The IRCs Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) leads or oversees IRCs global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the EPRU is to help meet the immediate survival needs and reduce suffering in conflict or disaster affected populations during the acute phase of an emergency. The EPRU also works in protracted emergencies, where the risk to life may be reduced but the population is still subjected to rights abuses and a lack of basic services. The EPRU is also charged with enhancing the IRCs global and country level emergency preparedness capacity. The Emergency Response Team serves as the standing team of specialized professionals ready to deploy to an emergency within 72 hours.

SCOPE OF WORK:  The IRC ERT staff is expected to be deployed in the field, either in an emergency or roving capacity, for up to 75% of the time (9 months a year) and must be able to deploy to the site of an emergency within 72 hours of notification. 

Members of the Emergency Response Team are deployed to either support existing country programs in their emergency response, or to initiate a new program in the crisis zone. The overall responsibility of the team is to rapidly and effectively design, develop and manage the IRC’s on-site humanitarian response to met the immediate needs of the affected population. The ERT is also responsible for supporting the transfer of responsibilities and knowledge to the long-term staff to ensure the continuity of IRC programming and operations.

The ERT Field Director leads the IRC’s Emergency Response Team providing management guidance to ensure rapidity of response, scale of assistance and quality within programming.  Often the IRC’s most senior representative in the field, the ERT Field Director must bring a senior leadership profile with a proven track record in managing emergency programming around the world successfully.  When not leading emergency responses, the ERT Field Director will work with the IRC’s Emergency Preparedness Manager to assess and build humanitarian response capacity within IRC’s network of high-risk existing country programs. 

The ERT Director will report to the Director of the IRC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) in New York and will maintain close working relationships with the EPRU’s Deputy Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Emergency Response

• Identify and lead deployment of initial emergency response team formation under the direction of the EPRU Director. Lead, oversee and coordinate IRC assessments of emergency needs and develop a response strategy in collaboration with Host Country Government, other humanitarian organizations and the ERT, Regional and Country management teams as appropriate.
• Design, develop, resource (people and funds) and implement emergency response programs that meet the near and longer-term program objectives needs of an affected community. Oversee IRC’s on-site humanitarian response including management of programs, operations, fundraising, external representation and transition planning
• Oversee quality and consistency of program monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality.
• Advocate with and/or advise peer agencies, local governments, donors and other stakeholders to influence responses to promote delivery of inclusive and high quality humanitarian services.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with IRC policy, procedures and practices throughout the ERT and program; recommend country or emergency specific policy/procedures as required.

Emergency Preparedness

• Undertake capacity assessments of high-risk IRC country programs and provide recommendations that will lead to a country specific Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) that once executed would improve program effectiveness, disaster preparedness and/or organizational capacity. Draft IRC HQ contingency plan (CP) to surge resources (people and funds) to fulfill capacity gaps in the interim and should an emergency strike.
• Lead training sessions for IRC Emergency Roster, ERT, and high-risk country program staffers on IRC emergency program management systems and protocols.
• Contribute to developing and implementing a local and worldwide media strategy to ensure appropriate level of visibility and support for IRC emergency initiatives.  This will include giving face-to-face briefings to government, foundation and private donors about the IRC’s emergency response capacity and unmet humanitarian needs around the world.

REQUIREMENTS:

• University degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• 8 years experience leading complex on site emergency response projects and/or programs requiring extensive judgment and interpretation. Diverse geographical professional experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to influence peer agencies, local government and community leaders to work effectively towards a common and agreed upon result. 
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and implement best practices and processes affecting multiple technical specialties to achieve rapid, consistent and high quality outcomes.
• Experience developing, resourcing and leading large budget, complex projects spanning multiple technical specialties.
• Ability to travel up to 75% of the time
• Excellent verbal and written English skills. French language skills advantageous.

Please apply at: http://tbe.taleo.net/NA2/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cw...