British Red Cross: Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor

Context

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. BRC are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. BRC enables vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, BRC helps them to recover and move on with their lives.

BRC are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest independent humanitarian network and are committed to, and bound by, its fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The Technical & Advisory department provides integrated management of the provision of thematic technical and advisory specialist services. The department will work in partnership not only externally with Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, but also internally within a matrix relationship with the regional staff of the BRC Programmes & Partnerships department, including advisory staff located within the regional programme teams.

Overall purpose of the post

• Ensure the provision of high quality technical and advisory services in Disaster Risk Reduction to support the building of resilience of vulnerable communities in Africa, the Middle East and Asia through the actions of our RCM partners.
• To support build the capacity of partner national societies within DRR and resilience area, contributing to their organisational development as leading national humanitarian organisations.
• To work collaboratively with Head of Region and Country Managers in the Partnerships & Programmes department, in a matrix structure, to support the development of integrated approaches to the provision of technical and advisory services working alongside and within the regional programmes and partnerships.

Scale and scope:

Accountability & decision making

• Accountable for the delivery of quality technical and advisory services in DRR and Resilience to support effectiveness and best practice in BRC supported RCM activities.
• Accountable for ensuring that all advice in DRR and Resilience is compliant with legislation, regulations, internal and external policies, standards and best practice.

Reach & impact

• Enable Country Managers and Heads of Region to ensure that BRC supported programmes are implemented in line with all relevant technical standards in DRR and Resilience.
• Deliver advice, within DRR and Resilience areas, to disaster management and long-term programmes of partner national societies.
• Maintain an awareness of the role and technical capacities of partner national societies in relation to DRR and resilience.
• Support recruitment to the British Red Cross register of thematic experts and deployment of these experts to other components of the Movement. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Thematic Technical & Advisory Services

• Act as a first point of technical support for DRR and resilience programming, ensuring high quality technical advice is provided to all programmes.
• Provides technical input to and assist in all stages (identification, assessment, analysis, design, planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation) of BRC programmes that support DRR and Resilience, in line with international and internal standards and good practice.
• Provide peer support and advice to Disaster Risk Reduction delegates and national society staff as required.
• Assist in the assessment of partner National Society capacity in Disaster preparedness, risk reduction and resilience programmes and make recommendations on most appropriate implementation and capacity building methodologies when required.
• Act as the departmental focal point with IFRC Geneva based Community Preparedness and Risk Reduction department, remain informed of key developments and make recommendations on BRC support.
• Act as the focal point for BRC input into the sectorial fora as required. Keep abreast of innovations and developments within the sector and support the dissemination of such across the organisation.
• Provide input and advice on cross cutting considerations and impact of BRC response, recovery and resilience programmes
• Apply learning from BRC programmes to further develop BRC DRR and Resilience approaches in relief, recovery and longer term programmes.
• Be prepared to travel to BRC programmes, sometimes at short notice and in insecure environments, to assist in programme start up and monitoring.
• Support the integration of DRR and resilience activities with other technical units and departments including the Global Surge Team
• Contribute towards the continued development of BRC and wider movement tools such as VCA.

Internal and External Relations

• Collaborate with the Fundraising and Communication Divisions and colleagues within the Programmes and Partnerships Department to develop donor funding proposals for programmes including DRR and resilience components
• Develop and maintain contacts as appropriate with institutional bodies such as Department for International Development (DFID), other humanitarian agencies, academic institutions and relevant networks.
• Attend relevant events on matters relating to disaster risk reduction and resilience issues and represent the Technical Advisory Department at national and international forums.
• Provide technical support concerning the selection of Disaster preparedness and risk reduction delegates and consultants.
• Provide briefings for BRC Senior Management and Trustees as requested.
• Seek to contribute to the development of the International Federation of the Red Cross Societies (IFRC) disaster risk reduction and resilience related activities
• Seek to contribute to the development of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) disaster risk reduction and resilience related activities
• Liaise and maintain good working relations with all elements of the International Red Cross Movement, both the Geneva based organisations and other National Societies.
• Undertake international on-call duties when required.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by Management.

Planning, financial & resource management

• Assist BRC to plan, implement and monitor appropriate Disaster preparedness, risk reduction and emergency response or recovery activities if required

Other

• Uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and work within the Society’s equal opportunities policy.

Person Specification

Education/ training

• Post graduate level of vocational or technical qualification within a specialist technical or professional field relevant to the assigned thematic area

Experience

• **Extensive experience of working in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in an international response, recovery and development context
• **Substantial experience of developing and managing Disaster Preparedness, risk reduction or resilience-building programmes in a developing country context
• **Building organisational partnerships and organisational capacity
• **Influencing decision makers
• **Leading and developing people including remote management of overseas-based teams.
• Working with institutional and high-profile donors
• **Representing an organization within external fora

Knowledge/ technical skills

• **Considerable technical/professional knowledge within the areas of disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction and resilience
• **Demonstrable knowledge of the role and function of associated technical, specialist, and advisory support services in delivering humanitarian assistance and building resilience
• Analysis, design and planning.
• Monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment
• **Budget management and funding proposal development
• Understanding of a matrix approach to leadership and management
• High level communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Fluency in French or Arabic languages would be an advantage,

Competencies

• Working in Partnership*
• Embracing and leading constructive change*
• Communicating and influencing*
• Personal impact and self-management*
• Problem solving*
• Leading and engaging*
• Developing yourself and others*
• ** Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Special Circumstances

• **Able to travel for up to 90 days per year and operate in a physically demanding working environment.
• **Willingness to work out of office hours when necessary.
• **Willing to work in situations of political insecurity.

**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.

Salary:

£38,000 including inner london weighting and market supplement

Package

BRC offer's an excellent benefits package including 28 days holidays (excluding bank holidays) pro rata for part time staff, pension scheme, childcare vouchers, excellent training and development opportunities