NSD Specialist Branch Development and Volunteering

Join Danish Red Cross in Advancing Localisation and Organisational & Capacity Development
National Society Development Specialist – Branch Development and Volunteering in emergencies

(OBS one-year position, with the possibility of extension pending additional funding)

About the Position

Danish Red Cross is seeking a passionate and experienced National Society Development (NSD) Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to localisation, with hands-on experience in organisational and capacity development as a key driver of localisation, particularly in fragile and protracted crisis and emergency settings. Knowledge of the Red Cross Movement is highly preferred.

As an NSD Specialist, you will serve as a technical expert on branch development and volunteering with a strong focus on conflict, emergency, and protracted crisis contexts. This role ensures that national societies are supported to strengthen their capacity and sustainability through localised approaches in line with the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement’s policies and frameworks and guidelines.

Based at Danish Red Cross HQ in Copenhagen, this position requires frequent travel (12 weeks per year) to Sister national societies and DRC country offices. You will collaborate closely with Danish Red Cross HQ and Country Offices, as well as with key RCRC partners, including the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The NSD Specialist will be an integral part of DRC’s Localisation Team, contributing to the operationalisation of DRC’s International Strategy, focusing on NSD, community engagement, and partnership modalities. You will work closely with a colleague also covering the NSD file to provide technical guidance on the file. The NSD specialist will be part of DRC technical Working group on BD and part of the pool of expertise coordinated by the Co-NSD specialist.

Key Responsibilities

• Support DRC Country offices in branch development and volunteering, ensuring alignment with RCRC Movement policies and best practices.
• Support to Sister National Societies on their branch development file and initiatives such as support to development of NSD / Branch development frameworks.
• Lead and drive processes in collaboration with RCRC Movement partners to explore and implement context-specific approaches for branch development and volunteer-driven models in fragile settings.
• Contribute to coordination efforts within the RCRC Movement, engaging with the National Society, IFRC, ICRC, and other partners to promote effective NSD and localisation outcomes.
• Develop and maintain a technical roster of experts in branch development.
• Contribute to systematic revision and updating of internal guidelines, materials, and trainings as part of DRC’s approach to branch development and volunteering.
• Strengthen internal organisational capacity in NSD approaches and volunteering, ensuring these principles are embedded across DRC’s global operations.
• Share knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices across DRC’s teams, ensuring continuous learning on NSD, branch development, and volunteer engagement.
• Represent DRC in key RCRC forums and external networks, fostering exchange of knowledge and promoting the principles of localisation and national society strengthening.

Your Profile
We are looking for a professional with a strong foundation in humanitarian and development sectors, ideally with at least five years of international experience. You are deeply familiar with the localisation agenda and understand how organisational and capacity development in emergencies and national society strengthening contribute to this global shift.

Key experience includes:

• Organisational and capacity development in emergencies and protracted crisis.
• Branch development, volunteering, and capacity building in fragile and crisis contexts.
• Organisational development, national society strengthening, and partnerships within the humanitarian sector.
• Familiarity with the principles and practices of the Red Cross Movement, especially in the areas of branch development and localisation.
• Fluency in English (required), with proficiency in French considered a very strong asset.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with a structured, systematic approach to work.
• Flexibility and ability to lead and drive processes independently.
• Willingness to travel up to 12 weeks per year, including emergency response contexts.

What We Offer
This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on strengthening the most localised and community-driven humanitarian organisations in the world’s largest humanitarian network. You will contribute to empowering national societies to better serve vulnerable populations in complex and fragile settings.

The position is full-time (37 hours per week), with a salary package in accordance with the Danish Red Cross collective bargaining agreement with an attractive pension scheme.

For further details, please refer to the full job description.

Application and Further Information
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the position, please contact NSD Specialist, Titte Obelitz Søe at [email protected] or mobile +45 28305128, or Signe Yde-Andersen, Head of Operations, at [email protected] or +45 53611917.

We expect the successful candidate to begin in March 2025 with interviews taking place in the second half of January.

To apply, please click the application link below and upload your CV and motivational letter by 12th January 2025.