Senior Data Engineer

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 the 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 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 delegation 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. 

Job Purpose

Background to the position

In virtually all countries, people increasingly rely on and expect a diverse range of digital services (e.g., through their mobile devices) to interact with local governments, companies, and community organizations and services. This disruption is already happening to humanitarian assistance. Yet, the Digital Divide remains a persistent and significant challenge at both national and local levels.

The need for a successful and large-scale digital transformation is urgent. Furthermore, digitally Transforming the IFRC and its 191 members is a complex process which requires collaborative action and support across the membership. Therefore, IFRC recently developed a Digital Transformation Strategy which was approved by the IFRC Governing Board in May 2021.

The Digital Transformation Department (DTD) has full leadership responsibility for the implementation of the digital transformation strategy and the positive impact it will have on the 191 National Society members of the IFRC. The DTD provides strategic leadership and guides the IFRC Secretariat as well as the members network to adapt and innovate humanitarian services, drawing on digital services, data-enabled decision-making, and other opportunities for digital transformation in support of the IFRC’s Strategy 2030. In addition, the DTD is responsible for the development and implementation of business transformation, information technology and digitalization services throughout the IFRC Secretariat, thereby supporting the same transformation in 191 NSs, setting the vision, and drawing stakeholders together on this digital journey.

The Digital Transformation Department (DTD) has the dual role of providing cost-effective data and digital solutions (“digital solutions”) to enable the Secretariat and its geographically distributed staff and offices to function effectively and efficiently, as well as supporting the Digital Transformation of the National Societies to use data and digital solutions for their own work.

The Digital Transformation Department is led by the Digital Transformation Director. Based on a recent organisational change process, four Unit Managers serve as key members of the global DTD management team, along with the CISO and Regional IT managers, under the leadership of the DT department’s Director. Together, they implement the IFRC Digital Transformation Strategy that serves the IFRC’s business needs, and lead the process on further strategy development.

The incumbent engineers the organisation’s data and accountable to the organisation’s Data manager that reports to the DT Director. Given the strategic choice by the organisation to deliver more value from the organisation’s data, the Data Engineer position is tactically of high relevance.

The other units reporting to the DT Director include the Enterprise Architecture, Strategy & Planning unit, the Digital development and management unit and the Service and Support unit.

This position is based at the IFRC Global Services Centre (GSC) in Budapest. The GSC was established in July 2017 to host, as part of the Secretariat in Geneva, and includes Global IT Services and provide expertise and high-level support to the organisation.

Job purpose

The position holder is responsible for designing, developing, and managing data solutions on the Data Platform. Is responsible for building robust and scalable data pipelines, managing data storage and processing systems, and ensuring data quality and integrity.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Data Pipeline Development:

• Design, develop, and maintain complex data pipelines to efficiently extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources into target data systems.
• Master’s the usage of technologies such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, or SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to handle data ingestion, transformation, and integration tasks.

2. Data Storage and Management:

• Implement and manage data storage solutions using Microsoft technologies like Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, or SQL Server.
• Ensure data integrity, security, and compliance with data governance policies.

3. Data Modeling and Architecture:

• Responsible for design and implement large data models to support efficient data storage and retrieval.
• Develop database schemas, define relationships, and optimize performance based on the specific requirements of the data solution.
• Provide advice and participate in the architectural decision-making.

4. Data Quality and Governance:

• Guide and implement data quality checks and processes to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• Collaborate with data stewards and business stakeholders to define and enforce data governance policies.

5. Big Data and Analytics:

• Lead the processing and analysis of big data technologies such as Azure HDInsight, Azure Databricks, or Apache Spark.
• Develop scalable and performant data solutions for analytics, reporting, and machine learning purposes.

6. Data Security and Compliance:

• Implement security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
• Define and enforce access controls, data encryption, and data retention policies.

7. Performance Tuning and Optimization:

• Optimize data solutions for performance and scalability.
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, optimize SQL queries, and fine-tune data processing workflows.

