International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Employment Opportunity (Program Manager)

Name of position : Programme Manager (Population Movement Operation)

Based in : Cox’s Bazar.

Duration of the contract : 31 July 2025, next extension depends on Satisfactory Performance and funding availability.

Reporting to : Head of Sub-Delegation (HoSD)

Overview of the Organization

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 is 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, the 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.

This position is based in Cox’s Bazar with frequent field visits to support the National Society (NS) and IFRC-wide memberships in coordination, representation, oversight and implementation of the ongoing humanitarian interventions and emergency responses in the camps which are home to one million displaced people from Rakhine, Myanmar and in the adjoining host communities. He/she will report to the Head of Sub-Delegation

Job Purpose

In alignment with the Population Movement Operation Emergency Appeal, the Program Manager is responsible for planning and developing programs, coordinating resources such as human and financial, managing external partners, overseeing the program, assisting sector leads in designing integrated and high-quality programs, managing communications and stakeholders’ engagement, ensuring smooth operation, problem-solving, risk management, team management and financial oversight. Additionally, he/she is responsible for developing and implementing tools and procedures, integrating cross-cutting issues across the operation, and working closely with managers, delegates, staff, and external partners. The program Manager reports to the Head of Sub-Delegation (HoSD) Cox’s Bazar and provides direct oversight of the operational aspects. She/He also works as the technical lead to ensure optimal coordination and management of resources for the effective and efficient implementation of the IFRC emergency appeal. The program manager acts as the focal point for emergency response and preparedness, humanitarian diplomacy, builds team capacity, supports the National Society and ensures compliance with donor regulations and global communities’ policies, including IFRC.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Representation, Program Management, and Capacity Enhancement

Along with BDRCS, build alliances and partnerships with other emergency actors to enhance the implementation of the emergency plans of action. Support BDRCS to enhance their position vis-à-vis the national and international coordination mechanisms.
Together with BDRCS, and as assigned by the Head of Cox’s Bazar Sub-Delegation, represent IFRC in coordination meetings and forums, involving national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners in the country.
Negotiate, plan and mobilize IFRC resources in support of the National Society in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency responses.
Coordinate and supervise IFRC technical leads (DRM, Shelter and Settlements, WASH, Health, Livelihood, Response and Cash, PGI, CEA) to ensure they work closely with the managers of relevant BDRCS departments in all related programming roles and responsibilities, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.
Work with the Asia Pacific DCPRR Unit in Kuala Lumpur to update the PMO operation regularly, develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas
Support in the capacity building of the National Society for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Support the National Society in setting up the structure and systems needed to ensure that all components of the response are identified, planned and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.
Support IFRC technical leads to develop programme approaches which strengthen and develop the National Society’s structures, capacity and performance; analyze and understand their current strengths and weaknesses and to ensure the provision of necessary technical and material support particularly in relation to the ongoing crisis.
Promote and assist the integration of humanitarian priorities and interventions within all relevant programming divisions in BDRCS
Ensure that the responses are based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures and tools.
Identify risks and challenges to the ongoing operations and provide advice as relevant IFRC Senior Management Team on mitigation strategies.
Strengthen existing coordination mechanisms together with the membership on program coordination to avoid duplication and increase the quality of services.
Coordinate the process of developing Project Funding Agreements with BDRCS and ensure the timely follow-up and settlement of BDRCS cash advances.
Coordinate and ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues such as Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), partner coordination and security into IFRC operations and programs.
Promote and engage in systematic monitoring and evaluation of operations and programs and the identification and synthesis of best practices, and lessons learned for sharing and learning.
Coordinate and ensure that IFRC/BDRCS operations are greener with more sustainable goods and practices, contributing to the IFRC’s global agenda for carbonization and climate change etc.
Bring together the memberships in operations and coordination in Cox’s Bazar to avoid duplications and increase the quality of services.
Support to strengthen movement and membership coordination, develop fed wide approaches and shared resources
Facilitate training and dissemination on emergency response standards, procedures, and tools and monitor compliance,
Guarantee safeguarding mechanisms in operations ensuring humanitarian assistance is the priority and the vulnerable people are at the centre of the action.

