Disaster Response Coordinator

At the Netherlands Red Cross, we are committed to strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities worldwide. We respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands we achieve this with a team of more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through providing technical assistance, supplies and money. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet humanitarian needs and improve lives.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

We value diversity — in backgrounds and experiences. We welcome people from all cultural backgrounds, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations and age groups. Our diverse team member’s perspectives are key to our success and help us build the future of our work in the humanitarian sector

Are you passionate about making a difference in the world? The Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) invites you to be part of our dynamic team. As Disaster Response Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in analysing needs emerging from emergencies and crisis, managing funds and recommending financial contributions, assessing technical support needs to the operations we support globally, and liaising with partners of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) network, and other external and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and effective responses to disaster appeals.

Disaster Response Coordinator, The Hague, 32-40 hours p/w

The Disaster Response Unit (DRU) is responsible for managing funding for international contributions to emergencies and crises, mobilising technical experts through the Rapid Response Roster, and providing system support for long term disaster management mechanisms to the international operations of the Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) movement around the world.

What are your core tasks going to be?

• In this position, as Disaster Response Coordinator (DRC) your portfolio includes the Asia Pacific and Europe Region. As focal point and main liaison, externally the DRC builds an internal and external network with stakeholders and can convey the NLRC point of view on how to strengthen the multilateral Red Cross disaster response mechanisms in the regions.
• In this role you are also the focal point related to the communication and fundraising activities of the Netherlands Red Cross regarding worldwide emergency response operations of the Red Cross Movement, and the emergency response liaison of the Netherlands Red Cross to the Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO)/Giro555 consortium in the Netherlands.

Fund management and Project Management

The DRC responsibilities include:

• Manage a multimillion euro portfolio of donor funds, earmarked geographically to Asia Pacific and European regions or to different thematic campaigns.
• Maintain a proper overview and monitoring of funds, to ensure that the NLRC allocation of funding is informed by rigorous analysis and can be allocated rapidly in case of emergencies.
• Managing NLRC financial contributions within your portfolio. This includes internal coordination, communication with the country teams, RCRC partners, preparation, and finalising of funding agreements, and ensuring that admin processes followed are compliant with the NLRCs internal systems and external audit requirements.
• As well as external communication with donors, ensure donors' requirements and conditions are communicated and well understood by the implementing partner and properly reflected within funding agreements.
• Monitoring the financial contributions, and ensuring reporting is timely and according to donor requirements.

External stakeholder coordination

• The DRC plays a key role as focal point, and is the main responsible for multilateral operations in the regions maintaining an overview of the emergency, providing adequate updates of the situation to relevant stakeholders (NL authorities, diaspora, other interest groups).
• The DRC represents the NLRC and participates in partner calls hosted by the RCRC movement, to understand the situation on the ground, and needs and priorities of preparedness and response.
• The DRC liaises with the regional office of the IFRC and with other RCRC movement partners, on the development of regional disaster management capacity and systems support of the NLRC. This support can be through financial contributions and/or HR mobilisation.

Internal Stakeholders coordination

• In case a bilateral partner requests support, the DRC coordinates with the country team and technical units of the NLRC and advises how the bilateral emergency operations of NLRC can best be supported.
• On a daily basis the DRC liaises and works closely with other DRU team members, and is the focal point for communications, public affairs, and marketing and fundraising departments on emergency response operations in Asia Pacific and Europe regions.
• The DRC plays a key role as disaster response advisor of the regions and its protracted crisis files (Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Ukraine).

Fundraising Campaign coordination

• The NLRC is contributing to the international operations of RCRC through campaign funding, strategically launched or ad hoc when needed. As a focal point you participate in the regular internal communications, press and fundraising meetings to provide relevant information and update on the disaster response. This information is relevant for the decision making process for a go or no-go of the campaign, fact checking of public messages and is used to clarify (acute) questions received from general public, journalists, or donors.
• The DRC is the focal point for the Giro555 consortium, responsible for providing accurate and timely information as representative of the NLRC, coordinating the operational alignment, and fulfilling and understanding the requirements of the Giro555 for emergency funds, reporting to the consortium

What do you bring?

• You like to switch gears between the dynamic operational tasks and the strategic coordination within a complex movement.
• You look forward to being part of a small dynamic team of seven people that is pro-active, thoughtful and efficient.
• You can set priorities, respect commitments and deadlines and are able to support other team members in times of high pressure.
• You have excellent interpersonal skills and you are able to enter and maintain effective partnerships and work-relationships in different cultural and organizational environments. Experience within the RCRC movement coordination is an asset.
• You have 4 years of humanitarian experience, including 3+ years in the field in emergency response settings.
• You are an experienced project manager and are comfortable with a number of tasks, such as context analysis, financial management, planning, monitoring & evaluation, reporting,
• Experience in connecting disaster response operations to preparedness, recovery and prevention/mitigation activities is considered an asset.
• You have a proficiency in English. Command of Dutch is preferred, other language skills are considered a bonus.
• You have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in International Relations, Humanitarian Action, or related fields.
• If you have experience as a volunteer or staff within international operations of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, this is considered an asset.

Your competencies:

efficient planner, results oriented, flexible and supportive team player, sensitive to the needs of the organization, able to provide and receive feedback, take initiative, present point of view, sensitive to cultural differences. 

What we offer

An interesting job with a unique organization and a dynamic team. The organization has an immense international network and a significant impact in the humanitarian sector. The work you do contributes to this impact. We have a flexible and human centred work environment with space for initiative. We offer a balanced package of conditions that helps you to keep an eye on your wellbeing and your personal development which offers options to find a good work/life balance.

We offer a contract for one year, with the possibility of extension depending on funding/performance.

The salary scale level is set at scale 11 as mentioned in the collective agreement, depending on experience, minimum of € 3.869,44 and a maximum of € 5031,20  gross per month on the basis of full-time employment.

Next to your monthly salary you will have a 'personal budget’ at your disposal, of 18,9% of your monthly gross salary. You can use it to withdraw a holiday allowance, extra holidays or an end of year bonus.

Our office is in the Hague, walking distance from the Laan van NOI station. Based on our re-work concept you work activity based, partly from home and partly from the office. We regularly meet colleagues on the work floor but also online via Teams to discuss cross functional topics and to stay connected to each other and our networks.

Apply today!

Please send your application letter and English CV to Shelly Jonker before May 19th 2024 via https://werkenbijhetrodekruis.inhroffice.com/nl/job/314610/apply

For more information about the position, please contact Carla Jonkers via mail on  cjonkers@redcross.nl. Please note that an integrity background check and an assessment are part of the selection process.

For more information of the work of the Netherlands Red Cross please go to www.rodekruis.nl or to our socials: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X.

We do not accept third party mediation or acquisition for this vacancy