Officer, Risk Management

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
Risk management plays a crucial role to support any organization in the pursuit of its objectives. By implementing a systematic approach to risk management throughout the programme, the management team can increase the chance to achieve programme objectives, by anticipating risks early so that they can be mitigated before they occur.
IFRC is in the process of rolling out its Risk Management Strategy for 2021-2025 to enhance accountability, transparency, and integrity of the organization. This includes supporting all Heads of Delegations, Operations, and Offices with the implementation on IFRC’s Risk Management Policy and enhancing the awareness of risk management across the organization. The Risk Management Officer will support to ensure the successful continuation of the implementation of the Strategy, focusing on risk awareness, communication, training, and collaboration. The Officer, Risk Management will also provide support to key programmes and operations as needed.
This position will be reporting to the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control within the Office of the Secretary General.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control, the Risk Management Officer is responsible for assisting in the implementation of the annual plans for risk management in 2024. This involves aligning activities with IFRC’s Risk Management Strategy for 2021-2025, with a focus on fostering a risk-aware culture, enhancing risk awareness, and enhancing capacity building across the organization. Additionally, the incumbent will assist in the establishment of a systematic risk management process for key programs and operations, including for the finalization of IFRC’s ERP Program. Furthermore, they will contribute to ensuring the monitoring and implementation of risk mitigation measures throughout the organization, including the development of mechanisms for ongoing risk monitoring.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support the rollout of IFRC’s Risk Management Policy across the organization.
   
   
2. Contribute to drafting key internal messages and generating other IFRC-wide information dissemination tools relating to risk management, including the development of communication and awareness products such as dashboards, bulletins, flyers, or other promotional material.
3. Support the review of technical documents related to risk management, including operational strategies, country plans, official reports, presentations to IFRC management and the Audit and Risk Commission, and other documents as requested.
4. Support the review of processes, including workflows; identify gaps; determine risks as well as opportunities for improvement; propose changes or solutions to bottlenecks aimed at streamlining duplicate activities and bringing greater agility, responsiveness, and effectiveness.
5. Support the organization and facilitation of specific risk management workshops with colleagues across the organization to facilitate the identification and management of risk and the promotion of risk awareness.
6. Support data analysis and the development of high-quality risk reports for the President, Secretary-General, and the Global Leadership Team.
7. Support the improvement and standardization of data collection methods and data visualization for risk management.
8. Support the ERP Management of the program by facilitating the update of the program risk register, risk identification, and the follow-up of implementation of mitigation actions to treat, transfer, or terminate risks outside the risk appetite through the go-live period of the project.
9. Provide support from the global level to key programs and operations in establishing a risk management approach in line with the IFRC Risk Management Policy.
10. Provide additional support to IFRC’s overall risk management agenda, as requested by the Lead, Risk Management and Internal Control.

Education

Relevant university degree qualification in industrial engineering, IT, information management, finance, law, administration, project management, risk management, or any other relevant area.

Experience

Required

Minimum of 3 years of professional experience, in in one of the following areas: risk management, incident management, project/program monitoring, quality management, or a related discipline.

Experience working in a multi-cultural environment.

Preferred

Experience working on project risk management for a large institutional change management initiative, such as an ERP or another relevant programme.

Experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

Understanding of the principles and application of good corporate governance, business and operational risk management and effective internal controls.

Knowledge and strong interest in risk management concepts.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing with different audiences, adapting style to fit the situation.

Ability to gather, analyse, and evaluate facts, and prepare/present concise oral and written reports.

Ability to plan work and manage conflicting priorities, and handle multiple demands simultaneously, including unexpected deadlines.

Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial.

Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.

Ability and confidence to challenge authority when required.

Good knowledge of project management.

Preferred

Advanced skills in and use of IT systems such as Excel (including VBA) and PowerPoint, or similar applications.

Skills in PowerBI, Tableau, R, or others.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core competencies:Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and 
customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Functional competencies:Strategic orientation; Building alliances; Leadership; Empowering others.
Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance, Managing staff development.