Coordinator, Disaster Management

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 191-member National Societies. The Organization acts before, during and after disasters and other crisis in order to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unit and universality) and our humanitarian values (the people, integrity, partnerships, diversity, leadership, innovation).

The Disaster, Climate and Crisis (DCC) Unit plays a central role in the coordination of disaster readiness and response system during emergencies in the Americas, a system that is made up of sub-regional and national actors of the Red Cross Movement in the Central America region.

Therefore, the principal role of the Disaster Management Coordinator for Central America is to provide coordination and technical support to National Societies in Central America, before and during times of disasters and crises. Key to the position is the technical contribution to the building and strengthening of National Societies’ disaster management capacities. This is done in coordination with, and often under the leadership of, Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) /ARO technical units.

Based in the Central American Region, the Disaster Management Coordinator will report to the Coordinator, Programs and Operations Disaster and Climate Crises of the CCD.

He/she will work in building national, regional and institutional (including secretariat) disaster response and preparedness capacities to enable them to improve their disaster management programming and be an advocate for IFRC’s Preparedness for Effective Response approach.

He/she assures ongoing collaboration with all relevant partners in the region in the field of disaster risk management and will also work on further developing these relationships. He/she contributes to the quality improvement of the DRM programme of NS throughout the region.

The incumbent will ensure a symbiotic process of development for the National Society DRM programmes, with the ultimate goal of increasing community resilience to disasters; enhance NS and their branches disaster readiness.

Thus, the DM will be deployed to the field on a regular basis of his/her time in support to National Societies, working on the following objectives:

• Increasing preparedness for effective response (through PER approach), working with NHQ and Branches to build response capacity prior to disasters, including contingency planning and EWS, EAPs forming Rapid Response Teams, Stock Prepositioning, and supply chains;
• Supporting of timely and high-quality humanitarian response when a disaster strikes, ensuring sound operational management and coordination in the field.
• Support NS to design long-term resilience building programme

Disaster Response:

• Serve as the operational liaison between the Panamanian Red Cross and the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation, providing ongoing accompaniment and coordination support for emergency operations, preparedness, recovery, and resilience programmes, while fostering effective collaboration, facilitating timely decision-making, and ensuring access to relevant technical, financial, and surge support.
• Support National Societies in managing emergency operations (floods, earthquakes, Hurricanes, population movements, epidemics and other disasters). Ensure disaster response operations outcomes/deliverables are achieved in a timely fashion, within budgets and maintaining the minimum ratios of relief, early recovery and longer-term development goals.
• Support National Societies in the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and resource mobilization of DREF, EAPs and Emergency Appeals; Define timeframes, deliverables/outcomes and costs. Ensure that the plan and budget are carried out in a timely and professional manner in accordance with Secretariat requirements, formats and standards. This must be done in coordination with relevant CCD and ARO technical units.
• Work closely with the NS team to ensure that timely and accurate financial and narrative reports are prepared and are in line with requirements specified in the project agreement or standard Federation reporting guidelines.
• Ensuring disaster and crisis response operations are aligned with IFRC policies, standards and frameworks, including the Sphere Standards, Code of Conduct, Principles and Rules for Humanitarian Assistance, and the Seville Agreement and Rules.
• Work closely with technical sectors to ensure that Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), safeguarding, environmental sustainability and green response approaches are integrated into operational strategies and implementation plans
• Support anticipatory and preparedness actions by deploying to high-risk contexts, in coordination with affected National Societies, to strengthen readiness and facilitate timely response when required.
• Ensure high-quality multi-sector assessments are conducted in accordance with accountability and community engagement principles, providing evidence-based analysis to inform operational decision-making.
• Ensure constant monitoring of threats and risks in the region and update risk watch in the weekly Operations meeting.
• Complete with NS the Child protection and safeguarding checklist.
• Prepare and disseminate timely operational updates, information bulletins and situation reports during emergencies, ensuring effective information sharing with ARO and other relevant stakeholders.
• Share periodically information on implementation with ARO regarding DREF and EA under his/her responsibility.
• Assess, recommend and coordinate the deployment of IFRC disaster response tools and surge capacities, including HEOps, ERUs, technical specialists and other operational support mechanisms, in accordance with National Society needs and capacities
• Maintain strong relationships and coordinate the support from all specialized support CCD technical units or HDCC technical DM services such as Shelter, Livelihood, Health, Water and Sanitation, and specific interventions of Disaster Law were needed.