8. Collaboration and Documentation:

• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, data analysts, and business stakeholders.
• Document data engineering processes, system architecture, and data flow diagrams for knowledge sharing and future reference.

9. Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, data analysts, data architect, data scientists across the organisation to understand their data needs and align data architecture with organizational goals.
• Guide cross-functional teams on data engineering.
• Facilitate communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure effective data-driven decision-making.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

10.    Contribute to the building of an effective, high-quality, fit-for-purpose Digital Transformation Department:

• Provide guidance and technically supervise  the Data Analysts.
• Managing consultants or specific suppliers attracted to deliver on above responsibilities.
• Collaborate effectively with Secretariat’s Divisions’ and DTD colleagues to fulfil key responsibilities and to ensure the successful delivery of key deliverables to ensure the effective delivery of objectives pertaining to the IFRC DT strategy, Agenda for Renewal and Strategy2030.
• Ensures effective communication and feedback flows with relevant stakeholders, creating a working environment with stakeholders that creates understanding and acceptance of decisions.
• Consult and advise stakeholders, including regional and divisional staff members; share expertise and knowledge freely as and where required. Provide training, documentation, etc., when required.
• Partner with Enterprise architecture, Service management, IFRC’s Data protection Office and CISO on data foundations (security, technology) and with a view to deliver self-service data analysis and culture of data sharing.
• Consult and advise stakeholders, including regional and divisional leaders; share expertise and knowledge freely as and where required. Provide training, documentation, etc., when required.
• Be a pro-active advisor and dynamic member of the DT department senior team, supporting strategic content areas and/or organizational change.
• IFRC (quality) standards and operating procedures: Ensure that ITIL and IFRC quality standards are applied across all responsibility areas as relevant and perform duties in standard IFRC tools.
• Ensure availability and development of standard operating procedures and/or guidelines and required documentation is delivered and where relevant available into the Service Management Tool.

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

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible postgraduate experience in data management with a focus on Microsoft Dynamics / F&O Suite data model.
• Proven track record as a Data Engineer or similar role.
• Experience in Data Lake and Data Lakehouse implementation (e.g., Microsoft data lake, MSQL Server, MySQL).
• Experience in Data Vault implementation.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SQL, or Java. Experience with big data technologies like Apache Hadoop, Spark, or Flink.
• Experience in data governance, architecture and handling large datasets and data pipelines.
• Familiarity with data security, and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).

Preferred:

• Experience within the RC RC Movement and/ or international humanitarian or development organisations.
• Experience in data products development, business value case development, data product deployment.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to drive results, and create culture that fosters proactive action and accountability, actively prioritize, set high standards.
• Strong knowledge of data modeling techniques, including conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling.
• Proficiency in database design, data warehousing, and data integration concepts.
• Understanding of data analytics and business intelligence concepts and tools.
• Knowledge in Data Mesh, Microsoft Azure Synapse and Azure Data Factory.
• Effective collaboration and influencing skills.
• Strong presentation, written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proven teamwork and trust-building skills, including development of effective and efficient networks and partnerships within and outside of the organisation.
• Proactive approach to finding creative and constructive solutions to difficult issues.
• Proven training, knowledge transfer and supervisory skills as part of the people’s management.
• Fosters a climate of trust and confidence, makes decisions transparently and manages in structured and predictable way and follows through on agreed commitments and actions.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Strong leadership abilities.
• Ability to develop strategy, and proven skills in translating strategy in roadmaps, workstreams, setting ambitious and meaningful targets​.
• Knowledge on applying artificial intelligence techniques, such as machine learning.
• Able to network effectively and influence and inspire others within the organisation, and externally peers, membership and other stakeholders.
• Propensity for embracing change and ambiguity: anticipate emerging conditions and demands, embrace widespread organisational change, navigate complex dynamics, view uncertainty and disruption as an opportunity.
• Developing others: Push autonomy and empowerment, view people development as imperative, create culture of accountability​.
• 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 and teamwork; Judgment and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.