Officer, Project Support

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 National Societies 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 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 delegations 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.

While still supporting the URCS’ emergency response, the IFRC’s role in Ukraine is shifting to a greater focus on National Society Development (NSD) under the One Plan – which includes both capacity support in programmatic areas and more fundamental aspects of development, known as organizational development (OD) – per the IFRC’s National Society Development Policy. In the area of OD, IFRC is especially engaged in support to URCS in its branch and volunteer development programme (BraVo), human resource and resource mobilization development, and the development and implementation of interregional offices (IRO) providing corporate service support to regional branches. It also continues to play a key role in mobilizing international resources and coordinating NSD support from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including IFRC member National Societies, 13 of which currently have representatives based in Ukraine.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Program Management (PM) Delegate of the Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) responsible for the program in the East of Ukraine, the national Program Management Officer is expected to contribute to the program management activities and administration of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) in the East and Central Ukraine (Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblasts) supported by AutRC. The main responsibilities of the PM Officer will be coordination, communication with URCS branches, translations and interpretation, monitoring and reporting on program activities and providing general logistics and administration support when required.

Together with the PM, the PM Officer will closely work with the URCS regional branches to ensure the URCS/AutRC program technical implementation and the compliance with donor requirements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Program Management (80%)

• Follow up on the program implementation progress and facilitate operational coordination between different URCS and AutRC stakeholders.
• Support the AutRC PM and the URCS regional branches in the East and Central Ukraine in establishing and maintaining a strong program management set-up (planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting) required under the specific donor-funded program.
• Conduct regular field trips to visit program sites, follow up on the program needs, and to ensure smooth communication between different program stakeholders.
• Together with the AutRC PM collect and consolidate field inputs into different internal and external reports and ensure the quality in accordance with the donor requirements.
• Ensure communication on the program results in line with the donor requirements.
• Support the URCS regional branches to ensure the use of cross-cutting approaches such as Community Engagement and Accountability, and Protection Gender and Inclusion.
• Ensure the proper information management of program documents for the AutRC.

Logistics and administrative support (20%)

• Liaise with movement partners (IFRC, ICRC, PNs, URCS, AutRC HQ, etc.) for logistics, fleet, finance, and administration to support program activities in East and Central Ukraine.
• Support with inventory, travel arrangements (transport and accommodation booking for field trips), minor purchases for the establishment of AutRC presence in the URCS IRO.
• When necessary, support with correspondence and document translation in Ukrainian.
• Provide interpretation services for the AutRC in country when requested.
• When necessary, drive on monitoring trips within Ukraine as per the IFRC logistics and fleet regulations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Duties applicable to all staff:
‎1.‎ Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation 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

Education

Relevant university degree (bachelor’s in management or equivalent).

Experience

Required:

• Experience working with the Red Cross and or similar local/national humanitarian organizations in Ukraine.
• Experience in multi-partner coordination.
• Experience in coordinating institutional donor funded projects or programs.

Preferred:

• Experience with project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office, database, e-mail (Outlook) etc.
• Sharing the RC/RC principles and values. Available and able to work in high risk and volatile context with frequent travel within Ukraine (as security situation allows) with AutRC colleagues, URCS and other partners for monitoring, assessments, or other project related purposes.
• Excellent communication, coordination, negotiation, networking, and facilitation skills.
• Strong analytical skills in political, socioeconomics and security areas.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. Understanding that local partner ownership is key to achieving sustainable results.
• Good stress management skills. Patience and able to keep calm in unexpected situations.
• Driver’s license Category B.
• Good writing and speaking skills in English & Ukrainian.

Competencies, Values and Comments

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Pro-activity; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust.