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Head of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change.

About the Role

In 2009 Plan adopted a new Disaster Risk Management Strategy reflecting a commitment to build our work on disaster response and disaster risk reduction. The strategy of child centred disaster risk reduction as one of three areas for focus and investment. The others are child protection in emergencies, and education in emergencies.

Plan has 7 years experience, pioneering ways to involve children and young people in disaster risk reduction work. More recently Plan has added the area of child-centred climate change adaptation, focusing particularly on disaster risk-reduction.

The Head of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change works within Plan Disaster Risk Management Team and leads the organization’s understanding, effectiveness and profile in disaster risk reduction and climate change

Dimensions of Role:

  • Oversight, reporting and technical advice on disaster risk reduction programs in 50 countries worldwide
  • Responsible for a budget of less than €300,000 per year
  • Line management of up to two positions
  • Disaster Risk Management Strategy requires that all our programmes contribute to reducing disaster risk.

The post holder will coordinate Plan’s work on climate change and disaster risk reduction globally, provide high level guidance in the development of quality programmes, prepare policy and positions within Plan, and lead Plan’s advocacy internationally. The position will coordinate Plan’s work towards the global campaign for safer schools.

Main Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that;

Staff and consultants reporting to this position are well managed and performing to a high standard;

  • Recruitment of staff, interns and researchers as needed
  • Performance management of individuals against agreed plans and KPIs
  • Induction and orientation of all staff, consultants and volunteers with Plan’s values and core policies (CoC, Child Protection, ICT etc)
  • Integrationof their work within the work of the rest of the DRM team

Plan has a large coherent programme of disaster risk reduction work meeting agreed standards across more than 30 countries, including;

  • Coordination of Plans work towards the UN Global Campaign for Safer Schools
  • Technical support and training as required on the development of stand alone and cross-cutting risk reduction projects
  • Develop and disseminate guidance and standards for quality disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programmes
  • Establishment of child-centred M&E systems for the generation of organisational learning
  • Identification of research and development areas
  • Coordination of Plan’s presence and support at international events, including the involvementof children where appropriate

Plan has a growing portfolio of funding support for Disaster Risk Reduction;

  • Support National Offices to develop strategic fundraising relationships with donors to raise money for climate change and disaster risk reduction work
  • Establish relations with key multilateral donors such as the World Bank’s GFDRR and coordinate fundraising work with them
  • Advise National and regional office staff in the development of particularly large or strategically significant grant applications and sign off on the technical quality of such proposals
  • Identify opportunities for funding of international level work and prepare proposals if required

Plan’s Child-centred Risk Reduction is recognized within the sector as cutting edge and effective

  • Presentation of reports drawn from implementation and learning to internal and external forums
  • Development of a set of position papers on key issues
  • Publication of research and learning reports including in peer reviewed journals
  • Development of advocacy messages and tactics to influence policy and practice sector wide
  • Establish and maintain Plan’s international partnerships and involvement in consortia in these sectors
  • Communicate about Plan’s disaster risk reduction and climate change work inside and outside Planthrough presentations, web stories and media articles

Review and reiteration of Plan’s DRM strategy will be informed by the experience and potential for Plan’s DRR work

  • Contribute to ongoing DRM team action planning and strategic planning discussions by bringing the experience of implementation to the table
  • Closely analyze Plan’s internal strengths and weaknesses in the field of DRR so that it can be effectively interwoven with ongoing development and DRM work
  • Closely analyse and report on opportunities in DRR for Plan to make use of and Threats to effective child-centred DRR of which any strategic decision-making must be aware
  • Coordinate and advise other parts of the organisation on similar relationships at other levels in relationto the strategic work of DRR

About you

Knowledge, skills and behaviours required to achieve role’s objectives;

Knowledge

  • Conceptual understanding of disaster risk reduction and climate change
  • Practical knowledge of implementation of disaster risk reduction programming involving children.
  • International mechanisms for coordination and funding
  • Other organisations involved in this field
  • Key contacts in the institutions and understanding of the politics and systems for disaster risk reduction and climate change work internationally.
  • Experience of working in an international NGO
  • Experience in engaging with cluster coordination systems

Skills

  • Clear writing on policy issues and programme guidance
  • Project management including planning and scheduling, process design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation
  • Advocacy, influencing and negotiating skills, experienced in gaining commitment from a wide range of people, bringing about change and providing support from a distance
  • Networking skills
  • Coordination
  • Training skills
  • Communication to non-expert audiences

Attitudes

  • Communicator and influencer. (representation)
  • Comfortable working with senior management.
  • Team player and relationship builder.
  • Able to work calmly under extreme pressure and at unpredictable hours on occasion.

Languages

Fluent written and spoken English required.

Location and TravelThis post may be based at any Plan Office with good communications links. The post-holder will be expected to travel extensively, sometimes at short notice to join humanitarian responses.

Type of Role: Permanent

Reports to: Director of Disaster Risk Management

Grade: 5

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum

Closing Date: Thursday 19th April 2012

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.

Your online application form can be saved, reviewed and amended before submission.

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