Associate Director, Emergency Response
ABOUT AMERICARES:
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states with over $600 million in innovative health programs and quality medical aid.
Americares programs help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access to critical medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand clinical services; and prevent disease and promote good health in vulnerable communities.
Americares Emergency Programs leverages a global partner network and supply of donated medicine, logistics capabilities, health and medical expertise, an extensive roster of emergency response professionals to respond to emergencies, help communities recover from disasters, reduce disaster risk and improve health outcomes. Americares responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year. Our Emergency Programs interventions include but are not limited to: Delivery/distribution of medical supplies and supply chain management, surge support to partner health facilities, medical teams, rehabilitations and restoration of health facilities and mental health and psychosocial support services.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Americares is looking for an experienced, passionate, and versatile Associate Director to further strengthen emergency response programs. The Associate Director will participate in – and often lead – Americares responses to disasters and emergencies around the world and in the US. They will be based in Stamford, CT with frequent deployments.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Oversee the monitoring of disasters and emergencies via news and alert systems daily, maintain on-going dialogue with relevant internal departments and external partners and, as appropriate, make recommendations regarding necessary actions
- Deploy, sometimes with 12-hour notice or less to support sudden-onset disaster and emergency response efforts
- Participate in rapid needs assessments and data collection and analysis, with specific focus on health sector, to support humanitarian program design
- Work as lead or member of emergency response teams, which will include medical professionals and technical experts
- Set up and manage field operations
- Facilitate effective implementation of health programs, which may include the delivery/distribution of medical supplies and supply chain management, surge support to partner health facilities, medical teams, rehabilitations and restoration of health facilities and mental health and psychosocial support services
- Ensure humanitarian programs comply with organization, donor and national guidelines, policies and procedures, as well as internationally recognized humanitarian standards
- Ensure compliance of programs with approved proposal and budget, anticipating, communicating and troubleshooting issues in advance
- Ensure medical supply stocks are properly managed to prevent stockouts and service interruptions
- Actively represent Americares at relevant cluster/coordination and technical meetings
- Establish and foster strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders, including UN agencies, NGOs, relevant national government departments/ministries, local/regional authorities, community leaders and beneficiaries
- Support accurate and complete data collection and ensure strong internal and external communication/reporting according to established timelines
- Identify programmatic gaps, issues, risks and opportunities, develop solutions and support concept note/proposal development
- Participate in after-action reviews and incorporate recommended improvements
- When not deployed, serve as HQ lead on responses, which may include remote management of emergency response field teams, communication with relevant partners and coordination mechanisms and the facilitation of shipments of medical and relief supplies, grants to partner organizations with field-level response operations and training/technical assistance to partner organizations
- Work closely with Americares Marketing and Communications and Development teams to quickly and clearly share stories from the field, conduct interviews, collect content and engage donors.
- Support emergency readiness and operational excellence, including working with other members of the Emergency Programs Team on the development of emergency response strategies, guidelines and policies and procedures
- Serve as core member of the cross-departmental Emergency Programs Working Group, maintaining strong working relationships among colleagues – preparing and circulate information to keep internal and external stakeholders informed
- Work closely with Director and Grants Department to identify grant/funding opportunities and support concept note/proposal development in accordance with donor/funder requirements
- Represent Americares with professionalism at relevant conferences, meetings and workshops, preparing and delivering presentations when appropriate
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree plus five years of experience in humanitarian response/emergency management or relevant Master’s degree plus three years of experience in humanitarian response/emergency management
- Experience designing and implementing public health programs in emergency settings preferred
- Strong understanding of both international and US humanitarian standards and coordination systems preferred
- Project management experience required
- Award management experience, specifically USAID/OFDA, required
- Ability and willingness to deploy on short notice and for periods of 3 weeks to up to 6 months; prepared for up to 50% of time to be spent in the field
- Experience living/working in emergency settings or resource-scarce environments
- Excellent written and oral communications skills in English; proficiency in French and/or Spanish is an advantage
- Strong problem-solving skills – demonstrated ability to apply creative solutions, work effectively in highly fluid and stressful circumstances
- Self-starter with ability to function as a team player among peers
- Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook required
- Must have a valid passport
- Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States
This position can be remote in the United States although it is desirable that someone lives near Connecticut for on-site meetings in the future.