Emergency Operation Centre Officer, Cash Transfer Officer, Disaster Management Program Officer and Project Officer -Psychosocial Jobs at the Kenya Red Cross Society

Emergency Operation Centre Officer, Cash Transfer Officer, Disaster Management Program Officer and Project Officer -Psychosocial Jobs at the Kenya Red Cross Society

Kenya Red Cross Society is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in Kenya. Its mission is to be the leading humanitarian organization in Kenya delivering excellent quality service of preventing and Alleviating Human Suffering.

Currently, KRCS aims to strengthen disaster preparedness capacity, by investing in stocks for small scale disasters which are hard to resource, strengthening systems and procedures, building experience and improving practice in cash transfer programming, developing human capacity and enhancing the use of learning to inform future responses.

The Society is looking for qualified persons to fill the following positions:

Position Title:           Emergency Operation Centre Officer Reporting to:              Search & Rescue Manager Job location:              Headquarters

Overall Purpose

As part of the Disaster Operations Team, the Emergency Operations Officer will have overall responsibility for the functioning of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) during normal times and with the support the Operations Duty Manager during Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs).   Reporting to the Search and Rescue (SAR) Manager, the EOC officer will support the effective coordination of disaster response operations in liaison with other KRCS teams (at Headquarters and in the counties) and external emergency providers including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the police, hospitals and others. 

Main duties and responsibilities

Emergency operations centre

·         Ensure the effective functioning of the EOC call centre within agreed standard operating procedures and relevant policies

·         Manage the flow information to and from the EOC to enable timely decision making by the Disaster Operations team during disasters.

·         With support from Information Technology (IT), ensure that radio and communication systems managed by the EOC are effectively maintained.

·         Monitor adherence to agreed protocols regarding the use of VHF/HF radios and other communication systems for disaster reporting and management

·         Supervise volunteers working with the EOC, ensuring they have clear roles and work within the framework of agreed policies

Preparedness and response

·         Contribute information and analysis to support the preparation of KRCS contingency plans

·         Responsible for maintaining the standby team roster, ensuring contact details, availability and other key data is accurately maintained and available at all times

·         Support the Duty Manager to activate response teams to respond to disasters

Information and systems management and reporting

·         Maintain an up to date and effective database to support disaster preparedness and response activities

·         Liaise with Counties to keep track of emerging and on-going events

·         Monitor agreed indicators, identify trends and share information through agreed channels regarding events which may require action

·         Monitor, collate, analyse and share information through agreed channels about on-going disasters

·         Ensure that protocols regarding the sharing of disaster information (internally and externally) are adhered to

·         Working with the Disaster Operations team, IT and other stakeholders, actively contribute to the development and upgrading of EOC information and management systems

Administration

·         Maintain a complete and updated inventory list of resources managed by the EOC

·         Ensure that all volunteer on-duty time is recorded, authorised, payments made and correctly charged

·         Ensure that any working advances are processed within agreed deadlines

·         Ensure that filing maintained effectively

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in disaster management or related subject
• Relevant training in disaster management

Key Competencies

·         At least 3 years professional experience in disaster management

·         Experience of preparing high quality reports

·         Experience of GIS and other technologies which could be used in disaster management

·         Experience of the Red Cross Red Crescent

Position Title:           Cash Transfer Officer Reporting to:              Program Manager Job location:              Headquarters

Purpose of the job

The Cash Transfer Officer will work closely with the Programme Manager and Relief and Recovery Operations Manager in ensuring cash transfer systems within KRCS are strengthened for enhanced disaster response.

Main duties and responsibilities

Implement Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) at Field level

·         Work closely with Relief and Recovery Operations Manager to identify appropriate Cash transfer modalities for KRCS disaster operations related interventions

·         Ensure targeting of the most vulnerable families to benefit from cash assistance, including supervision of the registration process and data entry to the database system, and ensuring selection according to vulnerability criteria

·         Supervise household visits and ensure procedures for beneficiary management and communication are followed

·         Supervision of the maintenance of the records in hard and soft copy of all the beneficiaries as required and guiding the project staff in KRCS

·         Ensure implementation of all project guidelines with regard to disbursement of payments to the beneficiaries. Administer and monitor cash transfer and payment mechanisms, including follow-up of payments in the database and communication with the payment service providers

·         Work closely with the KRCS procurement, logistics and finance teams regarding identification of service providers and procurement of beneficiary communication tools

·         Conduct any necessary market assessment related to CTP.

