Regional Head, Membership Services

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Affairs, Political Science, Law, Economics, Public Policy, Social Studies or other relevant field of study; or a first-level university degree combined with extensive relevant experience. Required.
  

Experience

• At least 7 years of experience in Governance and/or National Society Development or a combination of these areas of expertise within the RCRC Movement. Required.
  
• At least 7 years of experience managing staff and leading multi-disciplinary teams. Required.
  
• Experience with National Societies on capacity building, membership services and other policy issues. Required.
  
• Experience working with partners and in a multicultural, international environment. Preferred.
  
• Experience leading region‑wide portfolios and matrix management across multiple country/cluster delegations. Preferred.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Highly developed leadership and influencing skills; ability to inspire NSs, governments, partners and teams. Required.
  
• Familiarity with IFRC and NS pledging, resource development systems and domestic resource mobilisation systems. Required.
  
• Able to network effectively, influence and inspire others including National Societies, governments, other agencies, peers, staff, and partners. Required.
  
• Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and communication skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity. Required.
  
• Superior oral and written communication, networking and representation skills. Required.
  
• Proven ability to motivate and manage a team; excellent collaboration and teamwork skills. Required.
  
• Strategic analysis, systematic planning, and implementation skills and ability to translate strategy into reality. Required.
  
• Proficiency with evidence-based NSD approaches, including OCA, PER, CRRA, and use of NSIF/NSID dashboards. Preferred.
  
• Understanding of the Way of Working (WOW), Unified Planning, and Results Frameworks. Preferred.
  
• Fluent spoken and written English. Required.
  
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish, or Arabic). Required.
  
• Other Languages. Preferred.
  

Strategic Coordination

• Represent the IFRC with internal and external stakeholders in all aspects of National Society development.
  
• Provide strategic leadership and coordination for NSD support to NS across the Africa Region, ensuring a coherent portfolio of support in line with the Strategy 2030, AfR and IFRC Renewal and operating as one global team with the Geneva NSD Department.
  
• Promote regional adoption of global NSD policies, standards, tools and frameworks; ensure quality assurance and alignment with the NSD Framework, Policy, Compact and Results Framework.
  
• Lead integration of NSD priorities into Unified Country Plans and operational plans, applying the Way of Working (WOW) for partner coordination, and ensuring NS-led prioritization.
  
• Drive consistent use of evidence and investments for decision-making by consolidating assessments (e.g., OCA, PER, CRRA) and using the National Society Investment Framework and Dashboard (NSIF/NSID).
  
• Oversee region-wide support to National Societies across the six foundational NSD areas: (a) volunteering and youth (including branch strengthening and volunteer safety); (b) auxiliary role and legal base (including RCRC law, Disaster Law, and statutes work and engagement with public authorities); (c) adherence to the Fundamental Principles; (d) leadership, governance development and proactive integrity risk prevention and management; (e) financial sustainability (including emphasis on finance development, asset management and domestic resource mobilisation)
  
• Support in embedding NSD in emergencies by leveraging DREF and Emergency Appeals, ensuring targeted institutional strengthening alongside emergency response and recovery.
  
• Serve as focal point for integrity issues in close collaboration with the Governance Support team and regional leadership; ensure compliance with rules and procedures; anticipate, mitigate and address risks.
  
• Promote and enable peer-to-peer learning, communities of Practice, and collaboration with Reference Centers and contribute to statutory meetings and the Pan‑African Conference.
  
• Represent IFRC on governance/NSD with internal and external stakeholders; and lead the development, implementation and monitoring of Pan-African initiative on NSD through operational networks, peer-to-peer learning and support mechanisms for National Societies.
  
• Lead and manage the regional NSD team, with direct reports at regional level and technical reporting lines (matrix) across cluster and country delegations; promote a culture of performance, learning and inclusion.
  
• Ensure effective coordination with technical units in the Regional Office and with cluster/country delegations, Partner National Societies, ICRC and other actors.
  
• Foster an innovation and evidence generation culture centred on NSD support; simplify tools and methodologies and avoid duplication by adopting a single portfolio process co-owned with regions.
  

Effective matrix and people management

• Ensure a well-managed team while promoting a culture of performance and continuous learning.
  
• Contribute to the effective coordination with technical units of the Regional Office.
  
• Ensure effective coordination with focal points from Country Delegations, Country Cluster Delegations and Geneva focal points.
  

Duties applicable to all staff

• Work actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
  
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
  
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.