As a part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is actively involved in international operations and is working closely together with other national societies and with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
In support of the IFRC Shelter Research Unit (SRU) the Benelux Red Cross Societies and the IFRC are currently looking for a
COORDINATOR SHELTER RESEARCH UNIT (M/F) – LUXEMBOURG.
Description of the context and background of the position.
A wide range of disasters and conflicts has continued to constitute an important challenge for actors involved in shelter operations. Moreover, the vulnerability of populations has continued to increase in many parts of the world over the last decades due to the impact of climate change, growing urbanisation and the social and economic marginalisation prevalent in many communities.
Confronted with these challenges and its convenor role in the shelter cluster, IFRC has taken measures to scale up its sheltering activities in terms of both quality and quantity. Together with the Shelter Department of the Secretariat in Geneva, the BeNeLux Red Cross Societies set up a research centre responsible for the development of innovative shelter solutions as well as the gathering and sharing of existing shelter resources and practices. The unit is supporting the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the wider shelter sector.
The Shelter Research Unit (SRU) is operational since August 2010 and has set as principal research objectives:
- to establish ‘shelter’ as a field of applied scientific research, at partnering academic institutions and closely related to the practice of humanitarian shelter
- to increase the preciseness, flexibility and diversity of shelter items that can be pre-positioned or easily sourced from the private market to respond to shelter needs from the first weeks after a disaster onwards
- to improve and innovate context specific shelter responses by conducting field based research, on practiced shelter solutions across times, in collaboration with local universities and humanitarian shelter actors
- to stimulate a conscious and continuous documentation of humanitarian shelter interventions that allows for reflection across times and places
To this purpose, the SRU works with and through academic partners, private producers, independent researchers and knowledge centers and other operational humanitarian agencies.
Position.
The Coordinator will manage the IFRC SRU in Luxemburg in order that the unit reaches its set objectives.
The Coordinator will be directed by and report to IFRC SRU’s Board of Directors. This Board of Directors in turn is appointed by IFRC SRU’s general assembly that has the IFRC, the Netherlands Red Cross, the Luxembourg Red Cross, the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders and the Belgian Red Cross-French speaking community as its founding members.
The Coordinator will be supported on a technical level by the Technical Advisory Group which is a body of experts (mainly humanitarian) set up by the Board of Directors of the unit.
The Coordinator will be head of the IFRC SRU management team, including volunteers, researchers and support staff.
Key roles and responsibilities.
- manage and expand a research service with the capacity and resources for the development of innovative shelter solutions as well as the gathering and sharing of existing shelter resources and practices
- manage and expand the network of external research partners that collaborate on specific research projects of the SRU, academic, private, independent and humanitarian actors
- manage and develop an IFRC SRU team of competent researchers and reliable support services
- liaise with donors, compile funding applications and ensure proper reporting on the progress of the project activities to the donors
- develop and submit for approval to the Board of Directors annual plans and reports, and semester reports including detailed and accurate budget follow-ups
- ensure that the IFRC SRU remains up to date and pace with the changes in the sheltering sector and continues to work towards any improvements that may be judged beneficial for the qualitative implementation of sheltering responses
- manage staff and support, train and develop staff and volunteers
- ensure that those electronic tools are developed to run the internal information flow of the unit as well as to enable exchange of shelter knowledge within IFRC SRU’s research network and publication of IFRC SRU’s research results
- organize the publication and sharing of IFRC SRU’s research results in those forums identified as suitable
- oversee the use of appropriate project procedures and documentation, including project development tools, assessments, regular budget tracking, technical scheme designs and cost plans, tender and contract documentation, project tracking tools, and overall program budgets
- organize the legal work of the IFRC SRU including research agreements to be drafted up and checked, agreements with private partners, academic institutions and donors. Ensure proper contract management
- provide technical feedback and oversight to the various internal and external researchers of the IFRC SRU or organize that such feed-back is provided by those professionals experienced in that field
- organize one major event per year for the IFRC SRU for the exchange of experiences and practices between shelter practitioners and provide support for trainings, workshops and conferences organized by others in the field
- represent the SRU in shelter related platforms within the Movement and outside as necessary
- ensure that all shelter activities are developed in collaboration with the founding partners of the unit, and those departments of the founding partners that offer any type of support services to the IFRC SRU
- organize the meetings of the Board of Directors and perform as secretary in those meetings
- liaise regularly with the Technical Advisory Group, convene one virtual and one physical meeting with them on a yearly basis, and supplementary meetings as necessary, prepare and report on those meetings
- liaise closely and collaborate with the Shelter and Settlements Department through the identified focal person
- ensure that all activities are aligned with the IFRC Global Shelter and Settlements Plan and that ways of working are in line with the 7 principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Requirements.
- relevant university degree or equivalent qualification in structural/civil engineering, architecture, construction management or related field
- experience with networking in a humanitarian setting, and with private and academic partners
- experience of managing and supporting staff, skills transfer and capacity building
- min. 3 years experience implementing and coordinating humanitarian shelter projects
- experience with managing budgets, project and team management experience
- understanding of the current standards and guidelines in the humanitarian shelter sector
- familiarity with current standards and guidelines for humanitarian emergency response – in particular Sphere – strongly preferred
- experience within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and with IFRC policies, procedures and systems preferred
- excellent communication skills, good political and networking skills, good analytical skills and solution focused person
- creative in envisioning opportunities and avoiding obstacles
- skills in training and developing staff
- project and team management
- demonstrable accountability
- excellent stress management skills
- self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing, email, etc.)
- valid international driving license (manual gears)
- fluent in English and fluency in French preferred, knowledge of other languages (Dutch, Luxembourgish) would be an asset
- leadership, integrity, strategic results orientation and creativity
- managerial effectiveness, Developing Organisation capabilities
- collaboration and influencing
Are you interested ? Please send your c.v. and letter of motivation to :
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders
Attn. Lief Elseviers
Motstraat 40
2800 Mechelen
lief.elseviers@rodekruis.be