Capacity Building

·         Participate in the capacity building of KRCS staff to implement cash and voucher programmes in a technically appropriate way through knowledge transfer, training, development of good practice and evidence based research

·         Capacity building for KRCS CTP implementing teams (mostly volunteers & other partners such as traders & Payment Service Providers) at the field level on cash programming: provide technical support to KRCS staff on CTP (training and supervision)

Review and develop systems, materials and tools for Cash Transfer Programming (CTP)

·         Support the development of Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures for cash transfer programming (cash for work, conditional and unconditional cash grants, vouchers programming) and ensure its incorporated in the Disaster Management Policy and implemented/followed in the subsequent CTP pilot projects

·         Contribute to the CTP Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system set-up, in coordination with the field and M&E teams

·         Undertake data collection, database management, and tracking of M&E outputs

·         Analyze data collected from M&E activities and utilize information to strengthen future work

Capture Monitoring and lessons learnt

·         Monitoring of all cash transfer elements of the disaster operation in the target areas within the country, ensuring targets are met

·         Follow the cash program and activities ensuring that reports are completed on time and to a professional required standard;

·         Carry out monitoring field visits and support volunteers and other participating staff in adhering to the compliance

·         Carry out monitoring and evaluation activities including process, market and impact monitoring and capture learning and feedback to improve the Cash based response.

·         Document cash transfer processes in a case study report to be shared internally and with partners

·         Support in the organization of review meetings of CTPs to identify lessons learned.

Coordination and partnerships

·         Representation of KRCS at external cash coordination forums at national and field levels (compulsory at field level; at national, as requested) – currently this includes Cash Working Groups, and the CaLP regional and Kenya working groups

·         Attend programme progress review events and contribute to future programmatic priorities.

Administrative roles

·         Compile & upload the CTP related resources available on the intranet site (Tools, Documents, Lessons Learned, etc)

·         Support the preparation of workshops, trainings and meetings

·         Undertake general photocopying, faxing, scanning, filing, records, data entries and preparation of printed materials

·         Organize meetings in outlook calendar

·         Assist the project team in procuring items and follow up with logistics and procurement on progress

·         Assist in preparation of cash requests with guidance on the coding from the programme manager

Minimum Qualifications

·         Higher academic qualification on development studies/relevant degree or equivalent experience (3 years)

·         Training in cash transfer programming principles and best practices (CaLP or equivalent Cash ToT is an added advantage)

Key Competencies

·         Experience in ensuring beneficiary accountability in humanitarian programming.

·         Strong analytical and conceptual skills in humanitarian programming, with experience in assessing emergency needs, market analysis, response analysis and program design

·         An understanding of the project management cycle including developing implementation plans and monitoring systems and ensuring project activities are implemented to a high standard in a timely and professional manner.

·         Proven skills in participatory methodologies in assessment, program design and implementation.

·         Familiarity with and the IFRC Code of Conduct. Familiarity with HAP-I and other accountability frameworks as well as humanitarian principles and international codes of conduct

Position Title:           Disaster Management Program Officer Reporting to:             Program Manager Job location:              Headquarters

The role of the Disaster Management Officer is to support the Programme Manager to ensure timely, efficient and effective preparedness and response to sudden and slow onset disasters and crises events.

Main duties and responsibilities

Disaster Preparedness and Response

·         Support in the development of contingency plans and Disaster Management (DM) policy guidelines

·         On a need basis, the officer will be deployed to the field for disaster response where the post holder will work closely with the county managers to align response operations to proposed DM strengthening guidelines

Response efficiency and accountability

·         Support in research undertaking desk reviews on specific topics including national disaster management related laws, protocols and policies

·         Contribute to the development and continuous strengthening of systems and procedures to guide the work of Disaster Operations team

·         Support the development and implementation of beneficiary communication and complaints mechanisms

·         Support the documentation of  lessons learned from Disaster Operations activities and ensure their dissemination within the team and beyond

·         Participate in the testing of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) through simulation/drill and document the results along with gap analysis

·         Support counties in developing and implementing community based early warning systems (EWS) utilizing the latest technology, strategies and traditional knowledge management systems 

·         Working with the Emergency Operations Centre and County Managers, support the establishment and development of County Disaster Response Teams (CDRT), National Disaster Response Teams (NDRT) and community based disaster management committees at the community at county level

·         Participate in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a national training curriculum and capacity building programmes aimed at equipping and strengthening staff, volunteers and communities with capacity to prepare for disasters and large-scale emergencies

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

·         Work with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) department, monitor and evaluate the DM strengthening project to ensure that lessons learnt, success/failure stories are captured and information shared to support improvements in future work

·         Provide programme management support to the programme manager by, for example, providing periodic management reports of the project highlighting the expenditure rates, funding levels, programme achievements based on the M&E workplan etc

·         Work closely with the programme manager in ensuring that lessons learnt and good practice from the Disaster Management and Response component of the project are compiled and used to improve future planning, programming and implementation.

