Title: Lead Regional Specialist - Americas

Employee Working Location: Hybrid/Virtual

Employment Status: Temporary/Full Time (12 months)

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2024, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

In this role you will:

• Support the development and delivery of the Regional Action Plan and technical service planning
• Collaborate closely with CRC International Emergency Response operations, including surge support and response transitions, in alignment with regional programming.
• Manage the regional program portfolio, ensuring quality delivery, timely reporting, and donor compliance.
• Provide contextual analysis to inform decision-making, programmatic and response design.
• Guide National Societies in planning and implementing grants based on evolving needs.
• Ensure tracking tools and lessons learned support accountability and improvement.
• Promote local leadership in humanitarian response and access to Movement tools.
• Maintain partnerships with Movement actors and other stakeholders
• Represent CRC in regional and thematic forums, strengthening coordination and visibility. • Coordinate with CRC fundraising teams to support donor relations.
• Manage program budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting for assigned portfolios with support from Program Managers and Field Teams.
• Ensure compliance with CRC and donor financial requirements for assigned portfolio.
• Coordinate with Finance and Risk teams on audits and risk management.
• Maintain regional security awareness and support security planning.
• Participate in risk and business continuity planning and ensure compliance with protocols.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to program/service teams. Develop and manage program/service budgets, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and efficiently to support program/service delivery.
• Develop and implement program/service communications strategies, ensuring effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in cross-functional teams and committees to support organizational initiatives and strategic priorities. Coordinate across departments to meet program needs.
• Support knowledge sharing and strategic initiatives across International Cooperation. • Serve as Event Lead when assigned.

What we are looking for:

• Qualifications include a minimum of 8-12 years experience and a 3-year college diploma or university degree in international development, international relations, business administration, program or project management or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. May require a graduate diploma/degree in a related field and/or a professional degree, certification, or designation to practice in the profession. Requires advanced professional expertise in one or more specialized technical or professional areas. (L7)
• Strong experience managing complex or multiple complex international programs/projects and multi-million-dollar budgets in complex, high-risk and/or fragile environments.
• Proficiency in program management tools and methodologies, particularly Results-Based Management (RBM).
• Extensive experience advising senior leadership, government agencies, funders, and external partners.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint is required.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and best practices related to grant management for Canadian donors.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to apply local context, culture, and development/humanitarian issues in the region of operation.
• Ability to identify complex problems, conduct deep analysis in unfamiliar areas, predict outcomes, and develop innovative, collaborative solutions by balancing technical inputs with strategic objectives.
• Communication and influencing skills to synthesize diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives and find mutually beneficial solutions, often in sensitive or complex situations.
• Fluency in English, Spanish and French required.

Working Conditions :

• The role includes fieldwork, deployment to emergency operations, and office-based work during non-deployment periods.
• Domestic or international travel to unsafe or high-stress environments; exposure to major adverse conditions requiring personal safety management.
• Work requires the ability to work to multiple, business critical, and conflicting deadlines.
• Work requires interactions in difficult, emotionally charged situations.
• Work requires interactions and support to clients who are experiencing traumatic situations.
• Field deployments may involve working in unstable environments with limited access to basic services, often in emergency and/or epidemic contexts. These settings require strict adherence to security protocols.
• Candidates must be medically cleared for travel in accordance with established Canadian Red Cross medical criteria, where applicable
• In a large-scale emergency, where staff numbers are compromised or additional resources are required provide disaster relief and/or emergency field operational support.
• Will be required to work extended hours during peak periods on short notice.