American Red Cross country representative (Chile)

Summary:

The American Red Cross International Services Department (ISD) seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering around the world by responding to disasters, building safer, more resilient communities, and educating future humanitarians. Currently and in the coming years the American Red Cross will rapidly deepen and expand its international programming while also working to strengthen the global Red Cross Red Crescent network to deliver vital help and hope to some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

This position will provide leadership and management oversight of the American Red Cross’ multi-faceted recovery program in Chile in response to the February 2010 Earthquake in Chile. The program activities will be implemented through the Chilean Red Cross and in coordination with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the larger humanitarian community. The Representative will be responsible for ensuring that managerial, administrative, and financial procedures comply with ARC and Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement (RC/RC) policies while providing technical/program support in the implementation of the program. In addition, the Representative will ensure effective coordination and planning as part of the overall programmatic strategies within International Response and Program (IRP) unit and the Latin America and Caribbean region.

The Country Representative will be based in Santiago, Chile with significant travel (25-40%) to project communities and earthquake affected areas around the country. The position will report directly to the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Director and maintains an integrated, collaborative relationship with the ARC’s Senior Quality & Learning Regional Delegate and South America Regional Representative. LAC’s Regional Director may assign additional specific program and/or management oversight responsibilities to the Representative in the future as needs dictate.

This is a full time position for a minimum of 366 days with the possibility of extension. This is an accompanied post.

Responsibilities

The Country Representative will have overall management responsibility of the delegation including:
• Coordinates and cultivates relationships with relevant Movement partners (IFRC counterparts, Chilean Red Cross, and other Red Cross Societies in Chile) and external stakeholders on a regular basis to further disaster management and health programming.
• Supervises and manages project-based field staff and ensures that all staff has the appropriate training, clear position descriptions, and roles & responsibilities matrices that allows them to work together to manage the programs and adhere to fiscal and compliance requirements.
• Represents ARC as necessary in Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement meetings or other meetings in coordination with Regional Director.
• At the direction of the Regional Response lead and in coordination with the IROC, assists with disaster responses as needed in the country.
• Participates in the development of guidelines and tools in line with established ISD strategic program priorities.
• Works closely with the Quality & Learning Unit to: 1) ensure organizational learning 2) ensure utilization of best practices and 3) maintain quality standards and norms across the organization.
• Collaborates with Regional Representatives, other country teams, and technical advisors to ensure project design strategies reflect ISD strategic objectives as well as industry standards to ensure maximum impact of all programs and responses.
• Ensures country office has updated security plans and are compliant with those plans while staff know, use and implement ISD security systems to ensure the safety and protection of staff and assets.

Program Management responsibilities

• Responsible for overall country program management, ensuring timely implementation of program activities, budget oversight, programmatic and financial compliance, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, grant close-out, and periodic site visits for efficient programming and greatest impact possible in keeping with ISD strategic aims and overarching Red Cross/Crescent principles.
• Assists with program monitoring and evaluation, working closely with LAC’s Regional Manager, Program Officer, and Quality & Leaning Unit to ensure agency-wide standards in M&E.

Business Development responsibilities

• Identifies synergies between the Chilean Red Cross, Movement Partners and ARC strategies for areas of overlap and consideration for funding opportunities.
• Works with other units in the organization and partners to identify new opportunities to secure funding for the implementation of evidence-based Disaster Risk Reduction models in alignment with ISD strategic directions.
• Analyzes donor trends (particularly USG) in sectors of interest.
• Represents ARC and liaises with key external partners such as donor agencies and other humanitarian agencies in the country.
• In coordination with the RD and/or the RR, identifies and develops new programs, including those that facilitate ARC’s participation in Federation Operational Alliances and programmatic partnerships both within the Movement and among other stakeholders in keeping with IRP strategic objectives. Provides input to development of proposals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. MA in international studies, business management, public administration or relevant field preferred.
• Minimum five years of international disaster risk reduction experience in developing countries is required, including significant experience in operations management and implementation especially within the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• Prior overseas/field experience with international NGO, and/or RC/RC is required. Knowledge of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, international relief and development principles and operations management is essential.
• Proven track record in successful program design, proposal development, and grant management is required. Strong leadership skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as effective interpersonal skills are required.
• Must display flexibility, adaptability, initiative, results oriented, and a high degree of competence in planning, project management, team building, teamwork, and commitment to the American Red Cross principles.
• Must possess strong personal integrity and ability to adapt to changing situations. Should be computer proficient, especially in MS Office.
• Fluency in Spanish is required.

The American Red Cross is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer