Director, Ethical Practices Department

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 NSs 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) Management and Accountability; and (iv) People and Strategy.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster offices and country offices throughout the world, as well as services hubs. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional and delegations) 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 Ethical Practices Department oversees four main functions of IFRC: (i) fostering of an ethical culture; (ii) safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment; (iii) protection, gender and inclusion (PGI); and (iv) risk management.

The Director, Ethical Practices Department, reports directly to the Chief of Staff and Under Secretary General, who leads the People and Strategy Division. The position is located in the IFRC Headquarters in Geneva.

Job Purpose

The Director is responsible and accountable for providing day-to-day management and operational support to the requirements of the organization in the areas of ethics, safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment, PGI, and risk management to promote trust and accountability to affected populations, partners, donors, and staff.

The Ethical Practices Department is a new entity that brings together multiple functions into one strategically aligned department. It directs IFRC’s work in ensuring that the organization operates in accordance with highest ethical standards, leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of ethical policies and practices, provides leadership and direction to IFRC’s work around safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment and PGI in programmes and operations, and fosters a strong risk management approach for the organization.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Director will be responsible for a unified structure and approach that creates greater synergies for the new team’s operations and delivery. The Director manages and convenes the heads of each pillar, who support the Director as the departmental management team, responsible for setting shared goals and monitoring the progress of the department’s work plans. The Director plays a central role in achieving this transformation by fostering an ethical and transparent culture as well as enhancing the work of IFRC and the impact of programmes and operations. The Director has the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide direction and oversight to the Ethical Practices Department that initially has four main pillars:
• Pillar 1: Ethics. Foster an ethical culture in line with IFRC policies, rules and regulations, and promote transparency and accountability across the organization.
• Pillar 2: Safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. Ensure that IFRC-funded humanitarian programmes and operations are safe, and that the principle of ‘do not harm’ is mainstreamed in all IFRC activities.
• Pillar 3: Strengthen the PGI capacity of both IFRC and the membership to build a network that can effectively mainstream PGI principles into its work and operations.
• Pillar 4: Risk Management. Create a culture of positive risk taking within IFRC, supported by appropriate tools and capacity that allow risk management to be mainstreamed in IFRC’s day-to-day working.
• Design, review and update guidelines, policies and procedures in each of the four pillars in line with international standards ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards. Collaborate with Senior Leadership to integrate ethical considerations into organizational policies and practices.
• Create a unified vision and consistent approach to organizational improvement in the four pillar areas. This will also drive collaboration across the teams, ensuring ‘one message, many messengers’ approaches, both within IFRC but also across the network and wider humanitarian sector, in line with the Secretary General’s vision.
• Create a cohesive second-line control framework that provides oversight and drives the practical implementation of IFRC’s own policies and standards, without requiring a significant increase in second line resources or expansive compliance units. Bringing these teams together creates a visible and effective second-line oversight function, with clear links to Senior Management, including Internal Audit and Investigations, Legal, and Human Resources Management, and creating a more coordinated control framework for IFRC.
• Create and foster global teams in each of the pillars, establishing formal reporting lines to the technical experts (head(s) of pillar) in their area of work, to allow a more coordinated and aligned approach across IFRC, including how these are promoted to NSs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Provide technical leadership and strategic guidance across the organization to enable accountability, transparency, safe programming and risk management principles and processes are embedded in all aspects of IFRC’s activities. Develop an approach/framework for IFRC in each area in line with the IFRC context and good practice.
• Work with member NSs to develop IFRC-wide network of practitioners to strengthen capacity and render peer-to-peer support to enhance ethical practices with the IFRC network.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including humanitarian organizations and regulatory bodies, and engage in collaborative efforts to promote ethical practices in the humanitarian sector.
• Serve as a key advisor to Senior Leadership on ethical dilemmas and challenges at the organizational level and on ethical issues arising in programmatic and operational contexts. Prepare and present reports on ethical issues, trends and compliance to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Oversee and implement internal capacity building and training programs to enhance the ethical awareness and competencies of staff and volunteers fostering a culture of ethical behaviour and decision-making across the organization.
• Ensure that pillar leads are providing technical and advisory support, as needed, organization-wide, and provide surge support when needed and possible.
• Act as a focal point for donor compliance for the four pillars to ensure that IFRC and the network remain competitive within the sector.
• Foster innovation and learning across IFRC, with teams working together to tackle challenges related to ethical practices collectively.
• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of practices and policies in each area.

Education

Required 

• Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in risk management, corporate ethics and compliance, corporate governance, social impact, law, human rights, or other relevant field of study; or a first-level university degree combined with extensive relevant experience.

Preferred

• An internationally recognised professional qualification in safeguarding, child protection and/or risk management. 

Experience

Required 

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in an international organization in one or more of the following areas, ethics, protection, gender and inclusion, safeguarding and risk management.  
• Experience working in the international humanitarian sector with a strong track record in building teams and working through teams to deliver sustainable organizational change.
• Extensive experience of managing diverse teams in a global environment.
• Extensive experience in long-term strategy development and implementation at global level.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills. Ability to diagnose complex problems, generate effective solutions and communicate compelling strategic courses of action.
  
• Extensive experience in high-level relationship and partnership building.

Preferred 

• Familiarity with a wide variety of donor rules and regulations
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Demonstrated managerial skills and leadership experience.
• Service mind-set and effective interpersonal skills.
• Discretion and ability to identify and handle sensitive issues and confidential information.
• Distance management skills and experience.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of large-scale budget management.
• Solid experience of ensuring accountability and compliance.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
  
• Excellent communications skills, networking, and representation at high level.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural, multi-lingual and cross-functional environment.
• Problem-solving abilities.
• Drive for changes, improvements, and innovation.

Preferred

• Excellent understanding of the global Red Cross / Crescent Movement.

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred

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

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability.
Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development.
Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others.