Emergency Officer

International Rescue Committee; Valley (KY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking an Emergency Officer to support emergency response and disaster risk reduction activities in the country program. You will assist with assessments, community engagement, monitoring, and timely delivery of interventions in line with IRC policies and donor requirements.

Key responsibilities include coordinating emergency activities, ensuring beneficiary participation and safeguarding, and supporting MEAL, reporting, and coordination with local

Qualifications

• Degree/diploma in public health, nursing, community development, clinical medicine or related field.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in emergencies or humanitarian programming, including community-based projects.

Responsibilities

• Support rapid needs assessments, baseline surveys, and emergency field assessments.
• Coordinate and implement emergency response activities in assigned locations.
• Monitor project activities for quality and timeliness; ensure accountability and protection principles.
• Assist in data collection, monitoring, reporting, and documentation of lessons learned.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in public health or related field

Tools

MS-Office

Data collection & reporting tools

Job description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Purpose/Objective

The Emergency Officer will support the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of emergency response and disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities within the country program. The position will assist the Emergency Manager in conducting assessments, implementing response interventions, engaging communities and partners, monitoring crisis triggers, and ensuring timely delivery of emergency response activities in accordance with IRC policies, donor requirements, humanitarian standards, and government regulations.

Main Responsibilities

She/he will ensure that an engagement approach to working with communities and the local authorities, other partners is employed and all activities are carried out in a way that is sensitive to community needs and promotes the full and equal participation of women, men, children and youth.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Project Planning and Assessments Support rapid needs assessments, baseline surveys, and emergency field assessments. Collect and analyze information to support identification of humanitarian needs and priorities. Assist in the development of project implementation plans, work plans, budgets, and response strategies. Support the development and review of technical specifications, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and operational guidelines for emergency response activities. Participate in contingency planning and emergency preparedness initiatives.
• Project Implementation Coordinate and implement emergency response activities in assigned locations. Monitor daily project activities to ensure quality implementation and adherence to approved plans. Support effective delivery of emergency interventions within approved budgets and timelines. Ensure beneficiary participation, inclusion, accountability, and protection principles are integrated into all project activities. Support procurement processes through preparation of technical inputs, field verification, and monitoring of supplies and services. Promote compliance with IRC policies, humanitarian principles, and donor requirements during implementation.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Assist in collecting, compiling, and validating project data and indicators. Support implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and tracking systems. Conduct routine field monitoring visits and prepare monitoring reports. Track project progress against work plans and targets and promptly report challenges. Maintain accurate project records, beneficiary databases, and activity documentation. Support accountability mechanisms, including community feedback and complaint response systems. Contribute to documentation of lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.
• Reporting Prepare weekly, monthly, quarterly, and other routine activity reports. Compile field updates, assessment findings, and response progress reports. Ensure timely submission of project documentation and supporting evidence. Provide regular updates on implementation progress, risks, and emerging humanitarian concerns.
• Community Engagement and Coordination Facilitate community mobilization and awareness activities. Strengthening engagement with local authorities, community structures, and humanitarian partners. Support coordination meetings at community and field levels. Encourage participation of women, men, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in project activities. Actively participate in inter-sectoral activities and coordination initiatives.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Monitor humanitarian situations and report emerging risks and crisis triggers. Support rapid deployment and scale-up of emergency interventions during crises. Participate in emergency preparedness exercises, simulations, and contingency planning. Assist in outbreak response, displacement response, and other emergency operations as required.
• Compliance and Safeguarding Ensure adherence to IRC Code of Conduct, safeguarding, and protection policies. Comply with donor regulations, government requirements, and humanitarian standards. Promote safe, accountable, and inclusive programming. Immediately report safeguarding concerns, security incidents, and operational risks through appropriate channels.

Required Qualifications

Degree/Diploma in public health, nursing, community development, clinical medicine or related field. A minimum of Three years’ experience on programming in emergencies, relief or development including implementing a large-scale community-based humanitarian project with evidence of successful implementation of similar projects.

Required Experience & Competencies

• Minimum of 3 years relevant work experience in ASAL
• Strong skills in project management
• Demonstrated skills in technical design and roll out of humanitarian response and disease outbreaks.
• Experience in community engagement approaches, participatory approaches and community negotiation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with a team
• Good understanding of SPHERE and other international and national standards
• Good computer application skills (MS-Office, application software to engineering designs).

Professional Standards

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild. We are trusted for our ability to reach people in the toughest places, put our clients at the center of everything we do, and - as an evidence-based organization - to relentlessly improve the impact we deliver for those we serve. If you’re ready to be part of a team that brings ingenuity, fortitude and optimism to making a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. The IRC Way, our code of conduct, is founded upon our core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. These values unite IRC staff around the world and keep our programs firmly directed towards the well-being of our clients while meeting the expectations of our donors as responsible stewards of their resources.