Regional emergency manager, South Asia

More than half the world lives in poverty. Poverty is an outrage against humanity. It robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid has a vision – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality. We are striving to bring lasting change to the lives of the poorest communities. We work wherever there is great need, helping people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion, caste or creed. If you’re passionate about positive change across the world, then this job might be for you.

Christian Aid is looking for a Regional Emergency Manager for the South Asia region. This position involves leading Christian Aid’s response to humanitarian crisis in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and ensures coherence and integration with country strategies. The post holder plays a leading role in the region to improve the capacity of partners and Christian Aid country teams to prepare for, mitigate against the impact of, and respond to emergencies. The post holder will lead emergency responses and will coordinate disaster risk reduction work in their region, alongside relevant regional or country-based staff. The post holder will work closely with the regional and country staff and the Humanitarian Division staff in developing and then implementing agreed emergency response and mitigation strategies. He/she will support partners to enable them to implement rapid, effective and principled responses to emergencies. He/she will be responsible for developing best practice in emergency preparedness and response and will ensure internationally agreed standards are met. The post holder will work to promote the voices of partners and local communities to ensure that they are heard and acted upon in new emergencies.

You will have sound experience of working on major institutional donor funded projects, you will understand the complexity of teams and partners located in different part of South Asia and know what it takes to deliver high quality work and perform to tight deadlines. You will have a background in international development and good knowledge of resilience, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. You will need significant experience of emergency/humanitarian programmes, including emergency preparedness and the links between emergency and development work. You will have considerable knowledge of the application of key humanitarian standards into programming. You should also have experience of programme appraisal, monitoring and evaluation, and working through partners.

Candidates need to have a degree in a development-related discipline, with substantial knowledge of emergency relief, rehabilitation, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and development, with focus on documentation, research, networking and advocacy. Other essentials are excellent writing and communication skills in English and fluency in Hindi or any other South Asian language, as well as IT skills.

Please show your suitability for this post by giving answers to the following questions: Using the guidance notes may help you formulate your answers.

Innovation and creativity

Describe the most complex problem that you were faced with and how you generated a new approach or explanation or solution.

Effectiveness and accountability

Describe a time when you examined ways to improve the services or products in your area, while taking into consideration the longer-term and broader corporate perspective.

Team work

Discuss an example of a time when your teamwork skills proved useful when you recognised that your team had reached its limit in terms of productivity (for example, they were burning out, or could not solve the problem).

Operational leadership and management

Describe a project you undertook which had potential long-term implications.

We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organisation. So you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.

Preference will be given to applicants who have current and valid permission to work in India.

Download the role profile (50 KB pdf)

To apply for this post,please download an application pack and email your completed International application form to: delhirecruitment@christian-aid.org (quoting the reference number). Alternatively, your completed application form can be printed out and posted to us at:

Christian Aid
D-25-D
South Extension Part II
New Delhi
India 110 049

Please note that CVs will not be accepted and that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. If you have not been contacted by 17 February 2012, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

Job reference: India/2012/0102

Closing date: 5pm, Monday 13 February 2012

Interview date: Week commencing 21 February 2012

Christian Aid values diversity and aspires to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of caste, race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. We encourage applications from socially excluded communities, ie Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, religious minorities and people living with disabilities, and especially encourage women candidates to apply.