PMER

Assist BDRCS, in developing need based multi-sector programme, and oversee the planning, design, monitoring and evaluations
Assist BDRCS, and IFRC in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution and ensure that humanitarian interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
Support the National Society in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure the eco-friendly, quality, consistency and sustainability of emergency response interventions.
Support BDRCS in establishing an effective information management system for the response, including statistics.
Work with PMER leads in IFRC and BDRCS to ensure that planning and reporting requirements are met in a timely and efficient manner.
Oversee the integration of accountability measures within all sectors utilising IFRC CEA, programme monitoring framework, community-based approaches, and communications resources.
Oversee the implementation plans with sector leads, and coordinate to address the gaps in programme delivery ensuring protection, gender, and inclusion mainstreaming.
Identify areas where IFRC can provide added value on IFRC-wide membership, shared leadership, one-window framework and agenda for renewal

Finance, HR and Logistics

Ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the National Society, that budgets are monitored, any problems identified, and solutions implemented in a timely and effective manner.
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.
Support the Head of Sub-Delegation and in coordination with the Dhaka office to access DREF, prepare and launch emergency appeal and explore other bilateral funding opportunities.
Develop an annual procurement plan in coordination with IFRC/BDRCS program leads and follow up with logistics for the timely delivery of goods and services for the operation.
Advise on the need for additional human resources and support deployments in coordination with the Country and Regional IFRC offices, HR departments and/or surge desk.
Chair the Committee on Contracts for the procurement processes and ensure all procurement is following IFRC policy and procedures.
Oversee the support services, training and staff development of PMO-relevant staff

Others

Facilitate donor and partners visit as appropriate
Reasonable duty as assigned by the HoSD from time to time
Uphold the fundamental principles of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

Position Requirements

Education	Required	Preferred
Master’s degree in any subject from any reputed University.	X
Candidates having post-graduation on Management, International Relation, Development studies, Disaster Management, Geography & Environmental Science, Social Science. Statistic will get preference.		X
Qualification or certification in Refugee operations, project management, or disaster management		X
Experience	Required	Preferred
At least 10 years of professional experience in one or more humanitarian operations of a multi-disciplined team.	X
Field-level experience in coordinating and managing, disasters, refugee operations, crisis management	X
Project cycle management including project proposal development, budget, report monitoring and evaluation	X
Strong working experience with RCRC movement/ UN / International Organisation in international assignments of complex humanitarian operation	X
Good knowledge and experience of Cox’s Bazar context		X
Demonstrated ability to work with deadlines and lead multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment	X
Knowledge and Skills	Required	Preferred
Leadership, effective teamwork, collaboration, coordination and mentoring skills.	X
Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity, good analytical skills and solution-focused.	X
Communication, networking, and representation skills.	X
Proven ability to motivate and manage a team.	X
Strategic analysis, systematic planning, and implementation skills and ability to translate strategy into reality and excellent stress management	X
Highly organized and results oriented.	X
Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and ability to negotiate while maintaining effective working relations.	X
Sound knowledge of project budget development, monitoring and tracking	X
Strong knowledge of partnership coordination and donor relation	X
Languages	Required	Preferred
Fluently spoken and written English	X
Knowledge of the local dialect of Chittagonian		X

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to send their applications, including a letter of motivation, to Shabnam.AKTHER@ifrc.org by 20 November 2024. Please note that IFRC reserves the right to fill the position before the closing date, so early applications are highly encouraged.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The IFRC is an equal opportunity employer.

About Us:

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. The IFRC Country Office in Bangladesh has worked alongside the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) for more than 30 years in humanitarian fields including disaster management, with a focus on the cyclone early warning and response program in the coastal belt, and disaster preparedness and response during natural disasters.