Senior Advisor, Humanitarian Response

Location

Silver Spring, MD | United States

Job description

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. 

Global Communities is seeking a Sr. Advisor, Humanitarian Response to join the Humanitarian Assistance team. The Sr Advisor, Humanitarian Response will support GC ‘s ongoing efforts to build out its ability to effectively prepare for and respond to humanitarian crises worldwide. The Sr Advisor, Humanitarian Response will lead specific workstreams in the development of GC’s protocol for emergency response and support high priority country teams in preparing for and responding to humanitarian crises. They will also serve on GC’s internal roster emergency response teams and support the capacity building of others on the roster performing similar functions. 

Responsibility Area: Emergency Response and Organizational Preparedness

• Lead workstreams for the development of the Protocol for Emergency Response (PER), including working closely with other departments to develop and/or update policies, strategies, protocols, and tools.
• Develop training materials and train staff on mainstreaming policies, strategies, protocols, and tools into the Emergency Response efforts in assigned countries.
• Foster collaborative relationships with country teams, providing customized support based on specific contexts and needs, ensuring alignment with international humanitarian principles and best practices.
• Act as a country focal point in priority (complex) humanitarian response countries to support the set up or preparedness and response efforts, including working with senior leadership in country teams and Program Support Teams (PSTs) at HQ.
• Support the development of tools to measure overall readiness in country and lead internal assessment efforts for prioritized countries.
• Support capacity building efforts organization wide, including developing informational or training materials and leading learning events, simulation exercises, trainings, or other initiatives.
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and quality of work adheres to GC policies and remains in line with humanitarian principles and standards.
• Maintain strong connections with other humanitarian assistance organizations and represent GC externally, as needed.
• Provide general humanitarian response technical support, including for ongoing proposals or program design.
• Set up and lead humanitarian response community of practice at GC.
• Manage consultants hired to support ongoing efforts.

Responsibility Area: Surge support

• Be on GC’s internal roster and participate in a surge support team during emergencies when available.
• Willing and able to step into a country surge response role, if required while deployed.
• While deployed, in addition to being part of the surge support team and guiding country teams through the response, place a strong emphasis capacity building and mentoring of existing in country staff and new hires.
• Support the development of trainings for others serving on GC’s internal roster, particularly those in an Emergency Response Team Lead role.

Responsibility Area: Supervision

• Coach, mentor, and lead staff to prioritize, coordinate, and distribute work based on available resources and changing demands.
• Hires, trains, guides, mentors, and advises staff (estimate 2 staff to join the team in Year 2); leads training and onboarding process for new staff as required.
• Ensures adherence to Standards of Conduct, the Employee Handbook, and other corporate and applicable policies, procedures, and schedules, including staff performance management .

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote a culture of excellence, inclusion, learning, support, diversity, and innovation.
• Up to 35% travel annually to difficult or challenging environments
• Ability to deploy internationally with short notice

• Significant experience in humanitarian response operations, across a variety of contexts and disaster types, to include field postings or extended TDYs to response operations.
• Understanding of the global international development and humanitarian assistance context. Broad understanding of principled humanitarian action, humanitarian coordination structures, emergency relief, and resilience objectives and sectors such as shelter and settlements, WASH, food security and livelihoods, humanitarian protection, or health and nutrition.
• Prior experience or strong understanding of program cycle management and program management fundamentals.
• Strong leadership skills, including an ability to take initiative and support cohesive team building.
• Expertise with USG humanitarian donors, and UNOCHA, EU or DFID proposal processes. Familiarity with general business development processes including but not limited to donor communication and relationship building, developing country-wide response strategies, designing projects and programs, and writing proposals.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and sound judgment. Proven willingness to make timely and sound decisions based on accurate judgement.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and high level of organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently but leverage non-reporting line allies to contribute to broader workstream objectives and goals. Strong inter-personal skills required to collaborate cross-department.
• Strong ability to multi-task, working on various products and projects simultaneously and in the details, but also able to track the bigger picture/longer term vision and workplan to continually progress the overall goal.
• Ability to relate and communicate effectively internationally.
• Fluency in English, written and oral. Abilities in a second language preferred (e.g., Arabic, French, and Spanish).
• Advanced ability in the use of Microsoft Suite, especially Excel.
• Ability to work in insecure environments, under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, sit at a computer, and operate a keyboard.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds and walk.

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline (e.g., international development) and a minimum of six years of related work experience or a minimum of ten years of related work experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience working in humanitarian responses (e.g., conflict, natural disaster, etc.) with preference for field work and project start-up.
• Experience with HA donors, including BHA and ECHO and/or non-governmental organizations preferred.
• Able and willing to obtain HEAT certification.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities

Application Instructions 

To be considered for this position, please apply (including your resume and cover letter) by September 30, 2023 . Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. 

Location and Work Schedule 

This selected candidate can be based in the United States (San Diego, CA or Silver Spring, MD). Jordan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, or Honduras. This role is eligible to work a hybrid schedule (requiring in-person work twice a week) or a fully remote schedule. Candidates must be authorized to work in their preferred country without any restriction. 

Salary and Compensation

The estimated salary for this position is between $95,527-$131,624. Final salary will be based on several factors including qualifications, geographic location, experience, and internal equity. Global Communities provides a comprehensive benefits package; please note that this position is not eligible for allowances. 

COVID-19 Policy

As an organization working to advance public health, Global Communities has an obligation to model best practices and to do all we can to protect each other, our partners, and the communities where we work. To ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our business operations, Global Communities is adopting a policy to safeguard the health of our visitors, employees, families, and the larger global community from COVID-19. Effective January 3, 2022, all U.S.-based Global Communities employees are required to provide proof of having received full dosage of COVID-19 vaccine that is FDA approved, approved for emergency use authorization, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file with Global Communities, as a condition of employment.

Safeguarding Policy

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.

EEO/ADA

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Global Communities complies with all applicable provisions of the ADA and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless it provides undue hardship to the organization. If reasonable accommodation is necessary to participate in the recruitment process, please contact [email protected]. 

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