Do you want to make a difference? Join the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Canadian Red Cross Society, a not for profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in Canada and throughout the world, is currently seeking a CERA/SERA Program Manager.
The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) has a Strategic Partnership (SP) with the Canadian Government aimed at strengthening Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in developing countries so that they are better able to respond to disasters and conflict, improve Canada's ability to respond quickly and efficiently to humanitarian crises, and increase public awareness of Canadian humanitarian efforts. A component of this partnership is the Capacity Building for Emergency Response in the Americas Program (CERA) and the Strengthening Emergency Response in Africa (SERA), a five year project which commenced in 2014, co-funded by the Canadian Government and the Canadian Red Cross, to strengthen the emergency preparedness and response capacity of nine Red Cross National Societies (NS): Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Mali, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under the supervision and guidance of CRC’s Heads of Region for, Americas and Africa, the Program Manager is responsible for delivery of results and coordination of the project. The Program Manager will work in a matrix organisation and work in coordination with Country Representatives responsible for the program delivery. The Program Manager provide leadership and oversight to ensure effective project planning, budgeting, implementation, coordination, monitoring, reporting, project information management, and communications to achieve the expected project results.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Management Leadership
- Lead the Program team to ensure efficient and effective results based project management
- Supervise and manage Program Officers based in Ottawa
- Oversee the work of some field Project Coordinators and provide direction to the CRC’s Finance and Administration Coordinator on project matters.
- Ensure effective and required program design, planning and budgeting processes and mechanisms are in place for the project
- Ensure program planning and budgeting compliance with CRC’s Contribution Agreement with Global Affairs Canada, the Project Implementation Plan and CRC’s internal requirements.
- Prepare the Annual Work Plans and Annual Operational Plans and Budgets as required for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and CRC, with the support and inputs from Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Coordinators and Ottawa based program support staff and advisors
- Oversee the development of the Program’s sustainability plan and exit strategy
- Ensure effective and required coordination and clear communications are maintained throughout the project team and with project stakeholders
- Hold regular meetings with CRC’s project team to review project progress, risks, challenges and constraints, and plan monitoring and technical assistance missions by team members.
- Assist DRM Coordinators and IFRC SP Coordinator in the recruitment and management of regional and local consultancies.
- Ensure effective and required monitoring and evaluation processes and mechanisms are in place for the project in line with Results Based Management (RBM)
- Conduct regular monitoring field visits to NSs
- Monitor the project’s financial resources to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
- Prepare and oversee the implementation of CRC’s annual communication strategy for the project
- Promote and oversee the dissemination of project information, including project successes, case studies, sector specific analyses, lessons learned, and best practices, including the preparation of a project newsletter.
Education and Experience
- University degree in management and/or administration, social sciences or related fields
- Relevant post graduate degree or MBA, project management certification an asset
- 5 years of senior project management experience
- Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent an asset
- 5 years of working experience in international humanitarian assistance and/or development work
- Demonstrated experience in each of the following areas: project/programme planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and coordination
- Experience in managing and coaching people including distance management
- Experience working in capacity building and/or organizational development an asset
- Experience working in the Americas and/or Africa regions
- Experience in budget management and financial reporting.
- Solid understanding of Results Based Management and tools
- Budgeting and financial skills
- Team leadership and Team Building skills
- Knowledge and understanding of approaches to capacity building, organizational development and intuitional strengthening
- Demonstrated skill in analytical and strategic thinking.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment
- Good communication, negotiation and presentation skills
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and manage different task at the same time
- Politically and culturally sensitive
- Available to travel to other countries
- Fluency in written and spoken English and French is mandatory
- Fluency in spoken Spanish is mandatory.
- The majority of the work is performed in a clean and comfortable environment
- May include long to moderate hours sitting and using computers and office equipment
- May be required to some light lifting of supplies and materials from time to time up to 20kg (or another weight)
- Ability to work non-traditional hours on short notice
- Ability to work in stressful and often ambiguous conditions
- Must be already eligible to work in Canada.
- This position may require domestic or overseas travel to attend conferences, workshops and meetings as required
- If required, and eligible, periodic travel to country operations may be required (approximately 4-6 trips per year). Field missions can involve working in environments that are unstable and with unpredictable access to basic services in emergency contexts and requiring very strict adherence to security regulations
- Must be able to be Medical Cleared for travel in accordance with established CRC Medical criteria in positions where travel will be required.
