Director – International Disaster Response Team

PURPOSE:

The Director – International Disaster Response (IDR) Team is responsible for providing vision, leadership, and strategic direction and implementation to World Renew’s International Disaster Response team. The position will uphold World Renew’s core values and principles and will ensure World Renew’s International Disaster Response is of high quality, timely and effective with a particular focus on forgotten populations in crisis.

This position is responsible for the day-to-day, operational management of World Renew’s International Disaster Response Team and Programs and will be the primary point of engagement and management in relation to World Renew’s relationship with The Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This role will provide supervision and oversight of IDR staff and volunteers and will ensure program quality by supporting many stakeholders on project planning, design and implementation. The position is also responsible for ensuring program resources are used effectively, efficiently and in coordination with local communities.

The position will strengthen disaster response capacity within the organization by working with World Renew Staff, Regional Teams and local partners to develop and execute strategies to position World Renew as an agency of choice when it comes to disaster response and rehabilitation, ensuring that World Renew continues to be a professional, high quality, Christian disaster response and rehabilitation organization within the context of a North American, bi-national and international disaster response architecture.

This position reports to the Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs and is a member of World Renew’s Strategic Management Circle. This leader is expected to work closely with other program streams and our regional, functional, and fundraising teams to collaborate on programmatic interventions, communications, fundraising, and advocacy work. With a global footprint and significant budget oversight, this position will support our relationships with Government Agencies, organisations, and associations within the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community. Some examples include Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB), Integral Alliance, ACT Alliance, and other International NGOs (INGOs) and churches, to mobilize and gain additional resources that enables the agency to play a greater role in disaster response and rehabilitation around the globe.

We do not discriminate based on disability, culture, ethnicity, or gender, and welcome and encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership and Program Management

• Provide vision, direction, and strategic planning in the design and implementation of World Renew’s International Disaster Response work, contributing to the achievement of our Humanitarian Assistance impact goal and to World Renew’s Global Impact Goals through the implementation of high-quality International Disaster Responses.
• Along with other senior leaders determine World Renew’s response to emerging disasters and crises. Manage and design the go-no go disaster response process and new country direct response operations. Security advising, and management related to the implementation of international disaster response programming. This includes advising on security monitoring and providing input to risk tolerances related to the implementation of international disaster response programming and managing and providing duty of care for IDR staff.
• Lead and manage CFGB and Rapid Response programming portfolio for effective design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects with input from stakeholders. Strengthen and when possible, grow the programming portfolio with acquisition of other grants.
• Provide clear strategy, vision and direction for the implementation of multiple international disaster response projects in accordance with expected standards and requirements of World Renew as well as Global Affairs Canada (GAC), CFGB and other institutional funding agencies.
• Oversee the management of the IDR team budget and other financial and related resources, including Canadian Foodgrains Bank funding and allocations, to ensure they are used effectively to maximise impact. Review finance reports, authorisations, finance reviews and budgets in collaboration with the Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs and CFIO (Chief Finance and Investment Officer).
• Oversee the management of the IDR team operations and related resources to ensure they are used effectively and efficiently to respond to Humanitarian responses promptly. Ensure that linkages are managed with the relevant departments and RACIs are documented in collaboration with the Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs and COO (Chief Operating Officer).
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration between IDR staff, International Relief Managers, field staff, with World Renew long-term transformational development programming, external network and alliance members, and other partners in projects.
• Monitor and uphold best practice humanitarian principles and program quality standards in World Renew’s programmatic work and ensure the regular programmatic evaluation of IDR interventions with a particular focus on their effectiveness, efficiency, empowerment, and equity.
• Lead and manage a Global International Disaster Response Team in line with World Renew’s Christian values and organisational culture commitments.
• Oversee the work of International Disaster Response Program Managers and support roles ensuring World Renew Staff have high morale, increased competency, and opportunity for professional development through clearly established work plans and flows and a culture of continuous learning is supported among team members.
• Share records and data associated with all projects and prepare statistical reports and maintain funding and equity projections and anticipated program commitments for internal use and donor reporting.
• Oversee International Disaster Response data collection, reporting and MEAL systems and that it is harmonised with the rest of the organisation and meets the standards required by our Donors and is accountable under WR’s Data Protection Policy.
• Increase management and technical capacity for disaster management by supporting the recruitment, on-boarding, and ongoing capacity building of International Relief Managers (IRMs), reviewing intake processes to ensure a high-capacity roster of IRMs is maintained, in collaboration with the IRM Program Coordinator.
• In close coordination with Regional Directors and other program support staff work to increase support for implementing partners and Country Teams capacity to respond to humanitarian crises.
• Attend organisational Leadership Meetings and co-ordinate with other teams on areas of common interest including capacity building, funding strategies and shared donors.

Coordination and Networking:

• Lead pre-positioning and engagement strategy with key government and institutional donors.
• Support and oversee visits to major responses to identify capacity support needs and advocacy priorities.
• Support fundraising initiatives to increase resources for World Renew’s work through CFGB and identify and support the expansion of funds for other humanitarian responses.
• Work closely with CFGB staff and members, through the CFGB Program Working Group (and relevant sub-groups) to provide input into CFGB operating policies and procedures that enhance programming aims.
• Develop and maintain strategies that further build relationships with ACT Alliance and Integral Alliance around disaster response programming in countries of operation.
• When required represent World Renew in Key Humanitarian Networks, Working Groups and Fora.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight in identifying and forming new partnerships with local implementing organizations.

Resource Development and Mobilisation:

• Collaborate with World Renew’s Fundraising and Marketing teams to launch timely donor appeals, engagements, and campaigns.
• Support the Constituency Relations (CORE) Team in educating World Renew’s constituency in North America about disaster response needs and activities.
• Expand, leverage and strategically diversify World Renew’s International Disaster Response institutional funding portfolio, such as (International Humanitarian Assistance Program), BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs), FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid Operations). Ensure that all our interventions are adequately resourced.

Other Responsibilities:

• Ensure that World Renew’s International Disaster Response work is responsive to and considers the evolving global humanitarian context, using evidence informed approaches and supporting a culture of innovation, learning and agility.
• Research and develop tools, materials, templates and guidelines for enhancing disaster management to improve the capacity of World Renew staff, volunteers and partners in various areas of disaster management – including the integration of disaster risk reduction within development strategies, disaster preparedness, needs assessments, project design, implementation and evaluation in consultation and cooperation with the MT leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to Safeguarding and the prevention of sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment in the prevention of harm to persons and communities affected by disasters.
• Ensure a systemized process is in place for monitoring indicator implementation and provide a key role in yearly audit processes for World Renew’s audit process under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
• Promote accountability in alignment with World Renew’s “approaches” in our impact framework and with World Renew’s external commitments to key standards and agreements such as SPHERE, the Grand Bargain, and our commitment to safeguarding, gender justice, anti-racism, inclusivity, localisation, and diversity.
• Ensure that International Disaster Response staff and volunteers have the necessary training, design and orientation and delivery of administrative and technical skills related to their roles and specific disaster response projects.
• Ensure our global humanitarian response and initiatives utilise appropriate technological advancements.
• When required sit on Crisis Monitoring Committees and speak into these spaces with authority and well-founded risk analysis.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position is responsible for the supervision and accountability of all International Disaster Response Team Staff and Volunteers and is responsible for ensuring team development and empowering team members to attain high performance. Specifically, this position directs staff, provides performance feedback, and oversees the performance of team members who have varying degrees of administrative and programmatic responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

• Commitment to live out World Renew’s mission, vision and values.
• Active engagement in local Christian community and able to sign World Renew’s Statement of Faith.
• Demonstrated commitment to Christ and able to recognize this position as one that contributes to the work of His Kingdom.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to and promote a work and service environment (locally and in the communities that we serve) that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), localization and decolonization.
• Committed to working towards gender equality, equity and justice in all aspects of our programming, plans, policies and organizational structure.
• Demonstrated integrity and ability to build interpersonal and inter-team trust.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience leading humanitarian response design, management, and related advocacy, fundraising and coordination with demonstrated experience in humanitarian response planning, budgeting, and fiscal management.
• A Strong understanding of humanitarian work from “on site” experience including multi sectoral responses to natural disasters, conflict, and protracted crises.
• Expertise in key humanitarian sectors, such as food security, cash programming, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), health, economic recovery and livelihoods, and shelter.
• Demonstrated experience in working across multiple regions, especially those with high Humanitarian Needs like sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and coordinating diverse humanitarian strategies, including in Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, and being able to demonstrate how humanitarian work contributes to longer-term recovery.
• Proven record of accomplishment of emergency response and coordination for at scale, high quality, and local partner led and gendered humanitarian responses.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of key sectoral commitments to gender, equity, and inclusion, including Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
• Demonstrated experience in upholding accountability to affected populations and the critical importance of safeguarding.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and an understanding of media engagement.
• A collaborative team player and manager with strong facilitation, negotiation, active listening, decision-making/problem-solving skills and able to develop team skills in others.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex environments and act with limited direction.
• Ability to work effectively in fast paced and challenging environments, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to be deployed at short notice and to travel extensively (exceeding 40%) including in high-risk contexts.
• Competence in technology including the Microsoft Environment and various Data and Program Management programs.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in a related field strongly preferred.
• Other qualifications in relation to Humanitarian Assistance Principles and related topics would be a significant advantage.
• A Minimum of 10 years of humanitarian assistance, and organizational consultation experience in a cross-cultural setting is required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in supervision and management.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Must be fluent in English and able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, especially report writing.
• Ability to communicate in French and/or Spanish is a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described in this position description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons affected by a disability to perform the essential functions.

The incumbent, in this position, will travel at least 40% of the time to networks and alliances meetings, leadership meetings, and programmatic visits/new country direct operation setup. The conditions in disaster areas and contacts with disaster survivors are physically and mentally challenging.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described in this position description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position will travel to and in disaster areas; this may result in additional threats to mental and physical health and safety.

With World Renew’s commitment to Core Humanitarian Standard and Safeguarding responsibilities, as part of the recruitment process, a successful candidate can expect to go through a thorough background check.

Why Work with World Renew? We Value Flexibility Effective January 2022 full-time positions transitioned to a 36-hour workweek (1,872 hours annually) with Fridays being ‘Focus Fridays’ #nomeetings.

• Work that follows a relentless mission to end hunger and starvation in the world.
• Full-Time Flexible Work Arrangements.
• Generous Vacation and Holiday Time.
• Embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Benefits include Health, Welfare, & Retirement.
• Professional Development Opportunities.
• Contributing to an organization that is making an impact in the world.
• Up to 1 week of paid time off for voluntary mission/service project trip.