Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Emergency Response Specialist
Location: Global Hub (Flexible)
Grade: GH4
Functional Area: Humanitarian Department, Global Hub
Reports to: Head of Disaster Preparedness & Response
Travel required: Up to 60% to support Country Offices, Regional Hubs
Role Purpose
- Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organisation working for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation.
- We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
- Plan International’s global strategy applies a full spectrum approach where humanitarian action is an integral part of everything the organisation does for children and girls, especially in fragile settings.
- Plan International has over the last 15 years developed a significant humanitarian portfolio (Euro 155 million in FY21) and focused its efforts on both mainstreaming humanitarian within its long term development programmes as well as building the necessary disaster preparedness and response capacity across the organization to ensure the delivery of timely and appropriate programmatic responses to crises.
- As the Emergency Response Specialist, you will be responsible for developing organizational capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.
- You will travel frequently to Plan International Country Offices or Regional Hubs and when required deploy at short notice to support scale up of emergency responses or to provide capacity building support to Country Offices
Dimensions of the Role
- The post holder will ensure all work is developed and implemented in ways that improve gender equality and empowers girls and women.
- The post holder will work with operational support departments (finance, logistics & procurement, HR, Fundraising, Security, IT, Systems) to support integration of emergency response into standard tools, guidance and systems.
- In addition, the role will work on preparedness activities ensuring the organisation is ready to respond once an emergency occurs. The post holder will deploy to crises as needed to support scale up and strengthening emergency response operations.
- The role will represent Plan International in relevant external fora and inter-agency coordination groups.
- Responsibility for upholding and implementing relevant aspects of all Plan policies and procedures.
Accountabilities:
- Ensure gender equality is core to all emergency operations, positioning Plan International as the “Go To” agency for gender responsive humanitarian action.
- Develop appropriate emergency preparedness and response tools and guidance notes in coordination with other stakeholders within Plan International.
- Acts as initial Global Hub point of contact for Country Offices and Regional Hubs seeking support or advice on specific response issues.
- Works closely with operational support functions (HR, finance, IT, Logistics & Procurement, Safety & Security) to strengthen Country Office ability in these key areas.
- Support the development of new operational support systems, ensuring emergency response requirements are considered and addressed.
- Promotes the use of appropriate humanitarian standards in Plan International’s emergency response activities (Sphere, CHS, CPMS, etc)
- Represent Plan International in relevant external fora and interagency working groups
- Deploys, often at short notice, to emergency responses to support scale up.
- Lead regular horizon scanning together with regional humanitarian colleagues to identify potential crises or worsening situations and communicating this effectively across the organisation.
- Develop tools and guidance to support Country Offices with preparedness activities including disaster preparedness planning.
- Together with Logistics & Procurement colleagues develop Plan International’s approach to pre-positioning of core stocks.
- Work closely with Global Hub roster team to strengthen the roster and ensure the organisation remains aware of the roster and the support it can provide.
- Support the development of capacity building initiatives for emergency response, ensuring country offices are well prepared and able to respond effectively to new emergencies using the Plan International Emergency Response Manuals as a basis for all capacity development programmes.
- Document and analyse lessons (on programmatic and technical issues) coming from emergency responses and translate these into changed process or practice and disseminate across the organisation.
- Support the management of the Global Hub Emergency Response Fund, ensuring reports are received and that Country Offices are aware of how to access this resource in the first phase of an emergency.
- Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant implementation standards and guidelines as applicable to area of responsibility.
- Including, but not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC); relevance to area of work, and concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures
Key Relationships
Internally:
- Works closely with Global Hub Humanitarian team members.
- Regional Heads of Disaster Risk Management
- National Organisation disaster risk management network
- Global Hub Operational Support departments.
Externally:
- Interagency working groups and coordination fora.
Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
- Degree or equivalent in Management or related fields
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience of integrating gender into humanitarian programmes.
- Significant experience of managing humanitarian programmes and operational support functions in diverse contexts
- Proven experience of developing guidance notes and tools for use by Country Offices globally.
- Demonstrated experience of key practice and standards for humanitarian response such as SPHERE and CHS.
- Proven knowledge of emergency preparedness activities and best practice within the sector.
- Conversant with the international humanitarian architecture, particularly related to coordination and funding. Demonstrated prior experience of engaging with the humanitarian coordination system at local, regional and global levels.
- Experience of designing and delivering training for specialist and non-specialist staff.
- Able to work in English and one other language for example French or Spanish
- Proven experience in networking and external representation.
- Able to work calmly under extreme pressure and at unpredictable hours during emergency response.
- Able to use Microsoft packages
Plan International’s Value in Practice
We are Open and Accountable:
- We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent.
- We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.
We Strive for Lasting Impact:
- We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls.
- We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.
We Work Well Together:
- We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors.
- We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals.
- We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.
We are Inclusive and Empowering:
- We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace.
- We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.
Physical Environment:
- Extensive travel, sometimes to hazardous environments.
- Periods of intense work at all times of day and night.
- Working in multiple locations and on the move
Level of Contact with Children:
- Mid contact – Occasional interaction with children
Application Closing Date
12th March, 2022.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
