Emergency Response Manager (Food Crisis) at Plan International

Employment Opportunities

Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Child protection is key in all that we do.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and capacity building programmes focus primarily on Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Economic Security and Youth Empowerment, including Child Protection and Participation. Plan International Zambia has programme areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

We are looking for experienced, innovative, motivated, self-starter individuals to fill the following position:

Emergency Response Manager (Food Crisis) – Temporal Position (Lusaka, Eastern and Central Province) (X1) – Roving Position

Position Description:

The Emergency Response Manager will lead and manage the Field Emergency Response Team (ERT) responding to the food insecurity and be the interface between the Field Emergency Response Team and the Country Director. The ERM is responsible for the implementation quality and effectiveness of Plan International Zambia’s response across the two provinces Plan International expects to respond. The ERM is expected to remotely support as well as rove across the response locations. The ERM has overall responsibility for the security and well-being of Plan International Zambia staff, programmes and assets. Direct line management responsibilities will be confirmed. The role requires someone dynamic and able to rove between the response locations, still maintaining complete oversight of the response. Critical to this position is experience and ability to represent Plan International at a high level with donors and externals and to be able to articulate the changing issues within the response.

Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the Technical Working Groups, Plan Sector Programme Managers at Lusaka level and the CD will support the planning and implementation of projects and will hold overall responsibility to ensure response programmes are running efficiently and on time with good burn rates
• In collaboration with the Business Development Team at the Country Office, identify funding opportunities with National Offices and lead proposal development with the Technical Specialists for the response
• Develop program initiatives that focus on ensuring adolescent girls are at the forefront of our response strategy with gender aware programming existing throughout the response ensuring all 4 pillars of gender aware emergency responses are in place.
• Ensure the Country Director, and the Regional Disaster Risk Management Manager are kept informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments
• Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency situation and adjust activities accordingly.
• Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency activities in accordance with PLAN DRM strategy, policies and protocols
• Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders including the military where present.
• Attend all the relevant inter-agency coordination and working groups in Lusaka and identify teams in the field to attend Provincial and District meetings Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale
• Ensure all Emergency Response personnel understand and carry out their duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, Plan International values, the Red Cross Code of Conduct and SPHERE.
• Conduct performance appraisals of direct reports and ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance

Skills and behaviour

• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan.
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan’s core values and humanitarian principles.
• Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.

 Experience

• Proven relevant humanitarian aid experience in complex and natural disasters
• High level of all aspects of managerial experience, including managing multi-million dollar budgets
• Experience in complex decision making and leading a multi-disciplinary, multi-national team under difficult circumstances
• High level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security and program management

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