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) Management and Accountability; and (iv) People and Strategy.

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 Senior Officer, Federation-wide Data Systems (FWDS), is part of the Federation-wide Data Systems unit in the Strategic Planning Department.

The FDS team leads Federation-wide data collection, validation, and analysis – including systems development – working with focal points from 191 National Societies and IFRC Geneva, regional and country offices and is aimed to be increasingly used to feed Federation-wide planning and reporting processes. The Senior Officer, FDS will be a member of the Global FDS team. This is a Budapest based position with global responsibilities.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, FDS has the primary task to lead systems development and innovation for the global FDS team, in close coordination with the Digital Transformation and Information Technology teams based in Geneva and Budapest. This includes all actions from systems development and maintenance of data management systems, coordination of business requirements and feedback, to the development of analyses, tools, pipelines, and dashboards. The position fits with the ambition of the IFRC Network to be data informed in its strategic prioritization and decision making and be an accountable and trusted actor.

Furthermore, the Senior Officer, FDS will work with PMER and IM colleagues in the different IFRC offices as well as with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to improve access to quality data so that the data informs decision making, highlights successes and gaps, and supports global communication and positioning of the IFRC network.

The Senior Officer, FDS is a member of the global FDS team, working closely with the data collection team responsible to engage with NS focal points and their PMER counterparts in regional and country offices.

The incumbent will directly report to the Manager, Federation-wide Data Systems and will have a technical line management to the PMER Manager in the Regional office for Europe.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Systems development and innovation

1. Lead the development and implementation of global systems and tools to optimize current business processes and facilitate data collection, validation, and reporting. This includes optimization and automation of processes, systems integrations (with FDRS, GO and other systems), maintenance and improvements of scripts and dashboards, and other technological aspects.
2. Act as technical lead for the development of the Unified Planning and Reporting Data Collection system, under the guidance of the Strategic Planning Department management team, and in collaboration with project team members.
3. Similarly, act as the technical lead for the maintenance and improvement of the IFRC network Indicator bank.
4. Lead overall quality control over the different systems and tools and ensure compliance by other team members.
5. Lead the collaboration with the Digital Transformation/ IT team in Budapest to further develop Federation-wide data systems, including the FDRS backoffice and frontend, incorporating indicator updates, data collection forms, integrated analysis and reports, while ensuring a user-centered design approach and a seamless user experience and interface (UX/UI).
6. Lead feedback and lessons learned sessions with different stakeholders to actively improve Federation-wide data systems.

Technical support and guidance

1. Lead the development of Federation-wide data systems guidance to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and ensure existing guidance is up to date.
2. As required, support FDS Manager and PMER teams to run global and regional online technical support sessions with National Societies and colleagues to roll-out systems and their related guidance.
3. Support efforts of data access and dissemination by creating easily sustainable data ingestion pipelines and dashboards and ensuring Frontend systems are maintained and widely socialized.

Data protection, responsibility, and accountability

1. Ensure all Federation-wide data systems adhere to the IFRC standards on data protection and responsibility.
2. Act as focal point on behalf of the Federation-wide data systems team on data protection and responsibility matters.
3. Promote a culture of accountability with management and across all sectors.
4. Ensure a responsible processing of data using ethical standards and data protection principles throughout the process, avoiding over-collection, misuse or loss of data.
5. Actively work towards increasing usability of the data for evidence-based decision making and to inform accountability to people we serve, partners, and other stakeholders.

Common tasks across FWDS team members

As part of the FDS team, carry out other common tasks such as managing the common mailbox messages, answering general queries, ensuring a proper documentation system, and supporting other team members as needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Duties applicable to all staff
1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Education

Required:

• Graduate degree in a relevant humanitarian or social sciences, computer science, data science, or a related field.
• Post-graduate qualification in data science, data engineering, economics, or statistics.

Experience

Required:

• 3-5 years of experience working as Data Analyst/ data scientist, developing and implementing of global systems and tools to optimize current business processes and facilitate data collection, validation, and reporting.
• International experience.
• Strong background in the management of quantitative and qualitative data systems.

Preferred:

• Experience working in an emergency response context.
• Demonstrated experience of working on large scale data collection, management, analysis and visualization and delivering on targets successfully.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Experience with data warehousing, ETL processes, and data modeling techniques.
  Knowledge of SQL databases and proficiency in SQL queries.
• Experience using scripting languages such as Python, DAX, R, or Stata for analysis and development, and collaborative platforms like GitHub or GitLab.
• Experience with data visualization and mapping tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, QGIS).
• Familiarity with Agile methodology and project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Trello).
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver solutions.
• Excellent written and oral communication, organizational and presentation skills in English, with knowledge of other IFRC languages (French, Spanish, Arabic) being an advantage.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Data Science techniques such as Regression Analysis and Large Language Models.
• Knowledge of front-end development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and how they affect UX design.
• Ability to develop and maintain KoboToolbox/ ODK forms (xls forms).
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Power Platform.
• 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

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.