Communication, coordination, cooperation and partnerships

·         Organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters

·         Work closely with the Finance, Monitoring & Evaluation, & other departmental teams to ensure all aspects of the project are being managed effectively and efficiently.

Administration and Financial

·         In charge of all the documentation processes including minutes taking and reports generation for all the activities undertaken

·         Maintain stocks of learning materials, tools and guidelines on behalf of the project team

·         Create and manage project filing system both in soft and hard copy

·         Assist the department logistician in procuring items and follow up with Logistics on progress

·         Support the preparation of workshops, trainings and meetings

·         Undertake general photocopying, faxing, scanning, filing, records, data entries and preparation of printed materials

·         Work with DM and finance teams to ensure all payments are correctly coded

·         Work closely with the finance officer in ensuring timely payments and adherence to budget lines

Minimum Qualifications

·         Relevant degree level qualification or extensive professional experience in related field

·         Relevant training in disaster management

·         At least 3 years experience in disaster management work with both private and public sector

Key Competencies

·         Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, risk management in crisis, rehabilitation and/or development settings, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.

·         Knowledge of project management, including on monitoring and evaluation and particularly in participative processes

·         Excellent practical knowledge of computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word processing, e-mail, Internet

Position Title:           Project Officer Psychosocial Reporting to:             Social Services Managers Job location:               Headquarters

Job Summary:

The principal function of the post holder is to assist in the setting up, management and coordination of a counselling programme targeting KRCS staff, volunteers and survivors of emergency situations and their families. This is a short contract (3 months) with possibility of extension based on donor funding.

Main Functions of Post:

Technical support to the project

·         Assist in coordination of all counselling activities in KRCS.

·         Assist in ensuring equal distribution of resources for the counselling unit in KRCS

·         Coordinate and Conduct counselling sessions for staff and their families based on need

·         Coordinate and conduct counselling sessions for responders to various emergency situations

·         Support county managers to coordinate provision of PSS services in the different counties during emergencies

·         Attend the coordination meetings and share the minutes on behalf of the psychosocial unit as assigned.

·         Prepare a proper handover at the end of the contract and copy all the concerned colleagues

·         Coordinate counselling supervision for volunteer counsellors and staff involved in counselling activities

Assist in Facilitating established and maintaining of referral systems and procedures for clients

·         Refer clients for further PSS support based on need

·         Assist in referring clients where clients can receive maximum assistance.

·         Within the bracket of confidentiality, encourage information sharing with other KRCS officers coordinating emergency activities

Capacity building of staff and volunteers in counselling and other psychosocial areas.

• Conduct training on counselling and other related topics to capacity build and facilitate professionalism among the staff and volunteers of KRCS
• Assist in creating the training manuals and tools to be used in the Psychosocial Unit.
• Assist in training the community and the humanitarian workers as assigned

Monitoring and evaluation of the counselling activities

·         Assist in the preparation of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual work plans for budgeted activities within the time line given

·         Assist in preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports on counselling activities within the time line given.

·         Maintain high quality counselling services over time and ensure an appropriate level of accountability.

·         Monitor the work of the volunteer counsellors ensuring they are seeing clients as required.

·         Periodic progress and annual reports showing achievements against planned targets as well as providing justification for performance variance and areas of improvement.

·         Document lessons learned and best-practices.

Minimum Qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree in counselling and/or psychology, Masters in the same fields is an added advantage.

·         3 years hands on experience in counselling

·         Knowledge of gender issues and human rights

Key Competencies

·         Working experience in emergency situations will be an added advantage

·         Good facilitation/training and project report writing skills.

·         Ability to work with minimal supervision

·         Motivated, innovative and possesses outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills and integrity

Applications should be sent to the following address to be received on or before Friday, 16^th January 2015.

Secretary General

Kenya Red Cross Society

P.O. Box 40712-00100,

Nairobi 

Categories: NGO, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL WORK