Emergency Roster Information Officer

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks an Emergency Information Officer to join its global external surge roster. HIAS established its emergency roster to access a pool of experienced and qualified candidates with a demonstrated background in emergency response and complex humanitarian programming.

The Emergency Information Officer will act as the lead point person on the Emergency Team coordinating all information management, compiling all reports, and ensuring consistency and accuracy of information in all internal and external written products related to the emergency response. The Emergency Information Officer will also in many contexts be requested to represent HIAS at relevant humanitarian coordination fora and ensure that HIAS is providing timely information to Clusters, Working Groups, and other mechanisms. The Emergency Information Officer will also be expected to contribute to rapid needs assessments, including supporting with information collection and analysis, review of secondary source materials, and assessment report drafting and finalization. The Emergency Information Officer will take the lead on compiling all Situation Reports, will support proposal writing and donor reporting, and will provide response to requests related to external communications and advocacy efforts around the response. Finally, as HIAS aims to use local partnerships and work through existing actors on the ground in many contexts (especially for responses in new countries where HIAS does not have a presence), the Emergency Information Officer may also be required to work closely with local partners to engage them in rapid needs assessments and/or ensure their capacity to provide timely and accurate reporting to HIAS.

The appropriate candidate will have extremely strong communications skills, both written and verbal, and will be experienced communicating to a range of audiences, including other emergency actors, UN agencies, donors, local authorities, as well as local implementing partners and/or national staff supporting the response. The Emergency Information Officer must have a solid existing understanding of humanitarian/emergency coordination structures and reporting tools, as well as experience working in rapidly changing and challenging contexts in which daily reporting is often required.

The Emergency Information Officer will report to the Emergency Team Lead on the ground; or, in situations in which there is no Team Lead but there is an existing HIAS Country Office, the Emergency Information Officer will report into the HIAS Country Director (or his/her designated Manager). The Emergency Information Officer will also work closely with the HQ-based Emergency Department and may be requested to also liaise with other HIAS departments or divisions.

In order to join HIAS’ emergency roster, candidates will need to apply as instructed through the website and then will undergo a shortened selection process. All roster members will be requested to keep HIAS updated as to their interest and availability to be deployed and/or remotely support on emergency responses. If/when opportunities arise that meet a roster member’s skill set, they will be contacted and will go through an expedited selection and contracting process, including salary agreement based on the role and location of the roster surge support placement. While on the roster and not working/deployed, roster members will not receive compensation or benefits of any kind, but may potentially have access to trainings.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Act as a valuable member of the Emergency Team on the ground, leading all information management and reporting.
• Keep abreast of all developments and contextual changes related to the emergency in order to prepare timely and appropriate reports, briefing and background notes, talking points, and other documentation as required.
• Contribute to rapid needs assessments, including information collection and collation from a range of sources, research from secondary sources. integration of feedback, and report writing and finalization.
• Prepare all Situation Reports (and other internal reports as required) according to the established frequency (which may be daily, if the situation requires).
• When requested by the Team Lead or existing HIAS Country Office, represent HIAS in relevant coordination groups and Clusters and coordinate closely with implementing partners, other international NGO’s, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders.
• Where response implementation will be conducted through partners, if requested by the Team Lead and/or existing HIAS Country Office, work directly with the implementing partner to ensure quality reporting to HIAS.
• Consolidate and analyze data on emergency programming implementation and indicators in order to facilitate the preparation of periodic reports as required, working closely with HIAS’ Emergency Department and Strategy and Measurement Department.
• Draft donor reports, in compliance with specific donor requirements, and respond to ad hoc donor requests for informal reporting or updates as needed.
• Prepare and distribute meeting minutes as requested.
• Where appropriate, provide timely and accurate information to the Public Affairs team in support of Communications, Media, and Advocacy efforts around the humanitarian emergency. This will include ensuring that all information, publicity, and fundraising material recognizes and respects the dignity of those affected by disasters or emergencies.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in emergency/humanitarian work, of which at least one must be in the field in complex, challenging, and/or insecure environments.
• Demonstrated prior experience in emergency information management and communications, including reporting in fast-paced and rapidly changing environments that often require daily reporting deliverables.
• Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian coordination structures and architecture, including experience using key reporting tools (e.g. 3/4Ws, etc.).
• Strong communications skills, both verbal and written, including prior experience in information, communications, and reporting to multi-national teams/audiences.
• Demonstrated experience participating in rapid needs assessments, including working with national staff/partners on assessments and drafting rapid assessment reports.
• Demonstrated experience tracking key progress towards indicators and compiling reports for large, institutional emergency donors and strong existing knowledge of donors’ report requirements and formats.
• Experience in both direct implementation as well as indirect implementation of emergency programming, including experience developing reporting templates for sub-partners and working with local partners to ensure capacity for accurate and timely report submission.
• Experience in substantive contribution to proposals and budgets for standard institutional emergency donors preferred.
• Willingness to relocate for up to three-six (depending on emergency) months and at short notice (within 1-2 weeks).
• Ability to work well with others and rapidly adapt to new countries/contexts.
• Flexibility to work in challenging environments and with high workloads, potentially with limited mobility.
• Clear understanding of best practices and protection concerns around the protection of personal information and the use of photographs and videos in emergency contexts, including key requirements around consent, confidentiality, and the need to uphold dignity of all individuals affected by the crisis (in particular children and minors).
• Excellent English language skills (verbal and written) required; proficiency in Spanish and/or French preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Completion of Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) within the past three years preferred.

ABOUT US:

HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit organization working across five continents to ensure that refugees and displaced persons are protected. Throughout the United States, we help refugees reunite with families, resettle and become self-sufficient. Guided by our values and history, we help refugees rebuild their lives in safety and security and advocate to ensure that all displaced people are treated with dignity.

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship status, religious creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, age, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation, or other legally protected status.