Senior Programme Officer

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” 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 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 delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

While still supporting the URCS’ emergency response, the IFRC’s role in Ukraine is shifting to a greater focus on National Society Development (NSD) under the One Plan – which includes both capacity support in programmatic areas and more fundamental aspects of development, known as organisational development (OD) – per the IFRC’s National Society Development Policy. In the area of OD, IFRC is especially engaged in support to URCS in its branch and volunteer development programme (BraVo), human resource and resource mobilization development, and the development and implementation of interregional offices (IRO) providing corporate service support to regional branches.  It also continues to play a key role in mobilizing international resources and coordinating NSD support from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including IFRC member National Societies, 13 of which currently have representatives based in Ukraine. 

The position is for the Swedish Red Cross, based in Kyiv, with frequent travels to Sumy, Odesa and Kherson Oblasts. 

Job Purpose

The purpose of the position is to support the Swedish Red Cross Program Manager in managing the Swedish RC portfolio of activities in Ukraine. The Senior Program Officer, under the line management of the Program Manager, is responsible for overseeing the coordination of timely, efficient and effective Swedish Red Cross support to the Ukraine Red Cross Society (URCS) National Committee as well as designated URCS Regional and Local Branches through a joint agreement and other future Swedish Red Cross operations in the country. This includes supporting the team responsible for development and implementation of programmes that address short, medium, and longer-term impacts of the crisis. The Senior Program Officer will support ongoing programmatic portfolio and plans in existing and potential new regions where Swedish Red Cross is supporting URCS. The Senior Program Officer provides support for the close coordination and strong collaboration with URCS and all Movement Partners, together with the Country Representative and Program Manager.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Coordination Support

• Support operations and provide technical input to the management in close collaboration with the URCS technical departments, including Health, Shelter, Livelihoods , Branch and Volunteer Development (BraVo), Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) heads of units as well as Information Management (IM) and Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) technical teams at URCS Regional Organization and National Committee levels, in addition to Swedish RC Ukraine and Stockholm offices.

• Ensure that all response activities and programmes are developed and supported in coordination with other sectorial teams as appropriate, such as Protection Gender and Inclusion.

• Support designated URCS Regional Organization staff in implementation of projects and be responsible for ensuring compliance with contractual commitments, including financial follow-up together with the Program Manager.

• Coordinate analysis of implementation, including implementation rates to determine whether delivery is on track and in line with agreed URCS project management procedures and Swedish Red Cross commitments as described in our agreements.

• Support URCS in planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting against agreed plans and supported programmes in coordination with URCS PMER manager and URCS Regional Organization staff.

• Provide support to Program Manager in developing risk management matrix and keep updated with inputs from different technical team members.

• Support Program Manager to assess and analyse trends, needs, and conditions for Swedish Red Cross’ involvement in programmatic areas in Ukraine to ensure coherence with the roles, capacities, and strategic directions of URCS and Swedish RC.

• Support URCS in the assessment, planning, implementation of programmes in existing joint programmes and any future engagements with the URCS. Ensure that the response, technical design, and site activities comply with appropriate local, national, and international standards and regulations.

• Ensure that all project data is recorded and maintained in the URCS mobilization tables.

• Responsible for financial programme overview.

Reporting and Communication

• Support ongoing collaboration with all relevant partners.

• Contribute to the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

• Ensure compliance with contractual commitments and extracting and implementing key learnings from project implementation

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Coordination, Cooperation and Networking 

• Participate in relevant meetings with Red Cross Movement partners, Governments, donors, NGOs and UN Agencies co-financing and implementing initiatives. 
• Support with translation on ad hoc basis. 

Other 

• Provide support to other partners, projects as applicable and according to the evolution of the position 
• Other work-related tasks as requested by the line manager  

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree (Humanitarian Aid, Project Management, Business Administration)

Experience

Required:

• Minimum 4-5 years’ experience in international field or with a humanitarian aid organization 
• Experience in working with a diversity of humanitarian programmes, shelter construction 
• Experience with planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on projects  
• Experience in partner relationship management 
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting reporting, monitoring and evaluation 

Preferred:

• Experience in international operations, including emergency response, in humanitarian and development aid programmes 
• Experience in coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian actors 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Proven personnel management and development skills 
• Self-supporting in computers (Email, Internet, spread sheets, word-processing, etc.) 
• Proven strong project management and programme coordination skills 
• Skills in negotiation and building relations 
• Strong / proven financial management skills 
• Skills in report writing, project proposal writing 
• Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment and ability to travel at short notice 
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluent spoken and written Ukrainian 

Preferred:

• Proven in-depth knowledge of organisational development, capacity building of partner organisations and programme management 
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust

VALUES: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability