Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Overview/Summary

The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Manager will provide operational, technical, and coordination support to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRCo) in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of emergency preparedness and response activities. The EPR Manager will actively contribute to strengthening IRC’s readiness to respond to emergencies and ensure timely, effective, and high-quality interventions. In this capacity, the EPR Manager will support the EPRCo in conducting key preparedness and response functions, including risk analysis, contingency planning, emergency assessments, response design, and implementation. The role will also involve working closely with sector teams, operations, and partners to ensure integrated and efficient program delivery.

In the absence of the EPRCo, or upon delegation, the EPR Manager will assume a leadership role and be responsible for overseeing emergency preparedness and response activities. This includes providing strategic direction, coordinating emergency response efforts, representing the organization in relevant coordination forums, and ensuring alignment with IRC standards, humanitarian principles, and donor requirements.

The EPR Manager will ensure continuity of operations during emergencies, support rapid decision-making, and maintain effective coordination both internally and externally. The role also requires proactive engagement in resource mobilization, reporting, and learning processes to strengthen the overall emergency response capacity of the country program.

The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the IRC’s emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and rapid response interventions. The role ensures timely, effective, and principled humanitarian responses to emergencies, aligned with IRC standards, donor requirements, and international humanitarian frameworks.

Major Responsibilities

The Emergency preparedness and Response manager will support the EPRCo in conducting the following activities and lead whenever the EPRCo is not available or through delegation by the EPRCo. Emergency Preparedness

• Support the EPRCo in leading the development, review, and implementation of country-level emergency preparedness plans.
• Conduct regular risk analysis, hazard mapping, and scenario planning.
• Coordinate contingency planning across sectors (health, WASH, protection, ERD, nutrition).
• Strengthen early warning systems and preparedness mechanisms.
• Build staff capacity in emergency preparedness through training and simulations.
• Emergency Response Management
• Lead or coordinate rapid needs assessments in emergency situations.
• Develop response strategies, including defining priorities, target populations, and modalities.
• Ensure timely implementation of emergency projects in line with IRC standards.
• Provide leadership during emergency activation and scale-up phases.
• Coordinate emergency response teams and surge staff deployment. Program Quality & Implementation
• Ensure all emergency interventions adhere to humanitarian principles (humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence).
• Monitor program quality, relevance, and accountability.
• Integrate cross-cutting issues such as gender, protection, safeguarding, and inclusion.
• Ensure compliance with IRC technical standards and sector guidelines.  Coordination & Representation
• Represents IRC in national and sub-national emergency coordination forums (e.g., clusters, working groups).
• Strengthen partnerships with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and local actors.
• Support inter-agency coordination and joint response planning.

Resource Mobilization

• Identify funding opportunities and contribute to proposal development.
• Develop emergency concept notes, budgets, and logframes.
• Liaise with donors and contribute to grant reporting

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure effective MEAL systems for emergency response projects.
• Track key performance indicators and ensure data-driven decision-making.
• Promote accountability to affected populations through feedback mechanisms.
• Document lessons learned and best practices. Logistics, Supply Chain & Operations Support
• Coordinate with supply chain teams to ensure timely procurement and delivery of emergency supplies.
• Support emergency pipeline management and stock prepositioning.
• Ensure operational readiness for rapid response.

Team Management & Capacity Building

• Supervise and mentor EPR staff and focal points.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of emergency staff.
• Build internal staff capacity on emergency response tools and approaches.

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy 

Program Management

• Lead the design, planning, and implementation of emergency preparedness and response programs in line with organizational and cluster priorities.
• Conduct and oversee rapid needs assessments and ensure timely analysis to inform response strategies.
• Ensure efficient program delivery through strong coordination with government authorities, UN agencies, clusters, and partners.
• Manage program budgets, including forecasting, expenditure tracking, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track program progress, coverage, and effectiveness.
• Produce high-quality internal and external reports, including situation reports (SitReps), donor updates, and operational briefs.
• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to address access constraints, security issues, and supply chain disruptions.
• Ensure timely mobilization and deployment of emergency response teams and resources.

Technical Quality

• Ensure all emergency interventions meet global humanitarian standards, including Sphere Standards and the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
• Provide technical oversight across sectors (e.g., Health, Nutrition, WASH, Shelter) to ensure quality and consistency of service delivery.
• Promote evidence-based programming through the use of surveillance data, needs assessments, and monitoring systems.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits, technical reviews, and quality assurance checks to ensure program effectiveness.
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity through training, mentorship, and supportive supervision on emergency protocols and technical guidelines.
• Ensure accountability to affected populations (AAP) by establishing functional feedback and complaint mechanisms.
• Lead post-distribution monitoring and evaluation activities to assess outcomes and inform program adjustments.
• Ensure integration of cross-cutting issues such as protection, gender, and inclusion into program design and delivery.

Strategy

• Lead the development and continuous adaptation of emergency preparedness and response strategies based on evolving context and risk analysis.
• Conduct scenario planning (best-case, most likely, worst-case) to guide preparedness and contingency planning.
• Ensure alignment of programs with national response frameworks, humanitarian response plans (HRP), and cluster strategies.
• Drive prioritization of interventions based on severity, vulnerability, and available resources.
• Promote a nexus approach by integrating emergency response with early recovery, resilience, and risk reduction initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships with local actors, government institutions, and community structures to support localization and sustainability.
• Identify and promote innovative approaches, including digital tools, cash-based interventions, and remote programming modalities.
• Lead learning and knowledge management processes, including after-action reviews and incorporation of lessons learned into future programming.

Program Development

• Design multi-sector emergency programs based on needs and gaps.
• Develop high-quality proposals, concept notes, and donor submissions.
• Ensure alignment with donor priorities (ECHO, USAID, FCDO, UN).
• Collaborate with MEAL, finance, and technical teams to ensure feasibility and impact.
• Integrate cross-cutting themes (AAP, gender, inclusion).
• Support localization through partnerships with local NGOs.
• Incorporate lessons learned into program design

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field from a recognized university with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience must include work in a similar role within international humanitarian/emergency contexts
• Exceptional coordination and interpersonal skills
• Background in situation analysis, needs assessments and emergency response project implementation.
• Demonstrably excellent written and oral communication skills; strong English writing skills required.
• Experience with integrated emergency response required. - Proficient in MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint
• Flexibility to adapt to changing demands and the ability to work under pressure are essential.