Regional Emergency Response Manager EA & Yemen at Norwegian Refugee Council

Role and Responsibilities

• The purpose of the Regional Emergency Manager (REM) is to lead emergency response, including providing technical support, capacity building and advise to EAY country teams on multi-disciplinary Emergency Response in East Africa and Yemen (EAY).

Generic Responsibilities

• Responsible to strengthening emergency response capacities and programing in EAY country offices.
• Responsible to ensure country teams are aware of and trained on NRC emergency procedures and tools
• Responsible, where necessary, to develop and ensure up-to-date, contextual relevant SOPs and other technical guidance documents relevant for the emergency response.
• Contribute to the resource mobilization and fundraising for regional programme development related to emergency response.
• Technical oversight of Emergency Response Programme in EAY.
• Contribute to development and delivery of induction and training provision of CO and RO staff in relation to emergency response, working collaboratively with Learning & Development (L&D) and other colleagues. Contribute to recruitment interviews for technical staff. May provide some technical supervision to technical staff in Country Offices.
• Ensures compliance with NRC policies, tools, handbooks and guidelines and donor policies.
• Responsible to document, share and embed of lessons learnt and new ideas for technical improvement in emergency interventions.
• Work in partnership with the Emergency Response Section (ERS) in Oslo to contribute to specific areas of innovation and development, including piloting and learning from experiences at the country office and regional level, development of policies, strategies and tools, and sharing learning with other regions.
• NRCs focal point for emergency coordination at regional level.
• Specific Responsibilities
• The Emergency Response Manager shall be accountable for the following key tasks:
• Technical backstopping emergency assessments and facilitate the development of relevant integrated Emergency Response Plans; effective and quality implementation; and robust exit strategies;
• Coordinate regional situation reports and support minimum preparedness plans, emergency response planning, and related management tools for multi-country emergencies. Develop tools and guidance in collaboration with the global emergency response section.
• Support fundraising for emergencies, focusing on regional and cross-border opportunities.
• Build capacity and awareness of NRC emergency standards, guidance and tools and develop and roll-out high quality emergency operations SOPs and other technical guidance documents when necessary
• Based on regional lessons learned, develop standardized guidance for warehousing, procurement and distributions in collaboration with Support functions to improve management of in-kind emergency distributions
• Collaborate with Cash & Markets Advisor to support the consolidation, enhancement and institutionalization of cash-based interventions and market-based approaches within Emergency Responses in the region
• Collaborate with SIP advisor and CO teams to ensure safe programming routines are adhered to, and complaints and feedback mechanisms are functional;
• Represents NRC at regional forums related to emergency response
• Facilitate mainstreaming of contingency planning in all CC Strategies, and develop the necessary capacity among programme and implementation teams as well as the regional office
• Develop regional guidance for supporting local partners/CSOs to involve them in emergency preparedness and response
• Ensure emergency activities are carried out in accordance with the Sphere Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter in disaster response, NRC values and the Red Cross Code of Conduct;
• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders as relevant for emergency intervention;
• Support and facilitate in-country workshops to define our emergency response, how different teams will move into action for an emergency response and what the parameters for scale and timing are. Develop and initial “What is an emergency response” induction to be used as the first session in the CO workshops.
• Support the set up and roll out of EAY emergency response roster
• Analyze the NRC global activation thresholds and use this to create a template decision tree for COs on activation

Critical Interfaces

By interfaces, NRC means processes and projects that are interlinked with other departments/units or persons internally. Relevant interfaces for this position:

• This post has a a technical line with the global Expert Adviser Emergency Program and System
• Regional colleagues: Regional CC and Thematic Advisers, Regional Programme Director, Regional Head of Advocacy, Regional Programme Development and Support team, Regional M&E, Learning and Development colleagues – sharing learning, collaborative working
• CMG and key positions in country offices: Country Director, Head of Programmes, Emergency managers and focal points, CC/Thematic Specialists, CC/Thematic Project Managers, M&E Manager, advocacy lead – provision of strategic advice and support, collaborative working, technical supervision as applicable
• Field Operations at HO: Emergency Response Section, Programme Policy and Development team, Programme Development and Innovation team, M&E team– collaborative working, reporting back on programme quality and sharing learning
• Organisational Development Department: learning and development unit – collaborative working, sharing and drawing on expertise
• Global Shared Services Recruitment Centre – collaborative working on development of any tools or resources to support skills assessment when recruiting to relevant programme related positions in COs

Scale and Scope of Position

• Staff: No direct line management, some technical supervision of country emergency staff
• Stakeholders: Clusters, UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs, civil society, governmental bodies
• Information: GORS, Agresso, Intranet
• Legal or compliance: All NRC and donor related compliance are applicable

Competencies

Professional Competencies

Generic Professional Competencies

• Advanced University Degree / Master’s Degree in a humanitarian science or its equivalent in a relevant social science field;
• Qualification and experience in three or more of NRC’s Core Competencies is required (WASH, Shelter, Education, Protection, ICLA and Livelihoods & Food Security);
• At least six years’ previous experience in rapid response or a similar role and context;
• Good knowledge on emergency donors and developments/debates in the humanitarian sector;
• Experience in designing and implementing assessments and setting up tools for data collection and analysis e.g. GIS Mapping and similar tools;
• Training in access negotiation and/or personal safety and security in insecure contexts is desirable;
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Competencies in Arabic language is preferred;
• Knowledge/awareness of own leadership skills/profile, with a high level of emotional intelligence;

Context / Specific Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Flexible, reliable, culturally sensitive, positive attitude, ability to work under pressure, and a feel for the way NRC operates and our target groups;
• Commitment to continuous learning and willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the disaster management field;
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication and persuasion skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team; and able to travel and/or live and/or work in isolated remote areas;
• Ability to create opportunities and value additions;
• Familiarity with the context of Yemen or similar emergency contexts;
• Safety and security awareness training, highly desirable;
• Excellent knowledge of computer application software.

Behavioural Competencies (max 6)

The competencies are essential for this position:

• Strategic thinking and analytic skills
• Empowering and building trust;
• Managing performance and development;
• Handling insecure environments;
• Planning, managing resources and delivering results;

Performance Management

• The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the NRC Performance Management Manual. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

The Job Description;

• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan;
• The Competency Framework