Regional Head, Membership Services

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) Management and Accountability and (iv) People and Strategy.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan & Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.

This position sits in the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Kuala Lumpur.

Job Purpose

The Head of Membership Services has overall responsibility for managing the provision of services to IFRC Membership to ensure strong national societies. The role is driven by national society development and coordination priorities at the country level and the global national society development framework and policy.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, this role leads strategic coordination with National Societies – both Host National Societies and Partner National Societies (Membership Coordination) – and ICRC (including Movement Coordination) under the direction and principles of the National Society Development Compact, the NSD framework and policy and the IFRC Constitution. In this connection, the incumbent:

• Represent the IFRC with internal and external stakeholders in all aspects of governance and National Society development.
• Promote learning and National Society networks to further development and leadership issues.
• Support and coordinate the management of integrity issues with key stakeholders while ensuring compliance to rules and procedures.
• Be the focal point for integrity issues in close collaboration with the IFRC task force on integrity chaired by the Governance Support Department, including ensure that CMC lead process receive the relevant support
• Ensure consistent and well-coordinated NSD support to APRO national societies in line with the SMCC and the NSD Compact, to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize impact by utilising/ formalising the existing Movement Coordination mechanism for NSD
• Provide strategic oversite to National Society development, including Volunteer and Youth Development, with a focus on branch strengthening and localization.
• Provide regular strategic support to National Society leadership and governance development. This includes support in:
  • the processes of revision, amending or developing their legal base and/or their statutory base;
  • facilitating contact between National Societies and the Joint Statutes Commission (JSC);
  • ensuring that all new National Society senior leaders have undertaken Movement Induction Courses.
• Lead the preparation, induction and participation in statutory meetings and regional conferences and maintain contact on the same issues with the file-holders from the Secretariat.
• Ensure the coherent management of evidence-based knowledge and its effective orientation and application.
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of region-wide strategies based on peer-to-peer learning and support mechanisms for National Societies.
• Foster a vibrant innovation and research culture that is strategic and centered around financial sustainability, linking to Movement networks and beyond.
• Promote and disseminate regional networks and reference centres to enable the effective implementation of knowledge dissemination systems as well as platforms for policy development, data gathering and statistical analysis.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Enable direct access to international and domestic partnership opportunities for National Society in order to ensure sustainability in terms of resource mobilization and system development as part of NSD and supporting the cultivation of able environment and capacity for that, in particular working closely with Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization (SPRM) unit in this file.
• Actively identify cross-cutting elements to integrate into National Society capacity strengthening across all units within APRO Closely coordinate with other Regional Heads supporting these files.
• Responsible for identifying risks within their work area, monitoring the development of the risks, and implementing risk responses or escalating to the Director when necessary.

Effective matrix and people management

• Ensure a well-managed team while promoting a culture of performance and continuous learning.
• Contribute to the effective coordination with technical units of the Regional Office.
• Ensure effective coordination with focal points from Country Delegations, Country Cluster Delegations and Geneva focal points.

Education

Required

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Affairs, Political Science, Law, Economics, Public Policy, Social Studies or other relevant field of study; or a first-level university degree combined with extensive relevant experience.

Experience

Required

• At least 7 years of experience in either Governance or National Society Development or a combination of these areas of expertise within the RCRC Movement.
• At least 7 years of experience managing staff.
• Experience with National Societies on capacity building as well as other membership services and policy issues.

Preferred

• Experience working with external partners.
• Experience working in a multicultural, international environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Familiarity with IFRC and NS pledging and resource development systems
• Able to network effectively, influence and inspire others including National Societies, governments, other agencies, peers, staff, and partners.
• Highly developed leadership skills.
• Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity.
• Superior oral and written communication, networking and representation skills.
• Proven ability to motivate and manage a team.
• Strategic analysis, systematic planning, and implementation skills and ability to translate strategy into reality.
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills.
• Highly organized and results oriented.
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Functional competencies: Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.
Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development.