Manager, Operations

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 four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) People and Strategy, and (iv) Legal, Governance Support and Accountability.

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.

The Africa Region is organized through regional representations covering the National Societies where Indian Ocean Islands CCD covers Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles. This position is based in Moroni – Comoros and will report to the Head of Country Cluster Delegation for the Indian Ocean Islands. IFRC Cluster Delegation leads the coordination meetings among the Membership to ensure appropriate support to the NS.

From early December 2024 to 15 March 2025, five tropical cyclones/Storms impacted in the Southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO) region, Comoros included. Tropical Cyclone (TC) Chido was the first cyclone to have a significant and destructive impact in the region. It intensified into an intense tropical cyclone on 11 December 2024, achieving category 4-equivalent status with sustained winds of 220 km/h, gusts of up to 250 km/h, and an extreme central pressure of 929 hPa. The Comoros Red Crescent mobilised disaster response teams to disseminate EWS awareness activities at the risk communities during Tropical Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi.

The Comoros Red Crescent developed its country plan in response to the tropical cyclones. The National Society is planning to provide Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to 75 households (450 individuals) directly impacted by TC Chido in December 2024. The National Society is also conducting community awareness planning to reach a further 61,615 people with awareness in 36 communities throughout the archipelago that have been assessed as high risk for future cyclone impacts. The National Society will strengthen its teams in shelter, WASH and Cash distribution training. A Shelter training (PASSA) is planned in June to strengthen volunteers’ capacities in Shelter. After deployment of Surge members, the NS still needs an IFRC technical support till end of the operation scheduled by 31^st December 2025.

Reporting to the Head of Country Cluster Delegation for the Indian Ocean Islands, the incumbent provides the technical lead to ensure optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of the emergency operations. This position will manage the overall response operation for the IFRC support to the NS. The role will focus on supporting the implementation of the operational strategy and the leadership intent, ensuring the maintenance of existing processes and effective working relationships for the coordination and collaboration with Country Cluster Delegation. Additionally, this position will work closely with Comoros Red Crescent to ensure the operation meets the needs of those affected by the TC Chido, ensuring the overall implementation and management of the response operation.

• Revise the Country Plan taking account of the current epidemiological situation, and support for the development of the epidemic contingency plan.
• Organise and conduct a national lesson learned workshop and share the best practises with all the stakeholders.
• Identify gaps in the response that were within the NS mandate and the operation scope of activities and include them in the response.
• Orient the sustainability approach of the TC operation’s response and propose well defined exit methodologies.
• Maintain coordination with other humanitarian actors and accompany the NS in achieving their vital role during the response.
• Provide technical and management support to the NS in other ongoing operations and programs funded by IFRC.
• Inform the strategic direction and decisions of the operation including risk mitigation and compliance in close coordination with IFRC Cluster Delegation Indian Ocean Islands.
• Negotiate, plan and mobilise IFRC resources in support of the NS in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response.
• Along the NS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of the emergency plan of action. Support, the NS to enhance their position vis-a-vis the national and international coordination mechanisms.
• Support IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and to ensure provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crisis.
• Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions within all relevant programming divisions in the NS.
• Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools.
• Assist the NS, Movement and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
• Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution and ensure that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
• Work with the regional Health, Disasters, Climate & Crises (HDCC) Unit to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the NS for emergency response.
• Support the NS in setting up the structure needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.
• Support the NS in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions. Together with the NS and the Head of Country cluster, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.
• Support the NS in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.
• Work with Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) leads in IFRC and the NS to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
• Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk.

• Maintain positive working relationships with implementing partners and key stakeholders. Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the NS. that budgets are monitored, and any problems identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
• Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.

Duties applicable to all staff.

• Actively work towards the achievement of IFRC’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.

• University degree in a relevant field. Required.
• MSc or equivalent in Disaster Risk Management, Conflict Management, Development Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Affairs, etc.). Preferred.
• IMPACT (International Mobilization and Preparation for Action) Course or other relevant related training. Preferred.
• Trained as Operations Manager, CAP ERU, MOT, Induction Training. Required.

• At least 7 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff. Required.
• Min. 1-2 years of field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially population movements. Required.
• Work experience with RC/RC. Preferred.
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. Required.
• Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context. Preferred.

• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations. Required.
• Excellent networking, representational, interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive. Required.
• Effective team and project management skills. Required.
• Good analytical skills and solution-oriented mindset. Required.
• Good mentoring and capacity development skills. Required.
• Ability to work well in a multicultural, multilingual and cross-functional team setting. Required.
• Excellent stress management skills. Required.
• Demonstrated accountability. Required.
• Fluent spoken and written French. Required.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (English, Spanish or Arabic). Preferred.

• 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.
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others.