Manager, Global Road Safety Advocacy and Grants Programme

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) People and Strategy, and (iv) Legal, Governance Support and Accountability.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) (www.grsproadsafety.org) is a hosted programme of the IFRC and is a voluntary association of governments, businesses and civil society organisations. Both the IFRC and GRSP are headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The GRSP has full time staff based in Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, Budapest, Nairobi, Buenos Aires and Panama and a cadre of globally based consultants. The aim of the GRSP’s work is to reduce death and serious injuries as a result of road crashes with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

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Job Purpose

The purpose of this role is to lead and manage GRSP’s Global Road Safety Advocacy and Grants team, which currently consists of 12 team members (including both staff and consultants) based in IFRC offices in Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, and Buenos Aires. The team supports GRSP grantee organisations in low- and middle-income countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The incumbent will oversee GRSP’s Global Road Safety Advocacy and Grants Programme and its team to ensure the effective and timely administration and management of grants, in collaboration with partner organisations engaged in road safety advocacy.

The position holder will be responsible for delivering a global, multi-million (CHF) programme focused on road safety advocacy and capacity building. This includes strengthening the capabilities of national institutions, civil society, academia, and government agencies to advocate for, develop, and implement evidence-based road safety policy and legislation.

As a member of GRSP’s Leadership Team, the role also contributes to broader strategic initiatives aimed at reducing road crash-related deaths and serious injuries. This includes engaging with GRSP members and donors, guiding the delivery of technical inputs based on global evidence, and representing GRSP at senior levels with stakeholders such as National Societies, UN agencies, governments, GRSP members, and civil society organisations.

The position requires extensive international travel, and the incumbent is expected to attend global meetings in person as necessary to fulfil the responsibilities of the role.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

GRSP Road Safety Advocacy and Grants Programme management

• Serve as a GRSP technical lead for road safety policy, policy advocacy and grants
• Be responsible for closely monitoring systems related to grant negotiation, processing, and implementation to ensure that all grants progress within agreed Monitor timelines closely to promptly identify and address any delays to ensure smooth implementation.
• Serve as one of the GRSP technical leads for National Societies and civil society capacity building and road safety policy and grants management.
• Serve as first line manager for a team of seven staff and a cadre of international consultants and second line manager for three additional staff.
• Develop, under the direction of the Global Manager, the programme’s annual budget, approve and monitor spending against that budget.
• Under the direction of the Global Manager, establish and oversee the implementation of a long-term strategic plan and annual plans for the Global Road Safety Advocacy and Grants Programme as well as annual workplans, reflecting the global nature of the programme, complexity of the issue area and diversity across the service area.
• Contribute to development of GRSP policies and knowledge related to complex road safety policy areas which are critical to achievement of the GRSP’s overall objectives.
• Oversee the operations and implementation of GRSP’s Road Safety Grants Programme and the awarding of funding to civil society organisations, National Societies, academic institutions and government agencies.
• Coordinate with GRSP’s partner organisations engaged in road safety advocacy and collaborate on developing strategic priorities for the grant programme.
• Supervise, support and coordinate the work of staff within the Global Road Safety Advocacy and Grants programme.
• Manage the programme’s monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to key GRSP donors at the direction of the Global Manager.
• Manage the development and implementation of, and provide technical expertise into, global guidelines, tools and systems to support global road safety policy and policy advocacy initiatives.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of research, trends and practices in the field of road safety policy change and share with the GRSP team and others at relevant fora.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to National Societies and civil society organisation within the field of road safety and policy advocacy where there is a policy impact on road safety, and to support the delivery of training as required.
• Monitor programme’s adherence to relevant IFRC strategies, plans, policies, standards and procedures, and where relevant, National Societies.

GRSP Leadership Team

• Serve on the GRSP Leadership Team and, in that capacity, assist in setting the strategic direction of the organisation and addressing ongoing organisational management issues.
• Under the direction of the CEO, liaise with GRSP members and provide technical input and guidance to them to achieve their global and national-level road safety objectives.
• Contribute to ensuring GRSP compliance with requisite IFRC policies, procedures and systems.
• Lead staff development initiatives in specific technical areas.
• Under the director of the CEO and Global Manager, serve as a senior representative of the organisation to a variety of senior level external partner representatives from National Societies, civil society organisations, UN agencies, academics, the media, donors and potential donors.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Contribute, as a member of the GRPS Leadership Team, to the conceptual design and facilitation of annual GRSP member events, including the Annual General Meeting, Executive Committee meetings, and Steering Committee meetings.
• Contribute technical expertise to the development of relevant publications and programme materials for GRSP.

Duties applicable to all staff

Education

Required

• University degree in a field related to road safety policy development, road safety management, policy advocacy, international development, social sciences, or public health.

Preferred

• Post graduate studies in a field related to the above university degrees.
• Relevant post-graduate training in the field of road safety or management.

Experience

Required

• Minimum of 10 years working in the specialist area of road safety management, road safety policy development or implementation, advocacy and/or grants management.
• Minimum of 5-8 years direct line management of a team of professionals in one of the above disciplines.

Preferred

• Experience in working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent, other humanitarian organisation, or an NGO with a focus on road safety or public health policy change.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Proven expertise in managing complex programmes spanning multiple geographic regions, each with distinct technical priorities and human resource requirements.
• Strong grasp of the core elements of the Safe System approach to road safety.
• In-depth understanding of both the enablers and obstacles—technical and legislative— that influence effective international road safety policy and legislative development.
• Skilled in leading and motivating a team of professionals to drive progress toward road safety policy objectives and successfully achieve programme milestones.
• Experienced in directing the planning and execution of multi-country initiatives focused on capacity building and grant administration in the road safety sector.
• Demonstrated competence in managing substantial budgets across a portfolio of countries with varying needs and contexts.
• Advanced expertise in supervising teams engaged in strengthening capacity in road safety advocacy and financial/grants management.
• Capable of offering strategic and technical oversight to ensure effective delivery of all functions related to grants administration.
• Highly adept at representing the organisation with professionalism and credibility in interactions with both internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust.
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development.
Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others.

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.