Save the Children is a recognized leader in keeping children safe in times of crisis. Save the Children’s U.S. Domestic Emergencies Unit ensures that children are safe and protected – before, during and after emergencies. The Director, Surge & Emergency Operations leads program operations across the disaster cycle, with a particular focus on first phase response and operational readiness. Working in partnership with program staff, h/she ensures that when disaster strikes, Save the Children can rapidly deploy with the right tools, resources, supplies and systems they need to help communities, families and caregivers meet the unique needs of affected children.
Areas of Responsibility:
Lead operations across the disaster cycle that facilitate efficient and effective disaster response in blue sky time ~ 60%
- MONITORING THREATS TO INFORM GO/NO-GO DECISIONS: Keep senior leadership informed of impending emergencies, coordinate watch officers. Identify, manage and engage internal and external surge (staff, contractors, volunteers). Send ALERT messages to key stakeholders to inform them of threats and emergencies in U.S. states and territories.
- DIRECT THE SURGE CAPACITY:
- Design and implement recruitment plan, in partnership with HR, for all surge staff, including volunteers, consultants and contractors.
- Develop and cultivate strategic partnerships and staff engagement to grow and maintain responder corps.
- Create and execute training scheme for all domestic responders and backstops. Ensure robust online training content and resources are available for responders, supported and accessed online.
- Create and execute communication plan to engage and ensure ongoing commitment of domestic responders and backstops.
- Conduct post-deployment interviews/reviews with responder corps.
- Support Surge Corps wellness. Create opportunities for responders to highlight wellness self-checks and build awareness of agency support opportunities/assets.
- OPERATIONAL BACKSTOPS & EPPs & RESPONSE SOPs:
- Create and manage a network of Operational Backstops. In collaboration with the Operational backstops, create and deliver training content for Surge responders who have operational roles.
- Lead maintenance of standard operating procedures and emergency preparedness plan process and documentation for the division, both HQ and field office locations.
- PREPOSITIONING & RESPONDER GEAR AND RESPONSE SUPPLIES: Support the logistics, warehousing and prepositioning of purchased and Gift-In-Kind (GIK) goods for use in emergency response and recovery. Design and preposition Go-Kits for responders. Ensure responders have IT equipment needed for immediate response (laptops, cell phones, etc.)
- Lead continuous improvement of domestic emergencies operations including after-action reviews for all domestic responses – documenting lessons learned and ensuring follow up on action plans/recommendations.
- Serve as liaison with International Surge and Domestic Programs working groups
Lead the first phase of US Emergency Response, serving as HQ Backstop, Team Leader or Deputy Team Leader for Operations – when disaster strikes ~40%
- When serving as HQ backstop, oversee all aspects of response from the home office:
- Provide line management support for deployed response team lead.
- Convene Emergency Working Group (DEWG) for US responses, in order to engage appropriate stakeholders at SCUS in the response.
- Coordinate with HQ functions – Programs, Fundraising, MCM, HR, Safety & Security, Finance/Ops, Legal, and IT.
- Ensure adherence to all agency policies and standard operating procedures.
- When deployed, lead USPA responses from start-up to transition of response to recovery:
- Lead field assessment and ensure quality program delivery and reporting.
- Manage staff and processes on the ground ensuring adherence with all agency policies and standard operating procedures.
- Establish field operational bases; develop field response strategy, budget and staffing plan, support beneficiary tracking, fundraising and donor reporting, and communications.
- Lead/support response and recovery strategy development.
- Represent Save the Children’s emergency response with local, state and national media and partners, as appropriate.
- Serve as the critical link to HR, Finance/Ops, Legal, Child Safeguarding, IT and Knowledge Management for Domestic Emergencies, ensuring compliance with systems and processes and continuous improvement to adapt practices to the emergency context, as appropriate.
Educational Background:
Bachelor’s degree.
Skills/Experience:
- Minimum 7-10 years' experience in area of expertise.
- Strong Level of Technical and/ or Managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to direct the operational activities of a Unit or Team, or provide technical advice, guidance and management related to various size programs, grants or projects.
- Experienced collaborative, cross-functional leader: Proven ability to lead people and process in complex situations.
- Management and/or Humanitarian Response experience of multi-sector team at a Deputy or Director-level.
- Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
- Understanding of US emergency management context and partners.
- Experience managing operations and logistics.
- Flexible, adaptable, team player.
- Must be willing to backstop a response and/or travel/deploy up to 40%.
Preferred Qualifications
- Extensive emergency response experience in the United States.
- Spanish language proficiency is a plus.
Compensation/Benefits:
- Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world.
- A family friendly work environment.
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams.
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time.
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions.
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers.
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities and with the American Management Association, as well as language learning opportunities.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jun 29 2018
Active Until:
Jul 29 2018
Hiring Organization:
Save the Children US
industry:
Nonprofit