IFRC Relationship Management and Accountability Team Coordinator

Job purpose:

The Relationship Management (RM) and Accountability team coordinator in the Americas Zone office is a member of the Strategic Relations and Cooperation Unit, responsible for coordinating a small team of local RM and Reporting staff, and is a member of the Secretariat’s global RM and PMER teams.

The team coordinator works with the Global RM team to support the implementation of the Federation Wide Resource Mobilisation Strategy (FWRMS) maximising RM opportunities for all National Societies in the Americas zone, and supporting National Societies’ RM efforts by leveraging the international status of the IFRC. The team coordinator works also to support the implementation of the Federation Data Bank and Reporting System (FDRS), working within agreed strategic priorities, taking part in the zone’s long term and annual planning / budgeting process, and, in the case of disasters, is a member of any task forces convened by the zone office.

A key focus of the position will be on enhancing Federation collective accountability to its stakeholders as a result of effective quality assurance and timeliness of donor reports, donor proposals, translations and other key Federation documents, the promotion of a culture of PMER, and ensuring integrated approaches with Planning & Monitoring, Communications and NS Development, Learning and Innovation.

Job duties and responsibilities

• Implementation of Federation-wide strategies:
  o Oversee the implementation of the Federation Wide Resource Mobilisation strategy (FWRMS) in the Americas region including development and implementation of an RM strategy for the Americas zone, identifying, developing and coordinating resource mobilisation opportunities for National Societies and IFRC secretariat programmes.
  o Promote the use of the Federation Databank and Reporting System (FDRS) by the National Societies in the Americas, in coordination with the Secretariat’s PED department.
• Relationship management:
  o In close coordination with the Coordinator Strategic Relations and Cooperation working with zone office business units, IFRC regional and country offices, National Societies and the Geneva Secretariat RM Dept, to strengthen existing relationships and develop new relationships with partners including Partner National Societies (multilateral and bilateral).
  o Maintain contact with respective partner regional offices and ensure dissemination of funding opportunities (eg. government, EU) to National Societies, IFRC regional/country offices etc.
• Capacity building of National Societies:
  o To provide support, expertise and tools to National Societies in the zone to enable them to develop their capacities in RM and PMER, so that each National Society is able to maximise its funding opportunities through different funding streams as well as its accountability.
  o To facilitate knowledge sharing of RM expertise amongst National Societies in the zone, including experience of good practice in partnership and relationship management, to link with National Society communities of practise, to provide support to the Americas zone RM network, and also to facilitate links with other zone fundraising networks and initiatives.
• Knowledge management:
  o To collect information, data, market research, and analysis of donor trends in the Americas zone, including current and potential new sources of funding, contributing to global RM information sharing through established CRM.
  o Disseminate information about the knowledge management system to IFRC regional / country offices and National Societies in the zone, encouraging use of the system, to enhance all RM efforts throughout the zone.
• Funding for IFRC plans/appeals:
  o Funding plans: Work with units in the zone office, and regional and country offices, to develop funding plans for all IFRC emergency appeals and long term plans, establish tracking sheets to track all incoming funding, and aim to ensure good coverage of all appeals/plans.
  o Funding situation: Maintain an overview of the funding situation of all current annual plans and emergency appeals in the Americas zone, identifying gaps in funding and funding priorities.
  o Emergency appeals: In the case of all emergency appeals, to take the lead in coordination of RM, working with the respective regional/country offices, maintaining a tracking system for all pledges of funding, taking part in zone task forces when convened, ensuring regular sharing of information with partner National Societies, including convening of telephone conferences etc.
  o Pledge management: Ensure efficient processing of all pledges for all appeals/plans by the RM team in coordination with Unit Service Officers, according to established guidelines.
• Accountability and quality assurance:
  o Ensure, in close cooperation with programme managers and M&E staff, that the different stages in results based management (assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation) are adhered to. In particular the application of these steps in relation to donors, including:
  (1) grant management: to ensure that all grants of funding received through the IFRC secretariat are managed well, that guidelines/procedures are followed, ensuring good quality proposals, and that monitoring mechanisms are in place for management of grants; and
  (2) donor reporting: to ensure that all donor reports are prepared to quality standards, that there is compliance with agreed donor conditions and requirements, maintaining a tracking system, to ensure that all reporting deadlines are met.
  o Ensure that donor proposals are reviewed, adhere to Federation standards and are in line with the style guide.
  o Promote the consistent use of the Federation’s Evaluation Framework, provide technical advice on terms of reference for evaluations in the Americas, and ensure liaison with the Learning and Innovation Unit.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Position Requirements

Education

• University degree in relevant discipline
• Relevant post-graduate degree or MBA, preferred
• Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management)

Experience

• At least 5 years relevant experience in donor relations or fund raising, and planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Relevant work experience with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, including time in the field and/or with a National Society, and knowledge of Federation systems and processes in communications, resource mobilisation, planning and reporting, preferred
• Management of a team with a minimum of 3 staff members
• Experience in coaching program staff, in facilitating training, and in selecting and managing consultants.

Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity with government aid systems and multilateral organisations
• Knowledge of information sharing tools and the ability to implement them
• Highly organised, with ability to create a team approach
• Excellent relationship building skills; ability to build and strengthen internal and external networks, and establish effective partnerships.
• Budget and finance management
• Demonstrated capacity for analytical and strategic thinking
• Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context
• Excellent communication skills

Languages

• Fluently spoken and written English and good command of Spanish
• Good command of French, preferred

How to apply:

Please apply directly at https://jobnet.ifrc.org and refer to Relationship Management (RM) and Accountability team coordinator (2013-29-fld) or click on the following link:https://jobnet.ifrc.org/public/ADMIN_VN_Federation__2013-29-fld_20130306...

Applications without motivation letter will not be considered. Closing date March 20,2013.