in contact through online channels to keep each other updated and share experiences, as all team members are traveling frequently.

Background

Financial sustainability of RC/RC National Societies is one of 3 main thematic areas of the Netherlands Red Cross international strategy. The primary aim of this is to enable RC/RC National Societies to become more financially sustainable as this enables National Societies become more effective actors within their own domestic context, so that they are able to reach more people and have greater impact in the long-term.

RC/RC National Societies operate in a challenging environment. Disasters, climate change and depletion of resources are increasing the demand for crisis response and preparedness, and at the same time the donor landscape is changing. Major global commitments are prioritising a shift from international aid finance towards local responders and the participation of affected communities in addressing humanitarian needs. There is global support for the RC/RC mission, with its roots within local communities and a strong international network, but in order to be able to support more of those in need in each country, and to access more funding, RC/RC National Societies need to become stronger, more effective organisations, able to demonstrate financial sustainability and manage multiple funding streams. Many RC/RC National Societies are working extensively on financial sustainability; improving income generation within their own domestic environment, improving finance management, and developing their services and nationwide structure.

The International Assistance department of the Netherlands Red Cross works through partnerships with 12 sister Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies and offers its expertise where valuable also to other members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, to ensure that the victims of disasters and conflicts receive the support they need, and to help vulnerable people who are exposed to hazards become more resilient. Improving financial sustainability is not the only focus area however. You will be part of the International Assistance department which consists of about 140 colleagues. Some are based in the Hague, others work as a delegate in one of the partner countries, often on programme management and/or coordination. There are 2 other focus areas in the strategy; Water and Innovation, and Data and Digital.

Main Responsibilities

Your work is delivered through a combination of remote contact and in-country visits according to a plan developed by Netherlands Red Cross and the partner National Society. This includes assessment of opportunities, business case development, investment budgeting, progress monitoring and implementation of initiatives through coaching of local teams, including work with senior managers and their Governance teams. Workplace First Aid (WFA), which describes the delivery of First Aid training for organizational customers, is currently the main promising initiative but other social enterprise concepts are anticipated.

On a daily basis, these are your main activities:

• Support identified RC/RC National Societies to identify, research and develop potential new business ideas
• Assess market opportunities for First Aid Training and other business initiatives, produce a profit and loss projection for business initiatives, and determine profitable business growth trajectories and investment requirements
• Work with Netherlands Red Cross colleagues to support identified RC/RC National Societies so that they can apply for investment from suitable funding opportunities
• Provide support and advice on business development to identified RC/RC National Societies to enable them to implement growth plans for existing and new business activities
• In collaboration with the senior WFA advisor, you ensure that technical support and coaching fulfil the requirements of the agreed workplan for specific countries
• Monitor, evaluate, report and advise on any business investments made through NLRC or other partners in order to ensure that investments are spent appropriately and to determine whether further business growth can be achieved
• Coordinate the Workplace First Aid components of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grant

Requirements:

• Academic degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 5 years’ experience in organisational and/or business development, preferably in an advisory/consulting role, or equivalent Commercial experience gained in a senior strategic role
• Proven experience responsible for commercial growth
• Proven experience in supporting change programs within organizations
• Experience working in the development of First Aid Training, or related areas is an advantage
• Experience of working in the delivery of international humanitarian programmes is an advantage
• Experience working in another country/culture than your domicile
• Experience in the RCRC Movement is an advantage
• Experience in marketing and communications is an advantage
• Fluent in English, French speaking is an advantage
• Experience in working with and advising senior managers and leaders (preferably with different cultural backgrounds than your own)
• Proven skills in written and oral communication
• Willing to travel 30 to 40% of your working time

Please note that a work and residence permit for the Netherlands is required

Competencies

• Team player
• Organizational sensitivity
• Strategically strong, and able to conceptualize ideas fast
• Analytically strong and able to present conclusions in a simple way
• Result-oriented
• Devotion to quality
• Client focused and capable of creating support and ownership

We offer:

A flexible and a people-oriented work environment with room for initiative and development.

A fulltime appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for one year, with the possibility of extension.

The salary is determined according salary scale 11 of the CAO of the NLRC, depending on education and experience (min € 3475,42 to max. € 4.571,42 gross per month in a full time deployment).

Our office is in the Hague, walking distance from the Laan van NOI station. Based on our re-work concept you work partly from home and partly from the office. We regularly meet colleagues on the workfloor but also online via Teams to discuss cross functional issues and to stay connected to each other and our networks.