Programme Alliance Coordinator

We are looking for a dynamic individual with the drive and diplomacy to successfully lead an alliance of UN, Red Cross and partner organizations. The goal of this alliance is catalysing systemic change connecting policy and data with daily realities of people. This is an exciting new programme, Water at the Heart of Climate Action, contributing to the Early Warnings for All initiative.

With funding and support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands ‘Water at the Heart of Climate Action’ is an ambitious partnership between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), The Netherlands Red Cross, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF). This collaboration will combine local knowledge and global technology to help communities understand and act on the water-related risks they face - before they become disasters. The programme is focused on supporting the countries of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan (TBC), and Uganda, which make up part of the Nile River basin. These countries are not only among the Least Developed Countries in the world but are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Programme and Alliance Coordinator

The Hague, 36-40 hours p/w

This role will challenge you to ensure locally-led adaptation, while coordinating global, regional and national partners in four African countries. You have coordinated large, international, multi-partner and multi-year programs in the past and like the complexity that comes with it. You easily connect with donors and stakeholders and find creative ways to inspire and bring focus. At the same time you connect well with financial controllers, PMEAL colleagues and understand the challenges of partners working on implementation. You are organized, solution-oriented and pragmatic, as well as a connector who is able to bring together diverse players.

Where are you going to work?

You will join an international alliance (NLRC, IFRC, SOFF, RCCC, UNDRR, WMO). The Programme Coordinator is hosted by the Netherlands Red Cross and serves the alliance. You will collaborate with a (part-time) programme officer – together forming the Programme Management Unit (PMU). As a Programme Coordinator you will be part of the Programme Development and Management (PDM) Unit of NLRC (Netherlands Red Cross). The position is financed by a programme that is subsidised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (NL MoFA) which will run until 31-07-2028. The function involves regular international travel to implementing countries and to connect with alliance partners.

What are your core tasks going to be?

The programme and alliance coordinator is the linchpin in this programme:

Planning, implementation and monitoring:

• Ensure delivery of the programme within timelines, budget and scope, in collaboration with alliance partners,
• Co-create and implement the agreements within the alliance,
• Connect with working groups at global, regional and country level on programme  implementation –
• Develop joint/aligned workplans to deliver joint results,
• Lead together with PMEAL Coordinator on developing, communicating, monitoring and evaluating the programme’s results,
• Ensure good programme financial oversight,
• Stimulate learning in collaboration with relevant Technical Advisors and PMEAL Officers across the alliance. Contribute to documentation of good practices and lessons learned,
• ‘Local as possible, international as needed’ –assess within the alliance how localization can be a guiding principle across the programme and across partners,
• Collaborate with the programme leads at global, regional and country levels on the preparation and consolidation of the annual plans and annual reports, making sure we adhere to the agreements with the donor, and timely submission of reports to the donor,
• Ensure sustainability plans are in place at the start of projects, handovers (to national societies and other national partners) at the project closure,
• Engage with potential partners and donors for programme scale-up and acceleration, in collaboration with alliance partners.

Communication & collaboration

• Be the spokesperson of the alliance to donor and other external and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure effective coordination and information sharing on programme implementation with all alliance partners at all levels,
• Lead and liaise with the regional coordination groups and Country Coordination Teams on ongoing implementation such as planning and reporting, compliance, external communication, events and revisions. Troubleshooting to identify any risks/challenges in implementation and raise these with alliance leadership, where needed,
• Clearly document, communicate and ensure compliance with deadlines to all stakeholders,
• Work with PMEAL on evidence creation so results from the programmes can be clearly articulated and communicated with the donor and public,
• Support Financial Controllers and Planning and Control unit with preparation and execution of annual external audits, by ensuring supporting documentation is collected and providing explanations where needed,
• Liaise closely with the Global Technical Advisor on Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative to ensure alignment and added value.

What do you bring?

Skills and experience   

• Completed university education in humanitarian aid, disaster management and/or specific areas of expertise in these programmes, such as international relations, climate change, or equivalent.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the sector, in roles related to programme management,
• Thorough understanding of humanitarian or development programming focused on anticipatory action/ EWEA or climate change adaptation. There needs to be enough expertise to liaise with specialised organisations and to translate the programme strategy into concrete action
• Experience working on financial monitoring and reporting mechanisms in various contexts, preferably in East-Africa.
• Experience working in programme management or leadership roles in large-scale, multi-partner and multi-year programmes is essential,
• Experience working in programmes implemented in partnership between UN agencies, Governments and local organisations highly desirable,
• Experience in working with Early Warning, Anticipatory Action, Water Management (incl WASH) and/or Climate Change Adaptation is desirable,
• Led successful management of institutional subsidised programmes (preferably NL MoFA),
• Experience in donor liaison, project monitoring guided by performance indicators and writing reports,
• Experience in management of projects and partners at a distance,
• Experience with strategy development, strategic planning and its translation into concrete action,
• Good understanding of financial management, accounting systems, budgeting, and cost control procedures,
• Excellent command of the English language verbally and in writing, Dutch language is an asset,
• Understanding of and commitment to NLRC mission and fundamental principles,
• Work and residence permit for the Netherlands.

Your talents (competencies)

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the capacity to engage in and maintain effective partnerships and professional relationships in various cultural and organisational contexts.
• Creative problem-solving and diplomacy skills
• Excellent planning and organizing skills
• programme and project management.
• The drive to follow up on agreements in a conscientious and efficient manner, taking deadlines into account.
• Results and quality oriented.
• Capable to work independently and to set clear goals and priorities.

What we offer

We offer a flexible and social working environment with room for initiative and personal development. The salary is set in scale 12 and dependent upon relevant professional experience (min. € 4.122,37 and max. € 5.414,87 euro gross based on a fulltime position).

Our office is in the Hague, at walking distance from the Laan van NOI station. Based on our re-work concept you can work partly from home and partly from the office. We regularly meet colleagues on the workfloor but also online via Teams to discuss cross functional issues and to stay connected to each other and our networks. 

How do you apply?

Please send your resume and a letter of motivation (all in English) with reference to Shelly Jonker latest 29 October through the apply button. An earlier version of this vacancy was also posted in September and we decided to open-up the vacancy again.

For more information about the position please contact manager HR advisor Shelly Jonker at sjonker@redcross.nl.

Please note that an assessment and a background check are part of the selection process, as well as two interview rounds where you will meet Red Cross and alliance colleagues.

For more information of the work of the Netherlands Red Cross please go to www.rodekruis.nl and NLRC on Facebook: Facebook.com/rodekruis and Twitter: Twitter.com/rodekruis

We do not accept third party mediation or acquisition for this vacancy.