Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Major Responsibilities: 

• The IRC Nigeria seeks an experienced, dynamic individual for the role of Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRC) to provide key cross-sector, cross-functional support to the country program and its implementing partners
• The EPRC is responsible for ensuring quality, coordinated, rapid emergency response, with an emphasis on timeliness and best use of resources; leading and building staff capacity on preparedness and acute response initiatives
• The EPRC’s responsibilities also include assessment and information gathering on early warning and emergency impacts; representation at various forums; and liaison with diverse stakeholders including IRC technical units, government partners, and international and local NGOs
• This position reports to the Deputy Director of Field Management and will be based in Maiduguri with frequent field travel.
• He/she is responsible for coordinating the quality and effectiveness of IRC Nigeria’s acute first line emergency response in all operational locations, including the Northeast of Nigeria
• The Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator (EPRC) will be responsible for coordinating and providing technical expertise to the Country Leadership Group (CLG) in strengthening the country office’s overall capacity to be prepared for and respond to emergencies in accordance with IRC’s principles and practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programming:

• Lead and coordinate the design and delivery of IRC acute emergency interventions in response to e.g. displacement due to conflict or natural disasters, disease outbreak, and other emergencies as they arise and based on needs.
• Initiate, and as necessary lead, needs assessments and data collection to inform project design; Support field teams where needed to develop/refine tools for and/or conduct and compile information from rapid assessments.
• Work closely with the Supply Chain at planning phase of assessments to ensure that all logistical needs are identified, agreed upon, effectively met.
• Identify opportunities to incorporate preparedness, cash-based assistance, and resilience components into both new and existing programs. Collaborate with technical teams to ensure comprehensive program integration. 
• Work closely with the Grants and Finance departments to develop budgets and proposals for emergency preparedness and response interventions, ensuring alignment with IRC Nigeria strategic objectives. Coordinate input with other technical leads and specialists during project design and proposal development.
• Provide strategic leadership during rapid-onset emergency response, ensuring swift mobilization of resources and immediate implementation of emergency activities. 
• Ensure emergency activities are carried out in accordance with the Sphere Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter in disaster response and other pertinent standards.
• Strengthen linkages across all program sectors to ensure a strong, coherent integrated outcomes approach in line with IRC Nigeria Strategic Action Plan
• Closely monitor and manage program spending and serve as budget manager for emergency response grants.
• Closely monitor and stay up to date on context-specific factors informing and/or impacting IRC planning and implementation, e.g. early warning data, security and access issues, other actor mapping, and make recommendations to SMT and program teams accordingly.
• Work closely with M&E unit to ensure data collection and monitoring tools are aligned with and responsive to emergency program M&E frameworks, core indicators, and inclusive of the needs of vulnerable groups.
• Ensure compliance with IRC policy, procedures and practices throughout preparedness and emergency response activities, including adherence to Do No Harm principles
• Serve as lead focal point for IRC Nigeria’s multi-department, cross-functional Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP), Country Emergency Team (CET), and Cash Program Prepositioning (CPP) initiatives, driving the implementation and further development of these initiatives with coordinated and efficient approaches; building and maintaining buy-in and capacity; and liaising with SMT and Regional/HQ Emergency Unit regarding progress and ongoing support needs.

Coordination and Representation:

• In collaboration with field coordinator and security focal points, closely monitor and communicate with key staff as needed on new or anticipated developments in population movements, security context, accessibility constraints, and natural or environmental phenomena.
• Liaise with and support operational functions in their roles in effectively designing and delivering preparedness and response, particularly on cash, prepositioning, and timely procurement.
• Represent IRC at relevant national level forums (e.g. cluster, working groups, and other coordination meetings; launches and briefings) providing feedback, analysis and recommendations to the senior management team.
• Ensure that IRC’s response is well coordinated with other humanitarian actors, community leaders and appropriate governmental authorities.
• Identify opportunities for and take forward concrete actions toward enhancing coordination with other NGOs.
• As needed, facilitate donor and HQ visits to the program sites.

Reporting & Documentation:

• As required, compile or contribute to the writing of assessment and project reports.
• Compile and disseminate any data, reports, briefings, etc. (IRC’s or other agencies’) relevant to IRC preparedness and response activities in a timely fashion.
• Contribute to the design and development of program briefing materials, and provide timely, quality inputs to information requests from IRC regional and HQ management and donors.
• Lead the compiling and writing of periodic situation reports as required.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Position Reports to:  Deputy Director of Operations
• Position directly supervises:  EPR Manager 
• Key internal contacts: Country Director, Regional Emergency Director

Other Internal and/or external contacts: 

• Internal : FC’s, TC’s, Fin, P&C, SC, HASST, Etc.
• External: INGO’s, NGO, CBO, Etc.

 Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field from a recognized university with at least 10 years of relevant work experience; or master’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university with at least 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 10 years humanitarian aid experience in complex and natural disasters.
• Experience must include work in a similar role within an international humanitarian/emergency in a complex humanitarian context
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil military liaison and project cycle management
• Exceptional coordination and interpersonal skills.
• Background in situation analysis, needs assessments and project management.
• Demonstrably excellent written and oral communication skills; strong English writing skills required.
• Experience with cash programming is a plus.
• Familiarity with major donor rules and regulations (e.g. USAID/OFDA, DFID, ECHO, SIDA).
• Proficient in MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint, Kobo

Personal Specifications:

• Ability to work under pressure, long work hours, and high workload
• Ability to independently organize work and prioritize tasks
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team