Head of Disaster Management at the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS)

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) was established through an Act of the Parliament in 1960 to complement public authorities in humanitarian interventions with the mandate to prevent and alleviate human suffering at times of peace or conflict, and to support individuals and communities to respond effectively to emergencies, without any form of discrimination as to class, gender, race, political opinions or religion.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Disaster Management

Location: Abuja
Department: Disaster Management
Job Family: Programmes
Contract Type: Permanent
Reports To: Director, Programmes
Direct Reports: Assistant Coordinator, Disaster Management; Disaster Management Officer

Job Summary

• The Head of Disaster Management will be responsible for developing disaster management programme strategies in undertaking operational, institutional capacity building activities and disaster risk reduction programmes.
• The Head of DM will ensure that the appropriate disaster response tools, strategies, standards, approaches, protocols, etc. are widely understood and practiced at the headquarters and branches. She/He will establish regional, national and community-based response tools, preparedness and response plans.
• She/He will coordinate the NRCS engagement with relevant government stakeholders and other humanitarian agencies on DM related issues

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic:

• Oversee and develop a multi-sector needs assessment towards a long-term community resilience programme to address protracted food crisis, risk of recurrent hazards and establish community and household level disaster preparedness
• Strengthen national societies’ disaster preparedness and response capacity through enhanced contingency planning, prepositioning of response stocks and regional/sub-regional surge capacity
• Collaborate with relevant government agencies and other non-movement actors to inform a coordinated national response strategy
• Support the branches to tackle small and moderate scale disaster or crisis (Pillar 1) which do not meet thresholds for DREF or Emergency Appeal
• Facilitate movement-wide pre-disaster or crisis meeting to plan and undertake response activities
• Work closely with shared leadership groups to advocate global policies/strategies and have disaster preparedness priorities reflected on their various plans
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant Departments such as Health and Training including Branches on the response to epidemics, disaster and other emergencies
• Facilitate cross country/regional exchange of knowledge and best practices in disaster preparedness and disaster response.
• Develop solid and sustainable partnerships and mobilize financial resources to ensure that NRCS can fulfil its mandate in Disaster Management and Disaster Risk Reduction.

Operational:

• Design, develop and implement the NS Disaster & Emergency Management Strategic, Operational, and Contingency plans and Budgets.
• Ensure timely delivery of assistance, including the prepositioning of preparedness stock at strategic locations across the country
• Coordinate implementations of DREF, Emergency Appeal operation and community-based DRR programmed in the country
• Participate in the work of the coordination mechanism and other relevant meetings i.e. regional and national level coordination platforms to promote the position of the national society
• Coordinate programmatic aspects of the transition from relief to recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
• Develop Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) guidelines, SoPs, systems and tools so that the NRCS have the capacity to implement cash-based interventions.
• Contribute to the development of a reporting system that ensures that all NRCS and donors reporting requirements in disaster response programmes, are met in a quality and timely manner.
• In coordination with the Director of HR, ensure the development of the technical staff on disaster response at HQ and branch levels.
• Prepare and develop monthly, quarterly, annual and key interventions reports and share with relevant partners and stakeholders, including NRCS leadership, to keep track of the progress made in the implementation of disaster management activities
• Develop minimum standards in Disaster preparedness and response, reporting and implementation of DM and DRR activities in the branches and ensure that those standards are properly disseminated and enforced in NRCS activities.
• Ensure optimum efficiency of donor funds, effective budgeting and financial controls, transfers and maintenance of compliance with donor requirements.
• Lead and promote the development of quality program and project proposals in DM and DRR to be submitted to donors and partners (Pillar 2)
• Lead and promote the development of guidance and standards for DM and DRR activities at branch level (Pillar 1)
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Director of Programmes
• Perform annual job performance reviews (APER) of staff of the DM Department.
• Duties applicable to all staff
• Work towards the achievement of the NRCS’s goals through effective managerial and necessary lateral relations and teamwork.
• Show capacity to assist other members of Management and Staff, aptitude for maintaining cooperation, and team spirit necessary to achieve the objectives of the National Society.
• Show initiative and creativity/innovation in implementation of specific tasks.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross Fundamental Principles and NRCS Statutes
• As per defined HR processes, undertake regular Assessment of skills of subordinates and develop and train them in order to improve performance.

Key Performance Areas:

• Quality and relevance of disaster management proposals
• Timely response to the needs of disaster-affected populations
• Quality and timeliness of reports
• Compliance of disaster management programmes to donor requirements
• Compliance with the society’s standard operating procedures
• Preparedness of logistics/ warehouse capacities and stocks for disaster events

Qualifications and Experience

• First degree in Science, Engineering or Social Sciences from a reputable institution
• Relevant post-graduate degree is an added advantage
• Minimum of 10 years relevant working experience, with at least 5 years in a management level position
• Work experience with other international organisations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies
• Experience in Disaster Management, Rescue Operations, or similar

Skills and Competencies
Essential:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
• Understanding of international and national laws related to humanitarian field and armed conflict, International Disaster Response Law (IDRL), nature induced disasters among others
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Strong judgment and ability to identify and analyse problems and to think strategically to anticipate, interpret and develop strategic responses to issues
• Ability to persuade, influence, negotiate, manage and sustain effective, successful strategic relationships both internally and externally
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to persuade others to adopt a specific course of action to achieve desired results
• Ability to manage multiple programs at the same time effectively

Desirable:

• Understanding of NRCS support functions
• Knowledge of data analysis tools and software

Behavioural Competencies:

• Capable of communicating analysis and insights effectively, and articulate when communicating
• Demonstrated success in relationship building internally and externally with a wide array of stakeholders
• Ability to build and protect the reputation of self and society through the quality of work, knowledge and experience
• High ethical standards and honesty in handling the organizational resources and zero tolerance to corruption
• Culturally sensitive, globally-minded and show respect to the views and opinions of others
• Ability to collaborate and work well in a team
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Application Closing Date
6th March, 2020.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV and Cover Letter to: recruitment@redcrossnigeria.org with the Position applied for/Name of Applicant, as subject of the email