Senior Officer, Global Surge

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, with a network of 191-member National Societies. IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises, guided by fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

This Senior Officer position leads IFRC Secretariat efforts to strengthen the quality and accountability of Federation-led disaster response operations through developing and maintaining effective global surge capacity systems and coordinating the timely mobilisation and deployment of skilled personnel and equipment. The role is based globally with a 12-month duration at grade D1.

Support the development and implementation of Global Surge instruments

• Maintain effective centralized coordination services for the Global response tools (Rapid Response, ERU, etc), including the management of alert and deployments, briefing and debriefing, and with appropriate technical advice on transition, handover, exit and reporting of global tools.
• Maintain effective coordination of Surge Capacity Working Groups, including the collaborative development and dissemination of appropriate tools, guidance, standards, and procedures.

Foster IFRC's Capacity in Surge Operations

• Actively contribute to / lead or support IFRC’s efforts to raise awareness of global surge capacity and the global disaster response tools, standards, and procedures at National Societies training courses.
• Support NSs and IFRC Secretariat colleagues requesting global surge personnel and equipment with guidance and technical advice and support on procedures, norms, and standards; and supporting National Societies interested in contributing to or developing their own global disaster response tools, with guidance and technical advice on procedures, norms, and standards.
• Manage in coordination with the HRMD, the process to modernize and adapt existing surge capacity databases into an online rapid-response user-updatable database and communications platform – ensuring compatibility with IFRC’s IT systems and HR policies and procedures.

Quality Assurance of Surge Operations

• Support the development, update, and dissemination of an evaluation of standardized disaster management training curricula for global surge capacity personnel.
• Manage the development and facilitation of the IFRC Surge trainings as Emergency Team Leader training, CAP training, ERU, Induction to IFRC operations, and other trainings as required to maintain adequate numbers of “active” personnel for deployment.
• In collaboration with the Programme and Operations and global networks team, manage or facilitate operational reviews and evaluations of global surge deployments.
• Ensure that lessons learnt from each deployment are captured and that they inform the continuous improvement (effectiveness and relevance) of global surge capacity systems and tools. Ensure that lessons learnt from each deployment are captured and that they inform the continuous improvement (effectiveness and relevance) of global surge tools.

Manage Global Surge Capacity Programming

• Support the IFRC Region on their design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their Surge Roadmaps.
• Ensure proper implementation of the Global Surge Strategic plan 2024 – 2028 and subsequent strategic plans.
• Develop global programme project proposals in accordance with IFRC standards and donor requirements and seek to decentralize activity and project management functions to the field and regional levels wherever possible.
• Provide financial management, monitoring and coordination of project activities, and the delivery to time, budget and agreed quality standards of project outputs with related reporting and representation.

Support register management

Education

• Required:
• University degree in a relevant area.
• Technical training in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
• Preferred:
• Training in the RC/RC global disaster response tools (Rapid Response (old FACT and/or RDRT-RIT, ERU, Ops management, Emergency Team Leader or others)

Experience

• Required:
• Minimum of 7-8 years of relevant experience in disaster management.
• Experience in working within the RC/RC Movement.
• Proven experience in strategy development, developing tools and guidance, providing technical assistance, and in establishing and maintaining networks.
• Preferred:
• Field experience in coordinating and managing major disaster response operations.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Required:
• Extensive knowledge of RC/RC and/or UN global disaster response tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with independent decision-making capacity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to negotiate and influence people’s opinions.
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills. Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and cross-functional environment.
• Knowledge of technical aspects of disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery, and of key donor and partner organisations.
• Project cycle management, including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Flexible and adaptable to work effectively in a multicultural environment, and ability to travel at short notice.
• Computer knowledge as a advance user – self-supporting in MS package and other IM tools.
• Demonstrated core proficiency in a digital communication & collaboration, basic digital content creation, digital safety & security, data literacy, and problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Preferred:
• Field experience in coordinating and managing major disaster response operations. .
• 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; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
• Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others

Applications should be submitted by 5 August 2026. Candidates should refer to vacancy number S18194 when applying. This is a national contract position based globally with family duty station status.