Senior Officer, Programmes

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 Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) leads IFRC support to National Societies of 38 countries through eight country delegations  and five country cluster delegations  spread across East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific geographical areas. APRO also serves as the Secretariat office that provides direct support to the National Societies of Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Senior Program Officer will be a key member of the IFRC Malaysia team under the direct supervision of the Liaison Coordinator to Malaysian Red Crescent and will lead the coordination and facilitation of operational and technical support for Malaysian Red Crescent via direct engagement with MRC technical leads and IFRC colleagues at APRO. 

Job Purpose

The Senior Program Officer is responsible for providing and facilitating technical support towards emergency operations and non-emergency programming, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of program deliverables, including in capacity-building initiatives, with the aim of strengthening institutional knowledge and local capacities for MRC to effectively and sustainably deliver high-quality humanitarian services.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Program Management (60%)

• Project Management: Oversee and monitor progress of IFRC-supported projects and assist MRC in ensuring the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
• Strategic Coordination: Lead the negotiation, planning, and facilitation of support for MRC emergency operations, non-emergency programming, and development and capacity building initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and strategic priorities.
• Technical Oversight: Collaborate closely with technical leads/colleagues at APRO to provide strategic guidance and support for all programmatic activities, ensuring that interventions are based on national and international standards and frameworks, providing advice and recommendations that carefully consider local capacity and context.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage operational budgets tracking against project deliverables, proactively identifying potential issues, mobilising financial resources in an effective and timely manner, while ensuring compliance with financial procedures and donor requirements.
• Reporting: Support Malaysian Red Crescent with reporting requirements, engaging technical colleagues at APRO as needed, to ensure compliance with donor and stakeholder requirements, national and international standards and frameworks.
• Stakeholder relations: Cultivate strong relationships within Malaysian Red Crescent to enhance program delivery, capacity-building initiatives, and the promotion of broader RCRC Movement values. This role requires close cooperation and active engagement particularly with MRC thematic leads, and at certain periods MRC leadership (Secretary General/ Deputy Secretary General).
• Representation: Support the Liaison Coordinator in representing IFRC in coordination meetings for IFRC-Malaysian RC operations and programs, which may involve national authorities, national and international agencies, donors and other partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Capacity Building and National Society Readiness (30%)

• Capacity mapping: Analyze and understand current capacities of MRC to ensure relevant provision of technical and material support particularly in relation to IFRC-supported operations and program initiatives.
• Organizational Development Support: Assist MRC in their efforts to strengthen the organization's foundational systems and institutional knowledge, ensuring the development of efficient structures and processes that enable it to function effectively and sustainably.
• Policy support: Providing support and guidance to Malaysian Red Crescent to update institutional policies, standards, guidelines and tools in line with IFRC policies, national and international standards and framework.
• Training: Coordinate the training of personnel (staff and volunteers) in various thematic areas as well as administrative functions, promoting best practice standards in logistics, PMER, volunteer management, response preparedness, and human resource development with support of IFRC colleagues.
• Networking and Participation: Facilitate the participation of MRC in peer-to-peer exchange opportunities with other National Societies, and other relevant national and international networks, forums, and initiatives, enhancing their engagement, visibility and skills development.

Administrative Support (10%)

• Perform administrative duties to support the overall function of IFRC Malaysia team including budget tracking and scheduling.
• Familiarization of organizational tools, policies, resources, and systems to support administrative needs, requiring technical and IT proficiency.

Education

Required

• University degree, or equivalent qualifying experience, in relevant area

Preferred

• Basic Delegates Training Course or IMPACT, FACT, ERU, RDRT training 

Experience

Required

• 5-7 years of experience in managing multiple simultaneous projects, including stakeholder management and coordination, proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• At least 3 years of disaster management or humanitarian programming experience

Preferred

• Experience working in both emergencies and developmental contexts within for the Red Cross / Red Crescent or other humanitarian/international organization
• Field experience in coordinating and managing disaster response/emergency operations 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Multiple project management, project cycle management (proposal to reporting)
• Cross-functional coordination to align resources and expertise for optimal support
• Analytical skills, prioritisation and solution-oriented
• Communication and interpersonal skills; stakeholder relations and negotiations
• Leadership and mentoring; ability to motivate
• Good judgement; ability to work effectively with minimal supervision or direction
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and in changing, dynamic environment
• Willing to learn, self-improvement, proactivity
• MS Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneDrive)
• Ability to travel; driving license required
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• A broad understanding of global humanitarian issues, disaster recovery
  and related areas.
• ERP systems, SAP 
• 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

Comments

The successful candidate will be based at the Malaysian Red Crescent Society headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and once a week at IFRC Asia Pacific Regional office.