Manager, Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) / Head of REAP Secretariat

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 the 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.”  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.

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.

Launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) brings together an unprecedented range of stakeholders from across the climate, development and humanitarian communities with the aim of making 1 billion people safer from disasters.

Given that the international landscape has shifted considerably since the partnership was launched, partners have recently agreed to update the scope of the partnership so that it can continue to add value to its members and to drive action and ambition for the scale-up of early action in the most climate vulnerable communities.

The partnership’s Secretariat is hosted by IFRC and – as the partnership moves into an exciting new phase – is seeking an experienced and highly skilled leader who can guide the work of the Secretariat and support the partnership to deliver on its refreshed ambitions.

The Secretariat currently consists of 5 full-time staff members and 3 part-time secondees provided by supporting partners. The Secretariat’s function may need to be updated in line with the new vision for the partnership - to be finalized and agreed by the Governing Board in early 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the next phase of the partnership’s evolution.

With accountability to the Co-Chairs of the Partnership’s Governing Board, the Head of Secretariat plays a key role within the partnership by:

• Supporting partners to develop the Partnership’s strategy and overseeing the process accordingly;
• Managing stakeholder relationships with key partners and prospective partners and – where appropriate – representing the partnership in international fora;
• Coordinating and supporting the Governance structures of the partnership (Governing Board, Co-Chairs of the Board, Technical Advisory Group and Working Groups) and ensuring that they function effectively;
• Leading the activities of the REAP Secretariat and supporting team members in the delivery of their functions;
• Managing the Secretariat’s financial and human resources and ensuring compliance with IFRC’s policies and procedures as host of the Secretariat.

1. Strategic Leadership and Direction

• Supporting the Governing Board to make informed decisions regarding the direction of the partnership, ensuring that it focuses on people-centred approaches and ‘last mile’ delivery in vulnerable communities;
• Ensuring partners are clear on the direction of the partnership, its value proposition and that they are engaged and committed to its collective ambition;
• Ensuring that workplans are in place to deliver on the partnership’s strategy and measure progress against objectives;
• Leading efforts to mobilise resources and harness the full potential of different partners;
• Identifying key policy opportunities for collective impact (COP, G7, G20, UNGA, etc.)
• Ensuring the partnership works in line with the principles and ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and the World Humanitarian Summit’s Agenda for Humanity.

2. Lead and manage effective stakeholder engagement

• Acting as lead representative for the REAP Secretariat with high-level government officials, international/national organizations, embassies, public and private sector representatives and academia;
• Continuing to increase global support for and awareness of the partnership and represent at high-level events and speaking opportunities;
• Overseeing the development and implementation of a partnership engagement strategy to ensure full and sustained buy-in of key stakeholders;
• Ensuring alignment and complementarity with other international networks and initiatives (Early Warnings for All, the Global Shield, Anticipation Hub, the Race to Resilience, and so on).

3. Set direction for and manage the Secretariat team

• Line managing and supporting Secretariat team members in fulfilling their roles;
• Fostering a positive team culture and environment in which team members can thrive and continuously improve;
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities and overseeing team meetings, planning sessions and objective setting processes;
• Planning, managing and monitoring the use of resources (people, budgets, etc.) to deliver the agreed activities for area of responsibility;
• Ensuring that IFRC policies and procedures are adhered to by the hosted Secretariat.

Duties applicable to all staff

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

Required

• University degree in relevant field.

Preferred

• Postgraduate degree in relevant area.

Required

• Over 10 years of experience working in humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on working in a multicultural environment, with developing countries and/or with an international organisation at technical level.
• Relevant experience in development and implementation of early warning systems, vulnerability/resilience analysis, disaster risk reduction, and/or disaster and crisis preparedness and response. 
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders across many disciplines, to achieve societal impact, institutional and policy change.
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.
• Building and maintaining strong contact networks and relationships at international levels to facilitate rapid access to information, leveraged through networks at home and internationally.

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Ability to see the bigger picture and lead a pragmatic approach to build understanding and consensus.
• Results-oriented and demand-driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in complex and/or ambiguous situations.
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners. 
• Energetic and enthusiastic individual, engaging, brokering and facilitating learning and dialogue among diverse groups.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

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.

Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.