Disaster Response Operations Specialist

Working in the world’s most disaster-prone region, Habitat’s Asia/Pacific area office has seen firsthand how calamities wreak havoc. In response to these disasters, Habitat for Humanity paves the way for better, permanent homes and more resilient communities to be rebuilt on a larger scale. The Philippines, which is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year (the most recent and devastating, Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on 8 November 2013.) This single disaster affected around 16 million people in 44 provinces. Habitat has committed to a combination of response efforts for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan by providing aid (combination of distributing 30,000 shelter repair kits and building 30,000 homes.) Coordination and management of such proportions requires a strong and knowledgeable Disaster/Emergency Response team to ensure successful synchronization of resources from partner and donor agencies.


The Disaster Risk Response Specialist will work at the regional level and be based at our Asia/Pacific area office in Manila, Philippines. The Specialist ensures effective, practical, field operations plans which will facilitate country specific disaster responses which are integrated and addressed in country DR³ Plans and country strategic and management plan.

*This position is based in our Makati City Office

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Works closely with HQ, and HFHI AP related entities and partners to conduct assessments in support of conceptualization and design of disaster response interventions
2. Provides direction, leadership and backstop support for the development, oversight and management of disaster response interventions
3. Facilitates communication and information sharing with HQ, and other HFHI AP related entities and partners on disaster response program developments and monitoring
4. Designs, promotes, facilitates and participates in disaster response (rapid response) training activities to increase capacity of HFHI AP related entities and partners
5. Research, identify and disseminate DR³ promising practices and internationally-accepted standards throughout the AP HFH network
6. Facilitates communication and information sharing with HQ, NOs, Branch Offices and Partners on disaster response program development and monitoring, based on industry best practices
7. Through engagement in HFHI DR³ Community of Practice, contribute to the development of HFH programmatic approaches to disaster response, in alignment with humanitarian shelter sector promising practices and industry-accepted standards
8. Contribute to the effective rollout of a Community Based Feedback Mechanism within all HFH AP DR programs
9. Engages in partnership cultivation and development for activation in response to disasters within AP
10. Supports collaborative resource development for disaster response initiatives within AP
11. Engages in the development of industry-wide position papers, best practice documents and standards on behalf of HFHI-AP and HFHI in relation to disaster response
12. Contribute to the timely and appropriate use of the AP DR³ Portal
13. Manages the AP Rapid Response Roster (member recruitment, database maintenance, members` capacity building monitoring)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional continued relevant training within the DR framework
• 2+ years’ experience in managing operations for a disaster response
• Proven experience in the successful design, development, and management of project proposals (including budgets) ensuring alignment with institutional and donor funding agency requirements
• Working knowledge of appropriate construction technologies suited to Disaster Risk Reduction & Response
• Strong command of the English language
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively (up to 40%)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior hands-on experience working within the Asia/Pacific region
• Demonstrated knowledge of current Disaster Risk Reduction and Response approaches, methodologies and tools, with a focus on the shelter and housing sector
• Previous experience coordinating DR³ efforts with large, international agencies (i.e. GFN, HQ, UN agencies, IFRC, DFID, OCHA, ECHO, USAID-OFDA, etc.)

Please apply to this opportunity with the link below:

http://www.habitat.org/job/disaster-response-operations-specialist