WEC Regional Manager

WEC Regional Manager

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Our values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.

Purpose

The Weapon Contamination (WeC) Regional Manager oversees the ICRC’s Weapon Contamination programs and activities in the Americas Region, ensuring that WeC expertise is available to ICRC Delegations, Sub-Delegations and missions. S/he is responsible for providing assessments, analysis and guidance on matters related to conventional weapons (including contamination by landmines and explosive remnants of war) and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazards and their impact on staff safety, operational continuity and local civilian populations. In affected countries with no WeC program, s/he may work with the National Society and may also support the activities of national authorities, when appropriate, to ensure that needs for the benefit of the civilian population are being effectively addressed.

Scope & impact

• Although a number of countries in the Americas Region have eliminated the dangers posed by antipersonnel mines from earlier conflicts, several remain contaminated and new hazards are arising in the region from the use of IEDs, drones and other explosive weapons.
• The Americas Region has six operational delegations, one of which has a WeC program (Colombia) and another with limited WeC activities (Venezuela). Several delegations currently face WeC-related issues linked to the use of drones and IEDs (Mexico, Haiti) but no persistent WeC presence.
• The WeC Regional Manager will be based in Bogota and will take the lead on
• Supporting delegations in identifying WeC-related hazards and developing appropriate responses.
• Providing technical oversight (blue-line supervision) of the WeC programme in Colombia and WeC activities in Venezuela.
• Representing WeC at the RRN and at regional level more broadly on WeC-related issues.
• Geographically, the Regional Manager is responsible for the Americas Region, but s/he may be seconded to other regions in case of critical need, filling the role of a member of the Rapid Deployment Team when required and agreed.

General Duties

• Understands and adheres to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Understands and adheres to the ICRC Code of Conduct
• Understands the roles of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Always respects and observes staff regulations and security rules
• Always represents the ICRC in a professional manner
• Develops and maintains a pleasant and conducive working environment with colleagues and line managers
• Performs all duties with the highest level of confidentiality in the interest of the employees and the ICRC
• May be asked to perform tasks not covered in this job description and to provide support to other departments when necessary

Accountabilities & functional responsibilities

Analysis

• Develops a thorough understanding of the weapon contamination situation regionally and provides ICRC management with hazard identification and risk assessments on the likely impact of weapon contamination on staff, operations, and civilians in affected areas.
• Prepares strategies, plans and approaches to mitigate exposure and to respond to weapon contamination hazards, providing guidance and operational support as necessary to Delegations as well as National Societies as appropriate.
• Monitors and analyses emerging weapon-related threats and their humanitarian and operational consequences, particularly those associated with the increasing use of drones, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other explosive weapons in armed conflicts and other situations of violence. Provides technical expertise on weapon effects, contamination risks and risk mitigation measures, contributing to multidisciplinary analysis and operational responses in coordination with Protection, Legal, FAS/PGE, SCMS and other relevant departments. Supports Conduct of Hostilities (CoH) analysis where appropriate.

Supervision and guidance

• Monitors and coordinates the overall operation of WeC programmes and activities in the region, providing support, and advice to WeC Coordinators, Field Managers, Field Officers and focal persons at the Delegation level.
• Provides specialist guidance and operational support directly to Delegations, when needed, in concert with relevant WeC staff at Headquarters level.
• Ensures that WeC activities in the region are targeted and comply with WeC standards and guidelines, ICRC's operational frameworks and requirements as well as the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs), when relevant.
• When required, supports the Heads of Regional Delegations and Head of RRN in updating contingency plans and other regional strategic documents on WeC-relevant topics.
• Developing and delivering a risk-based regional WeC support offer, tailored to the operational needs and capacities of delegations. This includes weapon-related risk analysis, staff and National Society volunteer safety, protection of first responders and pre-hospital personnel, monitoring of emerging threats related to drones, IEDs and other explosive hazards, and operational preparedness. The Regional Manager supports delegations in assessing the relevance, feasibility and risks of community-based risk reduction activities, ensuring that responses are context-specific, proportionate and guided by do-no-harm considerations.

Security

• Provides specialized WeC technical input to delegation security risk assessments and mitigation measures, including passive and active security measures where relevant, in close coordination with SCMS and other relevant métiers.
• Supports delegations in developing and updating contingency plans, SOPs and other operational documents concerning WeC-related risks.
• In close collaboration with SCMS and other relevant technical departments, supports management on issues related to passive and active security when required.
• Provides WeC staff safety sessions for ICRC and NS staff and volunteers working in hazardous areas, ensuring that such support is in line with ICRC and Movement Guidelines, IMAS, IATGs and best practices.
• Supports all ICRC departments in risk assessment and risk mitigation planning in order to ensure staff safety and continuity of operations.

Additional Accountabilities & functional responsibilities

Planning, monitoring and reporting

• Provides timely, relevant and accurate input to the PfR planning process and assists the preparation of WeC-related GOs and SOs (in line with the WeC PfR reference framework), identifying and recommending the human and financial resources required to achieve the planned objectives, in coordination with