Job Opportunities in Switzerland

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Health and Care Department’s New Strategic Direction 2023 focuses on Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening through 4 Pillars:
Pillar 1: Global Health Security
Pillar 2: Global Health Protection (UHC)
Pillar 3: Global Water Security
Pillar 4: Transformative Partnership

The 4 Pillars under Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening are supported by 3 enablers:

• Enabler 1: Strengthening National Society Leadership on Health and WASH
• Enabler 2: Strengthening IFRC Secretariate Health Infrastructure at county, cluster, region and Geneva level
• Enabler 3: Digital Solutions and Data

Job Purpose

The position Lead, Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies will be responsible to leading a team which includes team members focused on clinical care in emergencies, nutrition and public health in emergencies. The clinical care and public health team members will also support IFRC’s work on Healthcare in Danger, blood services, integrated outbreak analytics, and lead IFRC’s work on ambulance and pre-hospital, and quality safety and evidence base practice care. The Lead, Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies will ensure the team they manage is prepared and able to respond to emergencies and disasters in a timely and efficient manner.

When not supporting response operations the clinical care and public health in emergencies team will focus on building capacity of National Societies and IFRC to respond during emergencies in line with Strategy 2030, the Agenda for Renewal and the New Strategic Direction of the Health and Care department. The Lead, Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies will work across the IFRC to support both manager and technical officers in health-related decision-making and its translation into programmatic interventions in close collaboration with IFRC Regional, Cluster and Country Offices.

The Lead, Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies will work to (1) strengthening RCRC global leadership in emergency response (2) supporting RCRC as a significant provider of high-quality clinical care and public health response in emergencies (3) improving the coordination of emergency medical care during emergencies and throughout recovery.

The Lead, Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies will represent and coordinate the work on above mentioned areas.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the clinical care and public health in emergencies team in the development and implementation of emergency health programs, ensuring alignment with IFRC policies and guidelines.
• Lead the development of strategy, vision and frameworks, guidelines, and tools for Clinical Care and Public Health initiatives.
• Ensure effective coordination with other departments and stakeholders to ensure timely and efficient response during emergencies.
• Ensure that the clinical care and public health in emergencies team has the necessary resources, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, to respond to emergencies.
• Lead the implementation of Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies programs and manage clinical and public health team budgets as needed.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant organizations, including UN agencies, NGOs, and national governments, to enhance the capacity of the clinical care and public health in emergencies team.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the clinical care and public health in emergencies team, particularly in the areas of clinical emergency care and nutrition in emergencies.
• Develop and maintain emergency response plans and standard operating procedures for the clinical care and public health in emergencies team.
• Ensure that the clinical care and public health in emergencies team is able to provide timely and accurate reporting on emergency health programs and activities.

Strengthening of Emergency Health Coordination – at National, Cluster, Regional and Global Level

• Carry out broad consultations on policies, strategies, smart practices, and approaches to Clinical Care and Public Health related issues to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results, and lead IFRC’s policy development in the area.
• Map and continually assess global practices and priority needs of National Societies including active monitoring of global health risks and development of relevant epidemiological and other emergency health information management systems.
• Develop standards, tools and communication that contribute to the strategic aims of the Health and Care department and the division to drive forward the work on Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies.
• Lead and actively engage with the relevant IASC sub-committees, the Global Health Cluster and the Global Emergency Medical Team coordination mechanisms to ensure that RCRC - at all levels - is prepared and able to interact with these and other global health emergency coordination systems as needed.
• Support National Societies to provide quality emergency medical services and emergency community health care through investment in preparedness, standard setting, tool development, monitoring and evaluation and knowledge sharing.

Strengthening RCRC Global Leadership in Area of Clinical Care and Public Health Response during Emergencies

• Coordinate and represent the work of RCRC at relevant international fora, in publications, conferences and meeting and ensure that relevant communications and advocacy themes are well presented and followed up internally and externally.
• Ensure the positioning of RCRC as a global leader in volunteer-based community emergency health response.
• Lead global health initiatives and their integration into RCRC work to ensure comprehensive and quality care in all RCRC health related activities.
• Contribute to the continual development and instrumentalization of global health emergency frameworks such as Health Risk Management, Safe Hospitals and International Health Regulations in order to strengthen prevention and response capacity.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Work closely with the Communications and Partnerships Teams in ensuring appropriate visibility, resource mobilization and public awareness of the work of IFRC/RCRC.

Ensuring Quality in Operations

• Ensure that tools, guidelines, and supported responses are evidence based and applicable international standards.
• Ensure that operational questions and challenges are addressed by operational research in partnership with different research institutions and other partners.
• As part of quality enhancement programme, work with regions to support National Societies to develop systems that allow a ‘seamless’ transition from health development to emergency response to recovery.

Contribute to an Effective, High Quality IFRC team

• Be accountable to Health and Care Department, IFRC’s Strategy 2030 and Agenda for Renewal by providing progress reports on results against objectives and risk analysis.
• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and targets and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member fostering a customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance, and cost effectiveness.
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in the Secretariat, Regions and the National Societies and open and co-operative view to the actors in the relevant external environment.
• Plan, manage and monitor, strengthen the financial standards in the team by contributing to ensure regular reports on use of funds are provided; and ensure budget needs are met and reported upon in a timely and efficient manner.
• To lead, manage, define clear roles, accountabilities and workplans for direct reports.
• To develop, motivate and staff performance objectives for staff in line reporting with broader departmental and divisional objectives on an ongoing basis while improving efficiencies within available resources.

Duties Applicable to All Staff

Education

Required

• A degree in medicine, nursing or a related field.

Preferred

• Post graduate degree in public health / global health.

Experience

Required

• At least 10 years of clinical care experience with at least 5 years in emergency care.
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.
• Background in public health in emergencies and emergency response with experience in various country level responses.

Preferred

• Experience working in a RC/RC National Society and/or Federation/ICRC.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of emergency medicine, public health in emergencies and experience in practically applying this knowledge into policy, programmes and positioning.
• Strong coaching, facilitation and training skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in
  unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.
• Outstanding networking, representational, communication and negotiation skills.
• An ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Computer literacy.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
• Skills in curriculum development and online tools development.

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.
Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.

Application Instruction
Please submit your application in English only.