The Operations Manager (OM) provides the technical lead to ensure the optimal coordination and direct management of resources required for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federation-wide emergency operation in impacted countries in Central & South-Eastern Europe. The main responsibilities of the OM are related to strategy and priorities definition, management of the overall operation, external coordination, Movement coordination, security management, and ensuring the evolution of Red Cross services to meet the evolving needs of communities, including in its transition to recovery. The OM is responsible for coordinating and managing the strategic scale-up and, equally important, scale-down, of the ongoing operations; and manages the external relationship with external partners and leads the operations and all related activities to ensure that help is received by the most vulnerable people.
The noted position of “Operations Manager, Impacted Countries EA” is part of the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation to CSEE. Yet, as the Ukraine & Impacted Countries emergency response was launched from and is centrally coordinated by the Regional Office of Europe, a strong technical line to the emergency response team there remains. As the operation evolves, and in case of staffing gaps, the incumbent may be asked to travel to any area, within the Cluster, covered by the operation.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with 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 Cluster and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk.
Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the NS, that budgets are monitored, any problems identified, and solutions are implemented in a timely and effective manner.
Ensure coherence between narrative and financial reports.
Management Support:
Ensure the accurate, regular, and timely production of narrative and financial reports to the Federation and donors are properly and timely communicated.
Coordinate with senior management in each country, the Country Cluster Delegation, Regional Office of Europe, and Geneva.
Advise on the need of additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Head of CCSE and the HR departments and/or surge desk of ROE.
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.
Supported by the finance team in Sarajevo and Budapest, ensure appropriate control on income and expenditures versus plans and ensure agile action is taken in accordance with IFRC policy, standards, and practices.
Promote a culture of strong performance and continuous learning to improve the accountability and impact for vulnerable people.
Represent the IFRC in relevant national and international engagements and meetings, as required.
Cooperation and Coordination:
Lead the Operational relationship with various strategic partners and humanitarian actors and ensure the smooth coordination and cooperation.
Manage the operational coordination with donors to ensure that IFRC is positively reflected in relevant coordination structures.
Advise each NS in designing and developing effective mechanisms for coordinating the Movement partners for technical sharing and sectoral leadership.
Facilitate and encourage innovative approaches towards needs assessment, programme implementation and learning.
Maintain an active overview of strategic issues and trends in the external environment.
Lateral Relationships:
Provide direct management, technical direction, and oversight to Operations staff (Health, Security, Shelter, CVA, etc).
Motivate staff and contribute to staff development and performance management in order to support a continuous improvement culture.
Manage effective working relationships with IFRC country offices in the cluster, National Society counterparts, and leadership.
Ensure effective working relationships with technical and service departments at IFRC regional level.
Education:
Relevant university degree or equivalent knowledge
Certificate in advanced disaster management or equivalent knowledge
Project Management Certification
Experience:
Demonstrated experience of successfully leading and coordinating medium / large-scale humanitarian emergency response operations in a variety of contexts, preferably with the RC/RC Movement
At least 8 years of disaster management experience, including managing staff
Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster and crisis management projects and activities especially in population movements context.
Knowledge and experience of RC/RC National Societies and ICRC
Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring, and evaluation
Knowledge, Skills and Language:
Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically and under pressure, without access to complete information.
Effective team and project management skills
Good analytical skills and solution-oriented
Good mentoring and capacity development skills
Ability to work well in a multicultural team
Excellent stress management skills
Demonstrated accountability
Fluently spoken and written English
Good command of languages spoken in the Balkans / South-Eastern Europe (asset)
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) (asset)
