Rapid Response Team Leader

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

On December 16, 2013, heavy military exchanges occurred between rival SPLA factions in Juba (Central Equatoria State). The fighting and violence quickly spread to other states in South Sudan, trapping thousands of civilians in Unity, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Jonglei States in UN bases or makeshift IDP settlements. Despite the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement, fighting has continued between Government and opposition forces, resulting in mass displacement. OCHA estimates that 1.3 million South Sudanese have been displaced due to insecurity, of whom 950,000 are internally displaced. It is estimated that around 87,000 IDPs are being sheltered in UN bases around the country.

After an initial scale up phase immediately upon the start of the conflict, IRC south Sudan is now launching a second scale up phase to further strenghten its response to the ongoing crisis. In particular, IRC will open new offices in Nyal, Koch and Guit, Unity state and launch two multi – sectoral rapide response mobile teams deployable anywhere in South Sudan for emergency deployments. Each new location as well as the mobile teams aim to deliver emergency assistance in health, protection, nutrition and water and sanitation. The mobile teams are deployable for up to 2 months in each location based on the decision of the inter – cluster. Deployment will be done alongside other mobile team partners. Offices in Nyal, Koch and Guit are located in recently accessible locations and will implement emergency interventions with an eye to extending the presence of the program beyond the current grant. 

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC seeks 1 team leader  for the rapid response mobile teams based in Juba with frequent field deployment across south sudan. The team leader will be in charge of leading the rapid response teams during and in between deployments. He / She will supervise two teams of 5 expatriate managers across four different programmatic areas : nutrition, protection, health and women’s protection and supervise all HR, Fiance and Supply Chain activites of the team. She / he will oversee the operational aspect of the program ( deployment / management) and report directly to the RRM Coordinator.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Implementation
  • Oversee all program and operations staff. Provide guidance and leadership  to the mobile teams
  • Actively deploy with the team to provide on the ground guidance and leadership.
  • Ensure timely implementation of all program in the site. Act as focal point for requests from the field to Juba.
  • Has budgetary oversight and signing authority for activities carried out in the project. Is responsible for overall spending of the program
  • In coordination with the security coordinator in Juba, in charge of security in the field teams.
  • If required participate in program development, reporting and other strategic opportunities.
  • Actively liases with the support departments in Juba to ensure field requests are processed in a timely manner.  
  • Provide regular reports on program progress and quality.
  • Works with the support departments, the RRM coordinator and the deputy director of field management to develop operational tools to maximize deployment quality and ensure adequate support from Juba to the field team.
  • Ensures material and equipment for the field team is procured and dispatched
• Staff Management
  • Recruit all program and support managers for the team in conjunction with the Human Resources Department
  • Maintain updated job descriptions, conduct interviews, orient new staff to the IRC and the rapid response team
  • Supervise all managers directly, providing ongoing leadership to the team and overseeing implementation and coordination of activity plans to ensure targets are met
  • Overall responsibility for team’s timesheets, work plans, vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities
  • Ensure Performance Management System documentation for all staff is in place and followed up regularly
  • Ensure team members understand and follows IRC and donor Policies and Procedures
• Representation & Coordination
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including community leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, community-based organisations and other IRC sectors to enhance cooperation and coordination at the local level during deployments
• Professional Standards 
  • The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

REQUIREMENTS

• Univeristy degree .
• At least 5 years professional experience as field coordinator / team leader. Rapid response experience an asset
• Experience in emergency settings / conflict areas.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and management
• Strong operational background. Finance, HR and Supply chain experience required.
• Strong understanding of emergency context and security management
• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and written skills, and good computer skills
• Fluency in English
• Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Security level orange/ red. The situation in Juba is calm at the moment but remains tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting. There is active conflict in many parts of the country and a possibility for further expansion of the conflict and violence into other areas and other states.

HOUSING:

• This mobile team position is deployable up to 90%  of the time in the field and when not deployed will be in Juba. Living conditions in the field are basic ( shared tents, limited facilities). These are emergency deployment.s Food is the individual’s responsibility. R&R is every three months.