• Coordinate Federation activities on disaster response with Red Cross partners, UN and other agencies to ensure adequate preparedness and appropriate, efficient and timely emergency response and early recovery.

Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction:

• Strengthen disaster crisis preparedness and operational readiness by supporting regional representations, country offices, and NS in planning, budgeting, resource allocation, monitoring, and reporting processes, ensuring compliance with IFRC standards.
• In collaboration with CCD and ARO technical teams, strengthen organizational readiness and preparedness capacities.
• Collaborate with CCD and ARO technical units, to strengthen coordinated disaster and crisis response systems and promote integrated approaches that address emerging and compounding humanitarian challenges, including climate change, urban risk, migration, and violence, across preparedness, response, and early recovery efforts.
• Promote and support the implementation and scaling-up of the Preparedness for Effective Response (PER) approach across NSs, fostering harmonized and sustainable DRM capacity strengthening.
• Facilitate technical guidance for the NSs on Cash Transfer preparedness and programming in different contexts
• Ensure strong alignment between NS contingency and response plans and regional response mechanisms, promoting interoperability and coordinated action across the Movement.
• Foster and maintain effective collaboration with key humanitarian partners, governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and regional coordination mechanisms at national and regional levels to enhance preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
• Provide technical guidance, coordination support, and operational accompaniment to field-based emergency response personnel, ensuring effective implementation of operations and adherence to established standards and procedures.
• Support the review, development, updating, promotion, and dissemination of disaster and crisis management policies, emergency response and early recovery SOPs, guidance documents, tools, and best practices across the region.
• Collaborate with other ARO units and technical sectors to support NSs in addressing complex humanitarian challenges, including health emergencies, violence, migration, and other interconnected risks.
• Strengthen sub-regional and National Society capacities for Early Recovery by promoting integrated approaches, technical guidance, learning, and operational support throughout emergency and recovery programming.
• Contribute to the enhancement of regional response mechanisms by promoting knowledge sharing, lessons learned, and best practices across Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners; represent the IFRC in inter-agency coordination platforms, NGO forums, and disaster and crisis response working groups, as required.
• Support the development, maintenance, and effective management of regional surge capacities, including Rapid Response Personnel mechanisms, to ensure timely and high-quality operational deployments.
• Contribute to the ongoing strengthening, coordination, and quality assurance of the Rapid Response Personnel system, including workforce planning, roster management, learning initiatives, and readiness measures to support emergency operations across the region.

Required:

• Relevant University Degree (Disaster Risk Management, Conflict Management, Development Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Affairs, Humanitarian Action, Emergency Response etc.)
• Acquired Early Recovery skills through trainings (cash, livelihood...)

Preferred:

• Operations Management Course (OMC)
• Trained as IMPACT, FACT, ERU, or ENAP, CAP, ETL
• University Degree in social sciences, international law, humanitarian law, international relations

Required:

• +5 year experience of disaster preparedness and response experience
• +5 Field experience in coordinating disaster and crisis management projects and activities
• +5 year experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• +3 year work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and/or with a National Society or for a Humanitarian aid organisation in a developing country
• +3 year experience in managing relations with donors and partners. Work experience with other international organisations, large NGOs and/or governmental development agencies.
• Good knowledge and relevant work experience in the regional context within Central America

Preferred:

• Deployed at least once in the field to lead and manage an emergency operation as a FACT TL, an ERU TL, as a RIT TL, as a CAP TL, as an IFRC Head of Operation, as an IFRC Disaster Manager, as an IFRC Head of Delegation or as a PNS Emergency desk.
• Managed at least once an IFRC Emergency Appeal; Early action Protocol or a DREF from the field.
• Acquired Early Recovery skills through operations

Required:

• Ability to work in a diverse cultural context
• Strong knowledge of information sharing tools, and the ability to implement them
• Highly organized and able to work independently and proactively, with ability
  to work in team
• Overall understanding of budget and finance management
• Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking
• Skills in training and developing staff
• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing.
• Valid international driving license (manual gears)
• Proved capability to be self-organized and flexible
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Familiarity with current standards and guidelines for humanitarian emergency response

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Fundamental Principles and RCRC Movement

Languages:

Required:

• Fluently spoken and written Spanish
• Knowledge of spoken and written English

Preferred:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (i.e., French) or any other language relevant in the region.

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust