The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the South of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small project to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, which was crafted by the same, IRC launched one an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Al Dhale, and expanded later in Sana’a and Hodeidah in the North. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for more than forty years. Today, the IRC has more than 2,200 staff working across the region, including in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen to support those affected by some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises.

Position overview:

Yemen is a severe complex humanitarian crisis. The 2024 Yemen HNO estimates 18.2M people need humanitarian assistance. Half of the Yemeni population are food insecure and 80% of the population live below the poverty line. After nine years of war and economic collapse, the operating environment in Yemen is characterized by a protracted complex emergency and overlapping acute emergencies linked to armed conflict, displacement, restricted access to essential services, food insecurity, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters. The IRC’s programs respond to both chronic and acute emergency needs.

IRC manages a multi-donor funded Emergency Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EPRM) for Yemen. The EPRM works with a network of 14 pre-positioned partners (11 national, 4 international) around the country to respond to the immediate needs of affected populations through flexible and responsive humanitarian assistance.

The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and quality implementation of emergency responses across the IRC Yemen country program, with a particular focus on support to the EPRM. The position is responsible for context monitoring and emergency preparedness, emergency response coordination, and EPRM project management. This is a cross-cutting role that supports technical program teams in the areas of health, nutrition, WASH, food security, and protection. The Emergency Coordinator will also work closely with the partnerships and operational support departments.

This position reports to the Deputy Director for Programs with a dotted/technical relationship with the Regional Emergency Director (RED) and is based in Aden with regular travel to program sites across southern and northern Yemen.

Main responsibilities:

Emergency Monitoring & Preparedness

• Update the IRC Yemen Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP), inclusive of facilitating an inter-departmental workshop, revising the context analysis, and defining clear response scenarios. Ensure the EPP is regularly updated and remains relevant and useful for the country program.

• Review the existing internal Country Emergency Team (CET) structure and advise senior management on necessary changes to the design and functions. Provide a refresher training to CET members based on the newly defined EPP.

• Participate in country SAP planning and reviews with focus of prioritizing and integrating Emergency Preparedness actions in country SAP IP with support from RED.

• Lead revisions to the EPRM framework based on learning over the last 3 years of implementation

• Regularly monitor and report on emergency trends across southern and northern Yemen. Using both external and internal data, provide analysis on likely humanitarian needs and make recommendations to senior management on situations which may require either direct or partner-led responses.

• Ensure the EPRM maintains a functional, context-appropriate, and user-friendly emergency alert system. Regularly assess utilization and accessibility of the alert system by a range of humanitarian and community-based actors and make adaptations as required.

• Develop a strategy to disseminate information on the availability and capacities of the EPRM, how to report an alert, and how to request a response. Ensure alignment and coordination with the broader humanitarian system and other existing emergency response mechanisms.

• Under the guidance of the EPRM Steering Committee and in collaboration with the Partnerships Coordinator, support the pre-positioning and operational readiness of a network of national NGO partners in line with IRC’s PEERS system as required.

• Support the capacity strengthening of EPRM partners, local authorities and communities in disaster risk management

• In collaboration with technical program leads and the Supply Chain department, support the procurement, pre-positioning, and timely distribution of context-relevant emergency supplies.

Emergency Response Management and External Representation

• Lead internal coordination to enable rapid and effective emergency responses, including serving as the chair of the EPRM Steering Committee.

• Ensure all emergency alerts submitted to EPRM are quickly considered for either direct IRC or partner response. Coordinate technical needs assessments with program teams as required.

• Support program teams and as they carry out direct-IRC emergency response interventions. Advise on appropriate staffing, response modalities, and coordination requirements as requested. Serve as CET team lead as required.

• Promote and guide quality humanitarian response, leveraging core humanitarian standards, and leading after action reviews as necessary

• Support the Partnerships team and IRC emergency focal points in their engagement with and technical support to partners as requested.

• Ensure adequate documentation and data collection during emergency responses.

• Oversee post-response reflections and evaluations in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) department, including analysis of client feedback.

• In collaboration with technical leads, ensure productive coordination with the cluster system, humanitarian forums, and local authorities.

• Ensure regular coordination with key emergency preparedness and response actors, including the UN-led Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) though regular bilateral communications, strengthening coordination

• Engage with cluster focal points to ensure a sound understanding of the EPRM mechanisms, including representation of IRC and EPRM led emergency response

Project Management

• Coordinate closely with the Deputy Director for Programs and Grants department to ensure effective EPRM project management and compliance with donor requirements.

• Develop actionable plans to ensure that all stated project objectives are regularly evaluated and achieved.

• Produce and utilize regularly updated project management tools, including workplans, implementation plans, procurement plans, and accurate financial forecasts.

• Oversee timely, relevant, and responsible use of project funds.

• Coordinate closely with the MEAL department to develop monitoring tools and collect high-quality data.

• Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted on time and to a high-quality standard.

• Coordinate with the partnerships department to ensure a workable relationship with selected partners.

• Prioritise the capacity strengthening and professional development of EPRM team members under the management of the Emergency Coordinator

Other

• Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC emergency programs.

GEDI and Client Responsiveness:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.

• Educate/raise awareness among the community and clients about the existing feedback mechanisms and response processes

Requirements

• Minimum of five years of experience managing emergency humanitarian programs in complex operating environments, including prior experience in situations of armed conflict.

• Previous experience leading multi-sector acute emergency responses required. Understanding of inter-agency rapid response mechanisms like the EPRM strongly preferred.

• Solid understanding of the humanitarian system and roles/responsibilities of key external actors.

• Experience working with national NGOs, government and local authorities and communities on disaster risk management, and risk reduction

• Demonstrated experience in an inter-departmental coordination role and the ability to communicate with and balance the priorities of a range of stakeholders.

• Excellent project management and reporting skills.

• Strong financial management skills, including budget management, financial forecasting, and management of spending plans.

• Excellent written and spoken English required, proficiency in Arabic an advantage.

Competencies

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.

• Highly diplomatic with excellent political awareness and advanced negotiation skills.

• Demonstrated advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.

• Flexible and innovative. Able to adapt plans and pivot approaches in response to changes in context.

• Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong people management skills.

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